Sponsor Responsibilities
SPONSORS
Recognition is given to all teachers, students, parents, sponsors, administrators, committee members, mentors, and countless other volunteers and leaders who unselfishly spend thousands of hours assisting the participants in conducting research, writing, and processing their papers. The Virginia Junior Academy of Science appreciates the contribution and support of the many sponsors who work with students throughout the Commonwealth. They are the key to the success of the Junior Academy, and we rely on them in three ways.
1. The Head Sponsor serves as the point of contact for a school with the VJAS. The responsibilities are as follows.
Registers their school with VJAS on Reviewer, described below in part C. The Head Sponsor needs to share the official school name with students who submit papers. This is the OFFICIAL school name that will be used by VJAS and cannot be altered. If the school name is not visible for selection then contact Robin Curtis, Associate Director (associate.directorvjas@gmail.com) so it can be updated and later accessible in the fields.
Co-signs (along with Student Sponsor) applications for Special Interest Awards and/or Scholarships. All signatures may be electronic.
Tracks the number of student entries and the number of students registered for the Symposium. Sponsors will have access to the Reviewr system.
Coordinates with the Associate Director on the number of student entries, registrations for the Symposium, and payment of associated fees if the school is paying for students.
Accompanies/chaperones those students from the school who will be attending the Research Symposium regardless if in-person, virtual, or hybrid due to students being minors and enabling facilitation of movement of attendees (presenters and participants)
If the Head Sponsor cannot attend the meeting, then the Head Sponsor is responsible for finding another teacher to serve in this important capacity and delegate appropriately while notifying the Associate Director.
2. The Student Sponsor is the specific school teacher serving as the advisor for an individual student’s research project. The student sponsor has direct knowledge of what the student is working on and provides guidance for the project. The Student Sponsor:
Signs the Student Entry Form for each student submitting a paper.
Signs all appropriate “Certifications” on the “Certification Statement Form.”
Co-signs (along with Head Sponsor) applications (as needed) for Special Interest Awards and Scholarships.
All signatures may be electronic.
Note: In a mentored project (see section V.F. for further information on mentored projects), the Student Sponsor is the person in the student’s school with the above responsibilities.
3. The Officer Sponsor is the teacher that advises and encourages the current Student Officer(s) of the VJAS from their school. The responsibilities are:
To serve a one-year membership with the VJAS Leaders.
To facilitate the officer(s) attendance at VJAS meetings and, if necessary, the Research Symposium
To participate in the work of the Committee by attending VJAS meetings and supporting the activities of the officers.
To delegate an adult that can support the student officer if the Officer Sponsor is unable.
Recognition is given to all teachers, students, parents, sponsors, administrators, committee members, mentors, and countless other volunteers and leaders who unselfishly spend thousands of hours assisting the participants in conducting research, writing, and processing their papers. The Virginia Junior Academy of Science appreciates the contribution and support of the many sponsors who work with students throughout the Commonwealth. They are the key to the success of the Junior Academy, and we rely on them in three ways.
1. The Head Sponsor serves as the point of contact for a school with the VJAS. The responsibilities are as follows.
Registers their school with VJAS on Reviewer, described below in part C. The Head Sponsor needs to share the official school name with students who submit papers. This is the OFFICIAL school name that will be used by VJAS and cannot be altered. If the school name is not visible for selection then contact Robin Curtis, Associate Director (associate.directorvjas@gmail.com) so it can be updated and later accessible in the fields.
Co-signs (along with Student Sponsor) applications for Special Interest Awards and/or Scholarships. All signatures may be electronic.
Tracks the number of student entries and the number of students registered for the Symposium. Sponsors will have access to the Reviewr system.
Coordinates with the Associate Director on the number of student entries, registrations for the Symposium, and payment of associated fees if the school is paying for students.
Accompanies/chaperones those students from the school who will be attending the Research Symposium regardless if in-person, virtual, or hybrid due to students being minors and enabling facilitation of movement of attendees (presenters and participants)
If the Head Sponsor cannot attend the meeting, then the Head Sponsor is responsible for finding another teacher to serve in this important capacity and delegate appropriately while notifying the Associate Director.
2. The Student Sponsor is the specific school teacher serving as the advisor for an individual student’s research project. The student sponsor has direct knowledge of what the student is working on and provides guidance for the project. The Student Sponsor:
Signs the Student Entry Form for each student submitting a paper.
Signs all appropriate “Certifications” on the “Certification Statement Form.”
Co-signs (along with Head Sponsor) applications (as needed) for Special Interest Awards and Scholarships.
All signatures may be electronic.
Note: In a mentored project (see section V.F. for further information on mentored projects), the Student Sponsor is the person in the student’s school with the above responsibilities.
3. The Officer Sponsor is the teacher that advises and encourages the current Student Officer(s) of the VJAS from their school. The responsibilities are:
To serve a one-year membership with the VJAS Leaders.
To facilitate the officer(s) attendance at VJAS meetings and, if necessary, the Research Symposium
To participate in the work of the Committee by attending VJAS meetings and supporting the activities of the officers.
To delegate an adult that can support the student officer if the Officer Sponsor is unable.
