Project Leadership: Grant County, Indiana

Project Portfolio

Welcome to Project Portfolio – a special gift for students to showcase the work they produce during their high school careers. This past school year, more than 100 portfolio kits were developed for Grant County’s
Twenty-first Century Scholars participating in a Project Leadership mentoring program for high school freshmen. The portfolios are for the students to keep so that they use them to apply for scholarships, college and future jobs. Students supply content for several categories – ranging from resumes and mission statements to community outreach and work experiences -- within the portfolios. The message shared with students through this experience is that these are the areas future employers, colleges and scholarship committees will be interested in seeing as they make decisions that will affect students’ futures.

If you would like to know more about the portfolios or how you could provide them for your school, students or organization contact Project Leadership at (765) 651-0650.

Portfolio sections

Click a thumbnail to view a larger version of the full page.

Tips for Project Portfolio coaches

  • Help prevent students from getting overwhelmed. As with the elephant, this is one project eaten a bite at a time. Encourage students to finish one page completely before going onto the next so that they gain a sense of accomplishment and some momentum.
  • Encourage students to create their portfolio in a way that is a reflection of them. The sample pages provided in the portfolios are just that - samples. Students' final products might, and probably will, look much different. What's important is that the portfolio is professional and representative of students' uniqueness.
  • Ask students to develop a 'portfolio bank,' a place to safely house and organize content. This could be a designated folder, box or desk drawer. Students can make withdrawals from the bank as needed to incorporate items, such as special awards and class assignments, into their portfolios.
  • Help talk it through. Some areas of the portfolio will be easier to complete than others. One of the more difficult areas will be the resume. If students get stuck, try helping them with an outline or list of items to include in the resume. While a template is provided, there are many other templates and examples online for them to use. For many, the most difficult page will be the mission statement. Encourage them not to rush this assignment where reflection is critical.
  • Remind them about their audience. What they're creating is not a family album or scrapbook. It is being created to help them one day secure a job, receive a scholarship and get accepted into a college or university. The people who will make these decisions about their futures are their audience.
  • Keep it fresh. The goal is for them to have a completed portfolio by the end of their freshman year. The work does not stop there, however. Each year, whether a mentor is there to support them, they should work to keep the portfolios updated with current information.

Tips for Project Portfolio students

  1. Review the portfolio categories. Determine what steps you need to take to become a more well-rounded student. Is there a volunteer opportunity you should pursue? Are there computer skills you need to learn?
  2. Act now. The earlier you get started on developing these areas in high school, the better.
  3. Seek advice. Turn to your mentor, parents and teachers to guide you when necessary. Ask for their feedback.
  4. Keep your portfolio updated. By the end of this school year, you should have a completed portfolio. Remember, this is an ongoing project and each school year you will need to update the information within your portfolio so that you're ready for future job interviews and college applications.
  5. Be creative. Your portfolio will be one-of-a-kind. The content and presentation is up to you. We've enclosed examples in each category to help you get started.
  6. Be organized. Keep special awards and assignments in a folder as you get them so that you have a 'portfolio bank' to use to select content.
  7. Be professional. The portfolio is not meant to be a family scrapbook. Sheet protectors have been provided in the portfolio kit to house your work. Keep the information concise and on topic. Remember who your audience is: future employers, scholarship committees and colleges and universities.