Torch Awards Online System Guide

Students can access a list of their current activities by clicking ‘activities’ after they log in. Advisors, Chapter Reviewers, State Advisors, and State Advisor Helpers all have this same access to edit resumes, by searching for or listing students after logging in. Reviewers also have the ability to attach a comment on an activity on the ‘edit activity’ screen. The student can then see that comment when they view that activity. 

Once the activities list for a student is on screen, editing an activity is as simple as clicking ‘Edit’ next to the activity, changing the description or date, and clicking ‘submit.’ On the edit screen, any comments left by an advisor or reviewer can be seen under the description.

To add a new activity, click the ‘Add Activity’ button at the bottom of the activity list. Choose the activity category. Then click the ‘Select’ link next to the relevant activity, choose a date and write a description, and click submit.

Submitting a resume is not the role of the student, but of the local advisor or Chapter Reviewer. State Advisors also have this function available in the event that no one at the chapter level is able to submit the resume. 

To submit a resume, the submitter needs to first find the student’s resume by clicking ‘list all,’ by searching for a particular student, or by clicking one of the three buttons that display all resumes with enough points for Diplomat, Statesman, or Ambassador awards. (These three buttons make it convenient to submit all the resumes eligible for a particular award.) After finding the eligible student, the submitter simply clicks ‘Submit’ next to that student’s name, then check the appropriate award and click the ‘Submit’ button. Next to that checkbox, a submission date should appear, confirming successful resume submission.

The submitter can now at any time review that résumé in the future, taking note as to whether its status for an award changes to “Approved” or “Rejected.” If an administrator approves the award, the student has successfully earned the award. No further action is necessary. If the submission status changes to “rejected”, the résumé is unsatisfactory and the student or advisor should contact the reviewing administrator to see what can be changed to make the résumé satisfactory.

Once a resume is submitted for a Diplomat, Statesman or Ambassador award, it is up to State Advisors, helpers and/or the National Center staff to review submitted resumes and make a judgment of award approval or rejection. For the Executive Award, local advisors evaluate and grant the award themselves. Depending on state, the same may be true for Diplomat, although usually, this is done by a State Advisor helper at the regional level or a State Advisor/helper at the state level. National Staff evaluate resumes submitted for the Ambassador Award. 

State Advisors / helpers can view a list of resumes eligible for the Diplomat or Statesman award by clicking the ‘Approve/Reject Diplomat/Statesman Submitted resumes’ links. From that page, there is a link that lets them view a student’s resume and a column indicating whether the resume is unreviewed, approved or rejected. This status can be changed by clicking the ‘Change’ link next to the approval status. Changing a resume status to approved means that this resume is officially accepted for recognition. 
 
Resumes are not automatically approved when submitted. The appropriate official (State Advisor, Helper, or National Staff) must choose Approve or Reject for each resume. 

Administrators giving the awards can get a list of students who have been approved for an award by using the ‘Display/export data’ link on their Torch Awards homepage.

Students participating in the Torch Awards Program who are registered in independent chapters not affiliated with a Chartered State Association are eligible to receive their Diplomat and Statesman award. Please contact the National Center (bpamembership@bpa.org) for additional information.

If a student becomes inactive during the membership year and their membership record must be removed from the system, please contact the National Center (bpamembership@bpa.org). Resumes cannot be deleted if the member is still a registered, active participant. The only way to delete a resume is to remove the member from Membership Registration System.