What an Advisor does
The Advisor approves the student's goals before hours start counting, meets with the student to review progress, and signs the completed record book before it is submitted. The Advisor can be any trusted adult who is not a parent, relative or peer: a teacher, school counselor, coach, club leader, Scout leader, family friend or neighbor. The Advisor can be changed later by sending the new Advisor's details to the regional program manager.
What a Validator does
A Validator confirms that the student completed the activities for a particular goal. The best Validator knows the activity and can describe the student's starting point and progress: a coach for a fitness goal, a music teacher for an instrument, a volunteer coordinator for service. A Validator does not need to watch every session. One person can validate several goals, and the Advisor may validate on a Validator's behalf where they know the activity.
Who cannot sign
Parents, guardians, relatives and peers cannot serve as Advisors or Validators. The rule protects the independence of the award: the adults who sign are confirming the work to the program, not to the family.
How families find the right adults
Start with adults the student already sees every week: a coach, an instrument teacher, a youth leader or a volunteer coordinator. Explain that the role is light but regular, and share the Program Book so they know what they are signing. Ask early, before the student needs hours approved, because no hours count until the Advisor has approved the goals. For Validators, pick the person closest to each activity, and keep their contact details in the activity log so validation requests reach them easily.
How Tallyhurst helps
Tallyhurst can serve as your teenager's Advisor, approving goals, reviewing progress in regular sessions with a parent or guardian present, and signing off the record book once it meets the rules. We also help identify the right Validator for each goal. The words in the record book are always the student's own.
Sources
Questions
Will the Congressional Award find an Advisor for my teenager?
No. The National Office does not match participants with Advisors. Finding one is considered part of the challenge of earning the award.
Can a teacher or coach be both Advisor and Validator?
Yes. An Advisor may validate a goal on a Validator's behalf when they know the activity well enough to confirm it.
Can my teenager change Advisor partway through?
Yes. Send the new Advisor's name, email and phone number to the regional program manager, or list the new Advisor on the next record book.
Does the Validator have to watch every activity?
No. A Validator should know the activity well enough to confirm the student's starting point and progress, but does not need to attend every session.