Student and Parent F.A.Q.
Q: How do I compete if I am a homeschool student? A: Homeschool students must go through the local regional fair based on their home address. Please contact the regional fair director for more information.
Q: My child has a medical condition. What do I need to do? A: We will make every effort to accommodate all medical concerns. There will be an EMT on-site for the duration of Judging Day for emergencies. Please contact Bob Solomon (bsolomon@dvsf.org) so that we can best accommodate your child’s unique needs.
Q: If a student does not have or does not want to provide a personal email address what should they do? A: Most schools block emails to students from outside sources. It is important that students are able to receive updates from DVSF and our management platform STEM Wizard. If your school allows students to receive email from our domains (@dvsf.org and @stemwizard.com) then the school email address can be used. If outside emails are blocked then an alternate email address must be provided. This alternate address can be that of a parent/guardian, another responsible adult, or a temporary address created specifically for participation in DVSF.
Q: Can I change my category when I come to DVSF? A: No, DVSF requires that all projects compete in the same category they qualified in at the regional fair.
Q: What will happen if I don’t say yes in the consent milestones? A: Many of our sponsors and special award organizations need a student’s information in order to award their prize packages. If the student does not give consent to DVSF to share that information, the student may not be considered for those awards.
Q: When can I set up my project for DVSF? A: Setup Day is the Tuesday before Judging Day (Judging Day is typically the first Wednesday of April). For 2025, the Setup Day is April 1, 2025 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Q: Do I have to be present to set up my project? A: No, the student does not need to be present for Setup and Display & Safety. The project can be set up by someone of the student’s choosing. There is no need to register the setup person with DVSF, just come and setup. It is important that whoever sets up the project retains all of the materials distributed at setup and gives them to the student before Judging Day. Most important is the student's badge. As a security precaution, no one without a proper badge will be allowed inside the exhibit hall.
Q: How should I dress for Judging Day? A: There is no formal dress code for DVSF. However, it is important to bear in mind that a more “professional” appearance is recommended when possible. It is also important to consider that the interview process can take several hours so comfort might be a consideration. DVSF tries to be inclusive to all students, so dress in a way that does not cause a burden (financially, physically, or in another way burdensome).
Q: What time do I need to be at the Expo Center for judging? A: Students will be allowed to enter the exhibit hall at 11:30 am on Judging Day (Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025). Please try to arrive as close to then as possible. Early arrivals will not be allowed in until the designated time and late arrivals will miss some opportunities for an interview which will impact the final decision of the judges.
Q: Will there be food available during judging? A: The Expo Center will typically open a concessions window during judging. Food is available to purchase. If you would like to send money with your child to purchase food you may do so. You are also welcome to pack a lunch/snacks for your child.
Q: How do I get my project back after the fair? A: You will take your project home with you once judging has concluded and the awards notification is posted.
Q: How will I know if I got an award? A: On Judging Day, once all the judges have provided us with the results, we will post a list of those projects that have won an award on our website and social media. The notice will indicate if the project won a Category Award or Special Award.