PURPOSE
An engineer, like all professionals, must possess a well-developed ability to communicate, both orally and in writing. This competition is designed to emphasize the value of an ability to deliver oral presentations.

TOPIC
The topic is to be related to a technical, economic, or environmental aspect of engineering or any other basic engineering theme, provided it pertains to some sphere in which an engineer is or should be involved. Furthermore, a competitor may utilize any available resource but must realize that the presentation is to be an individual effort.  Assistance in the use of visual aids is advisable.  Good practice and courtesy suggests credit be given during the presentation for any outside help related to the reported project

CRITERIA
The subject matter must be related to some area of the broad field of engineering. Each presentation shall be made by one contestant.

Individual Student Member shall first compete at local District Student Professional Development Conferences.  The conference winners are then sent to compete at the Society level, which takes place every year at Congress.  The number of speakers per school varies among conferences, but in no case may there be more than two contestants from any one academic institution at the District conference level.

The Presentation's duration is fifteen (15) minutes plus five (5) minutes for "questions and answers" immediately thereafter. Any time remaining or runovers of the fifteen minutes must be added to or subtracted from the five minute discussion.  Questions are limited to the Student Members at the Conference, except those Student Members from the competitor's own Student Section.   

JUDGING
The Presentations will be judged in four categories; Content, Organization, Delivery and Effectiveness, and Discussion.

Content
To what extent is the subject of interest to a technical audience?  Is credit given for source of material or contribution by others? How much knowledge of subject was exhibited?  Is work independent and original?  Is the subject technical or general in nature?

Organization
Is there any novel approach to the subject?  Is there sufficient background information provided in order to introduce the audience to the subject?  Are the facts developed in logical and continuous sequence?  Is there a definite conclusion, and was it adequately based on the facts or data presented?

Delivery and Effectiveness
Are the words distinctly pronounced and was proper volume used to be heard by all?  Is proper English used, and is the vocabulary sufficient?  Is personal appearance appropriate?  Are there any distracting mannerisms?  Is the manner of delivery (conversation, memorized, read from manuscript) satisfactory?  If visual aids are used, how effectively are they used?  Is the presentation within the time limit of 15 minutes allowed?

Discussion
Is the presentation evoking spontaneous questions from the audience?  Are the questions indicating the need for clarification of facts presented, or were they merely of the type seeking additional information? How readily and with what self-assurance did the speaker answer questions?  Are the answers indicating knowledge of the subject beyond that disclosed in the original presentation?  Is the ability to think clearly demonstrated?

ELIGIBILITY
Each contestant must be a Student Member of ASME who:

1. has not received an engineering degree
   (Student Members who complete the requirements for their baccalaureate engineering degree, or who actually received that degree at the end of a term, semester, or quarter, a short time before a scheduled conference may still participate.  These Student Members, however, must not have completed their degree requirements before December 1st of the calendar year prior to the Conference.)
2. has been selected by his/her Student Section or ME Department Head to participate
3. has been certified by the ASME as a Student Member in good standing.
   (To be thus certified, a new Student Member must have filed an application and paid the required dues prior to March 15; the same holds true for a continuing Student Member.)

COMPETITION ENTRY
The Old Guard Oral Presentation Competitions are held locally at ASME Student Professional Development Conferences. Student who wish to participate must:

1. Visit the Student Professional Development Conferences website.
2. Choose the location of the spring conference you plan to attend.
3. Complete the appropriate entry form for that location.

Students entering the Old Guard Oral Competition may not enter the Old Guard Technical Poster Competition. There is no restriction on entering the Old Guard Technical Webpage Competition.

AWARDS
The Old Guard pays for a one time membership upgrade for any student members who participates in the competition.

COMPETITION FINALS - FOR SOCIETY AWARDS
Each ASME District is entitled to select one (1) Old Guard Oral Presentation winner at its annual Student Professional Development Conference (SPDC) to represent the District at the finals of the Old Guard Oral Presentation Competition.  North American Districts choosing to have more than one Student Professional Development Conference in a given year are entitled to select a maximum of two (2) Oral Competition winners, but no more than one per conference.

District winners' contact information should be forwarded to ASME Centers, Manager, Student Development by May 15.

STUDENT CONFERENCE (SPDC) AWARDS			SOCIETY AWARDS
First	$500.00 A trip to compete in the final competition at ASME's IMECE		First	$2,000.00
Second	$150.00		Second	$1,500.00
Third	$100.00		Third	$1,000.00
Fourth	$50.00		Fourth	$500.00
Fifth (Optional)	$25.00
High Score In Technical Content	$50.00