Sunday, August 30, 2015

Coca-Cola Scholarship

Coca Cola Scholars Foundation - awards range from $10,000-$20,000.  Students must be a high school senior; must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident; must have a minumum 3.0 GPA by the end of junior year.  www.coca-colascholars.org

3 Scholarship Search Engines you should use TODAY


Take a minute to login and create an account with these TODAY if you haven't already....
Fastweb - www.fastweb.com
Scholarships.com - www.scholarships.com
Merit Aid www.meritaid.com
****Use an email address that you check frequently.  If you do not have a professional sounding email address, ex. yourname@gmail.com, go ahead and create a new email account before signing up.  Use your new professional email for all applications, etc.  :)

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Senior Chilton County College Fair - Sept 9th


VHS Seniors will be attending the Chilton County College Fair on September 9th at 8:00 AM.  Our time to visit the schools/vendors will end at 9:30.  Permission forms will be going home this week.  Dress is Business Casual...no jeans or flip flops please.  *If you purchased a binder, it would be good to bring along to keep anything that the schools/vendors give you - scholarship info, business cards etc.

Here are some questions that you may want to ask (from NACAC) - make a personal list of what is important to you!!!

Admissions:
What are the admission requirements?
What qualities should prospective students have?
Which standardized test scores do you require?
What majors are offered?
What’s the most popular?
What are the application deadlines for admission?
Are interviews required?
Are there group or individual interviews?
How can I arrange a campus visit?
How long should I expect to wait for an answer once I submit my application?

Financial aid:
How much will it cost?
What financial aid options are offered?
When is your financial aid deadline?
Estimate the percentage of work study, loans, grants, and scholarships awarded in your financial aid packages.

Classroom:
What is the average class size?
How accessible are professors outside of class?
Will professors or graduate students teach my courses?
When must I choose a major?
Do I need a computer?
What student services are offered (tutoring, career counseling, study workshops)?
How are the libraries, computer labs?

Housing:
What type of housing is available?
Is student housing guaranteed for four years?
Would I have a roommate or live alone?
How are roommates selected?

Student life:
What special interest groups, activities, fraternities/ sororities are available?
What’s it like on campus on the weekends?
Are any programs offered to help students adjust to the college life?
Are intramural, club, and varsity sports offered?
How are the sports facilities?
What types of meal plans are available?

Just the facts:
What is the school known for?
What are recent graduates doing now?
How many freshman return for their sophomore year?
How safe is the campus and its surrounding neighborhoods? Time Saving Tip Print address labels to paste on the College Information cards. Include your name, address, e-mail, phone, high school, year of graduation, intended major(s), and extracurricular activities.

Career Search and Scholarship Search Tool from the Dept. of Labor

From Mr. Gaston, Education Services Specialist at Montgomery MEPS:
One of the career resources we use is CareerOneStop [http://www.careeronestop.org/], maintained by the US Dept of Labor. One page on it you and your students may find very useful is a Scholarship Finder. That link is [http://www.careeronestop.org/FindTraining/Pay/scholarships.aspx]. 

            - To get there from the homepage, you hover on "Find Training" (a purple box in the middle of the homepage), then click on "And More...". 

            - That will take you to the "Find Training" page. In the lower, middle part of the page, you'll see a purple "Find Training at a Glance" banner with 3 columns of information. The middle column is "Pay for Training." The 4th link under "Pay for Training" is "Scholarships"

            - Clicking on "Scholarships" will get you to the "Scholarships" page [http://www.careeronestop.org/FindTraining/Pay/scholarships.aspx 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

College Visits at VHS - UA and Huntingdon

The representatives from the University of Alabama and Huntingdon will be here on the following dates to meet with Juniors and Seniors:
Sept 16th - Jared Twitty, U of A, 11:00
Sept 29th - Jenny McDavid, Huntingdon, 11:00

Monday, August 24, 2015

Mississippi State Scholars and Preview Day

Auburn College of Agriculture Events and Scholarships

Tuskegee Open House Sept 19th

Quest Bridge National College Match

Time and time again we hear this: "I heard about QuestBridge from my teacher or counselor...and it made all the difference."

We know that educators like you have the power to transform lives and to give high-achieving students the confidence they need to apply for the QuestBridge National College Match, which connects students with admission and full four-year scholarships to top colleges.

The application is open now and is due on September 28, 2015

Here are some additional resources to help you understand who we are looking for and our application process:

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Remind! Sign up now! :)

Thanks to the 19 folks who have signed up for Remind.  Once 30 have joined, I'll have another prize drawing!  Click the link below to join.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

$5 Scholarship Binders

Students,
Don't forget to bring $5 for the 2016 Senior Binder!  Make sure you check the Big Scholarship post on the blog - you may have to scroll down to find it.

Wendy's Heisman Scholarship

INSPIRING POTENTIAL AND CHANGING THE LIVES OF SCHOLAR ATHLETES EVERYWHERE

Since 1994, Wendy’s High School Heisman has honored more than 395,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors in partnership with the Heisman Memorial Trophy®. The leadership award-honorees are well-rounded young men and woman who excel in learning, performing, and leading in the class room, on the field and in the community.
Like The Heisman Memorial Trophy, Wendy’s believes in the pursuit of athletic and academic excellence with integrity. And in addition to honoring student accomplishments, Wendy’s High School Heisman inspires all future high school students to pursue their higher education goals.
Every year, Wendy’s High School Heisman and The Heisman Trophy Trust team up to recognize more than 5,000 of the best high school seniors and rewards $120,000 to schools across the country. The culmination of this process takes place in December in conjunction with the National Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation during Heisman Weekend in New York City.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

ACT Registration Deadline for Sept 12th Test

Registration Deadline: August 21* 

Test Date: September 12

Last chance for students to take the September ACT®test! Remind them to register today!



Did you know . . .
  • The ACT is the only college entrance exam with a September test date—the earliest testing opportunity for the school year.
  • A student's ACT score can be used for applying to ANY US college or university, including Ivy League institutions and other highly selective schools.
  • Not all colleges and universities require a writing test for admission—the ACT writing test is optional, saving students time and money.
  • The ACT test score is based on the number of correct answers, with no points deducted for guessing.
  • www.actstudent.org

Sunday, August 16, 2015

BIG Scholarship Listing AND Book Checkout


Here is a listing of scholarships that you can start with - if a link is broken, search the title in Google. I have double checked the links - but make sure you pay attention to deadlines.  They may change from what I have listed.  A good idea is to keep a list of scholarships you applied for and deadlines in a binder.  I will have a Senior Binder available for purchase soon.  The cost will be $5.
If you would like to check out the large Scholarship Book (made by the College Board), come by the office.  You can check it out for 1 week.  :)

SCHOLARSHIP
AMOUNT
DEADLINE
DESCRIPTION
Tuition, books, and fees
60 days prior to enrollment
For children of parents with military experience
$1,000
Link Begins Sept 14th!
Winners will be drawn every two weeks.
You can enter each drawing.
Up to $30,000
November 15
Introduces students to careers in national security
1,500
November 21
Submit brief video about your biggest
 pet peeve with other drivers
$500
November 29
Requires 50 hours of community service in past 2 years and essay on how volunteering has impacted you




George W. Jenkins Scholarship
Over $50,000/year
December 1
The University of Miami seeks high achieving applicants  that have overcome adversity & have financial need.
Up to $100,000

Tell your story and let others vote for you.  Final event at various football conference championships games
Varies
December 1
Multiple scholarships available to the families of  ACA members
$1,000-$12,500/year
December 5
Scholarships given by local, state and national levels
Varies
December 5
Compete for the honor of representing the state at the national pageant
AL  winner $10,000
December 15
Stresses motivation for success and respect for self, family and community
$1,000 - $50,000
December 15
Awards for employees and non-employees. Based on academics and involvement 
$500
December 30
Requires a minimum of 50 volunteer hours
$1,000
December 31
Given to students pursuing career/technical education
Varies
October 31
Honors the scholastic, scouting and service efforts made by members
Alabama Student Assistance Grant
$300-$2500
Connected to FAFSA (opens Jan. 1)
Provided to eligible Alabama residents that study at public college within the state
Varies
WILL OPEN
CHECK BACK
Exemplary leadership is rewarded through numerous awards.
$3,000
January 9
Female seniors only
Full cost of college
January 14
1,000 talented minority students will be selected to study any field at any university they choose.
$20,000 and other resources
January 15
Students participated in a college readiness program (Upward Bound) are rewarded
$10,000
January 15
Open to minority students interesting in studying computer science or engineering
Last dollar
January 16
Award given to students that have overcome difficulties and hardships
Varies
January 20
Offers four scholarship programs; RMHC Scholars, RMHC African American Future Achievers, RMHC Hacer, and RMHC Asia
$500
Sept
Write a poem and essay about overcoming some type of hardship
$500
January 29
In ten words or less, tell why you deserve the scholarship
Tuition & stipend
January 31
Limited to participating schools
$20,000 over 4 years
February 1
Assistance from the University of Alabama to first generation college students
$2,000
February 1
Played Dixie Youth Baseball before the age of 13
4-$2,000
20 - $300
February 1
Award is given to Christian High School student-athletes competing on the varsity level.
Tuition, books, room/board
February 1
Students interested in studying Agriculture
related field at a HBCU
$2,500
February 13
Given to graduating seniors holding a MAX account opened prior to Oct. 10, 2014
$500 - $5,000
February 15
Write essay detailing how Alzheimers has impacted you or your family
$24,000 total
February 15
Assist minority students with education finances
Varies
February 15
Awards offered for those planning to study Social Science, Nursing, Law, Music, and other fields.
$2,500
February 15
Students with a documented learning disability receive financial assistance to further their education
VARIESVARIESSCHOLARSHIP SEARCH TOOL (COLLEGE BOARD)
Up to $25,000
February 27
For students planning to attend 4yr school
and major in an engineering related field
Varies
Varies
Series of cancer-related scholarships
Varies
Varies
Exclusively for Alabama residents
Lake Mitchell HOBO Scholarship
$2,500
March 1
Must participate in Nov. 2 Lake Mitchell clean-up day. Application available in guidance
Jefferson State Community College
Full tuition
March 1
Requires 3.0 GPA and 22 ACT and two page essay. Application available in guidance office.
$2,500
REOPEN IN JAN
GPA  2.5 – 3.2. Will only process first 700 applications.
Jefferson State Community College Ambassador
Full tuition
March 6
Selected students will serve as representatives of the school. Requires an interview for selection. Application available in guidance.
$2,000 for JC
$4,000 for 4yr
March 19
Must have minimum GPA of 2.75 and ACT score of 26 or below. Wants to give at least 1 per county; 150 total
Varies
REOPEN IN JAN
Alabama resident, member of Baptist church in Alabama Baptist State Convention
VARIESVARIESSCHOLARSHIP SEARCH ENGINE
Varies
April 1
Given to students planning to major in education
Varies
Varies
Scholarships are from a wide variety of sources
Varies
Varies
Scholarships are from a wide variety of sources
$500
June 20
Available to all student-athletes