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Senior project judges needed Non-teachers add new perspective to evaluating kids' work By VICKI GUARINO For a few days, business owners, skilled professionals and managers become teachers as they evaluate some of the toughest assignments turned in by high school students. In the next few months, hundreds of non-teaching adults will be needed to evaluate the efforts put into senior projects, marketing projects and speech tournaments. The education outsiders inject broader perspective and experience into the grading process. And they give students a well-deserved audience. "We need as many people cheering for these kids as we do at our Friday night basketball games," says state trial court administrator Jim Adams, of Medford, who has judged several public speaking tournaments. He says he has been continually impressed by students' efforts. From his first tournament, Adams says, "I was just taken aback with the quality of the presentations." He's stayed with the program, because it has been personally enriching. "It's energizing, it's fun," says Adams. "These are really talented youth. It's fun to see their enthusiasm as well as their intellect. "It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with youth and build community." The volunteer judging is coordinated by the Community Business Education Center, a non-profit, business and public school partnership headquartered at South Medford High School. CBEC coordinates a number of programs in elementary through high school grades in the Medford and Phoenix-Talent school districts. The office runs field trips and aids students' career development efforts through mentors and job-site visits. This fall, CBEC scheduled more than 100 interviews with business people to help high school students learn about career opportunities. The CBEC staff is turning its attention now to filling the numerous judging panels that will be needed in the coming few months. Later this month, judges will be going into North Medford High School to judge marketing projects. North marketing teacher Steve McDonald says bringing in judges whose daily work is marketing gives students valuable professional insight and practical advice drawn from personal experience. Just as important, the professionals can motivate students. McDonald says he has seen the volunteers generate interest and enthusiasm among his students. "I don't know that they're telling students things I can't, but the students hear it better," says McDonald. Volunteer judges also will be needed later this month at Phoenix High School to begin evaluating senior projects -- months-long efforts that have students working in a variety of interests, from creating social service programs like tutoring to elaborate efforts like building a stock car. Also at the end of January, a speech tournament at South Medford High School will need judges. Later on, more judges will be needed for a second round of senior project evaluations at Phoenix as well as at North and South Medford high schools. In the coming few months, 1,193 seniors will be making senior project presentations at the three high schools. "You don't really need any training," says CBEC staff member Jimmy Gomes. Teachers give guidance to the volunteers, and many evaluation forms judges fill out are self-explanatory. Speech tournament judges may watch a judging video before the contest begins. For additional information about volunteering as a judge, call CBEC, 779-5318. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA