Old Guard
Video Presentation Competition

Rules and Procedures

Old Guard Video Presentation Competition Rules and Procedures

The Old Guard Video Presentation Competition is an exclusive program for ASME Districts and Student Members outside of North America. Leaders of Districts G, H, I and J may determine to host a Video Competition in lieu of, or in addition to the traditional Old Guard Oral Presentation Competition that takes place at Student Professional Development Conferences (SPDC) in the spring. The main difference between these two competitions is in the flexibility that the Video Competition allows for non-North American Districts; any one District may choose to host a traditional Oral Presentation Competition at a SPDC, in addition to the video competition. The video competition may be conducted in any language determined by the District Leader. While the traditional Oral Presentation Competition allows only English language presentations, video submissions can be made online, and may come in any language(s) approved by the District Leader.¹

Like the original Old Guard Competition, this new program puts great emphasis on one's ability to deliver clear, concise and effective presentations to an audience, particularly pertaining to some sphere which an engineer is or should be involved. Though there is no “final” cross-District competition, the video format offers each participant wide exposure to, and visibility in ASME networks worldwide.

The subject matter of each presentation must address a technical, economic or environmental aspect of engineering or other basic engineering theme, provided it pertains to some sphere in which an engineer is or should be involved.  A major portion of a competitor's total score is based on the judges’ evaluation of his/her relative capability to communicate orally, including an ability to respond effectively in the Q&A period.

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 permitted (Powerpoint, etc.) but must appear clearly in the video. Good practice and courtesy suggests that credit be given during the presentation for any outside help related to the reported project. A written paper or manuscript is not required.

Eligibility & Requirements

To be eligible to participate, each competitor must be a Student Member who:

a. has not yet received an engineering degree and 
b. is not a competitor in the Old Guard Oral Presentation Competition at a SPDC in the same year and,
c. has been certified by ASME Staff 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 April 15; the same holds true for continuing Student Members.

In each District Video Presentation Competition, a maximum of two participants may compete from any one educational institution. Students may be pre-selected and endorsed by a faculty member in their school (i.e. ASME Student Section Advisor or Mechanical Engineering Department Head), or can compete on a first come, first served basis (i.e. whoever submits his/her entry to the District Leader first).

Competition Entry

Each participant must submit the Old Guard Video Presentation Competition Entry Form (see Appendix A) to his/her District Leader by April 30, including a link to his/her online video submission. Video entries must be uploaded to YouTube.com and labeled in the following title format:

“[District] – [Competition Year] OG Video Presentation Competition – [Presenter’s Full Name]”
(e.g. District G – 2009 OG Video Presentation Competition – John Doe)

Conduct of the Competition

Each presentation shall be made by one competitor to an audience of at least 10 students and/or faculty members from the engineering department of the presenter’s school, including two timekeepers. Each presentation must last 15 minutes, followed by a five-minute “Question and Answer” (Q&A) period. Video submissions should not exceed these limits, nor should the competition proceedings be edited in any way (i.e. each video submission should be 20 minutes, uninterrupted).
Questions are limited to Student Members in the audience. Each student posing a question to a speaker must stand, identify himself/herself, and then proceed with the question.

The presenter must appoint two timekeepers within his/her audience prior to the presentation. Timekeepers must be non-contestant Student Members. They are to be introduced by name at the beginning of each session and instructed to keep time as follows:

• At the end of twelve minutes, the first timekeeper will rise to signal to the speaker that there are three minutes remaining.
• After the speaker nods to acknowledge the signal, the timekeeper will sit down.
• At the end of fourteen minutes, the second timekeeper will rise to signal to the speaker that there is one minute remaining.
• After the speaker acknowledges the signal, the timekeeper will sit down.
• At the end of fifteen minutes, both timekeepers will rise together and remain standing until the speaker concludes the presentation.

Judging and Scoring Criteria

It is the responsibility of each District Leader to assemble judges according to competition rules, and coordinate the selection of a 1st Place winner within his/her respective Districts.

All submissions to a single District are to be judged by the same individuals, preferably three to five ASME members of mature judgment. This panel is to be assembled by the District Leader and briefed on competition procedures and rules.

The presentations will be judged in the following four categories:

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 this a 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? Is proper grammar 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?

The judges are encouraged to fill out the Feedback Sheet (see Appendix B) to provide each competitor feedback on his/her presentation. The Feedback Sheet has been developed for the convenience of the judge to assist him/her in this process. The Feedback sheet should be given to the student at the end of all presentations.

Awards and Recognition

Judges in each District are to select a single First Place winner based on the criteria specified in the competition score sheet. Each winner will receive $500.00 and a plaque from the ASME Old Guard.

Each District Leader must select their 1st Place winner by May 30 and send a winner report (see Appendix B) to oldguard@asme.org, in order to authorize prize distribution. A full list of participants and links to their presentations should also be submitted to this e-mail address.

Participants from each District will be featured and celebrated in ME Today, the ASME student and early career engineer newsletter.

¹ Students in District G, H, I and J must consult their District Leader to determine whether a Video Competition will be conducted in their District, and if so, which languages have been approved for their respective district.

² Student members who complete the requirements for their baccalaureate engineering degree, or who actually receive that degree at the end of a term, semester, or quarter a short time before a scheduled competition may still participate. These Student Members, however, must not have completed their degree requirements before December 1 of the calendar year prior to the competition.