Finalist Selection Process

❖ Minor Category Award Winner: Nominees within each category who meet all eligibility criteria will advance to contention. During the judging process, the highest‑scoring nominee will be recognized as the category award winner.

❖ National Ranking: Winners from each individual minor category will be evaluated for advancement to the highest honor awards.

❖ Highest Rank & Major Prize Winner: The winner will be determined according to the standardized judging rubric developed by the committee, ensuring fairness, transparency, and merit‑based recognition.

❖ Single Entry Protocol: If only one entry is received in a category, it may be acknowledged as a finalist. However, it will only be declared the category winner if it achieves the minimum gateway or benchmark score established by the judging criteria.

❖ Invitation is Non-Guarantee: An invitation to attend the SME Awards ceremony does not constitute confirmation of winning. Final award decisions will be announced during the event.