College Counts Scholarship - Opens Jan 2!

www.collegecountsalabama.com 

ELIGIBILITY 
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for this scholarship: 
Be a high school senior or first-time college freshman beginning in fall 2015 
Be a U.S. citizen 
Be an Alabama resident Planning to enroll in an Alabama eligible educational institution in fall 2015 
Demonstrate financial need 
Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 
Have an ACT score of 26 or below (applicants attending a two-year school will not be required to submit ACT scores)

Chilton County Financial Aid Night - Dec 15th

SunTrust Scholarship Sweepstakes

Miss Alabama Teen Scholarship

Picture of flyer - Available in Mrs. Cochran's office.  Deadline for entry is December 10th.

Jim Harrell Scholarship - University of Montevallo

Poetry Contest for Seniors that plan to attend the University of Montevallo.  Please see Mrs. Cochran for additional information.

AXA Achievement Scholarship

Go to http://www.axa-achievement.com

375 winners nationwide - apply by Feb 1, 2015.  ONLY THE FIRST 10,000 APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED

AXA AchievementSM - college resources

AXA understands how challenging the road to college can be. We developed AXA Achievement to help make college possible by providing access and advice.

Advice on planning for college

AXA Achievement also provides comprehensive information to help students and parents take the next step to college. 

Read about strategies and tools to help families plan, save and pay for higher education.

• Access to scholarships

  Since it launched in 2003, AXA Achievement has awarded $24 million in scholarships to more than 5,600 students making AXA one of the nation’s largest corporate providers of scholarships. Our scholarship winners - known as AXA Achievers - have all accomplished something exceptional outside the classroom. 
• 
  

Chilton County Mentoring/Tutoring Program

Would your child benefit from a mentor or a tutor?  

We are thankful to the Chilton County Mentoring program for providing this free service to our community!  Please contact Mrs. Cochran at 280-2822 for Request Form if you would like for your child to participate.

Article - Clanton Advertiser Chilton County Mentoring Program

AL School Public Relations Association Scholarship

Please see Mrs. Cochran if you are interested in this scholarship!

ALABAMA SCHOOL Public Relations Association SCHOLARSHIP

 Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

The Alabama School Public Relations Association is a statewide coalition of professional school communicators. ALSPRA offers financial support to students who plan to enroll in an Alabama college or university after high school graduation and who plan to seek a degree in communication, public relations or a related field. Student members who are eligible may apply for the education scholarship program offered at the beginning of each calendar year and awarded at the annual ALSPRA Conference in mid-Spring. This scholarship will be awarded in Spring of 2015.

CANDIDATES

The candidate must be interested in pursuing a public relations major, communication major or emphasis track at a university or college within the state of Alabama. The candidate must be a high school junior or senior at an Alabama public school with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

An official transcript from your high school must be submitted with your application. Applicants who participate in a school organization related to journalism, public relations, communication, student media or marketing or who are members of a local, state or national public relations organization are preferred.

APPLICATION

Please type or fill out the student scholarship application in black or blue ink (print legibly). The application must be accompanied by your transcript, résumé, photo and response to an essay question related to the public relations field.

Select one of the two questions presented below for your essay. Choose the question that best suits your interests in public relations. The essay must be original, typed, double-spaced and no longer than two pages, approximately 800 words.

1. What do you think is the most important issue or trend affecting PR today and why? Give real-world examples.
   
   
2. Over the last 10 years, how has the PR profession changed and where do you see the profession going in the next 10 years and why?

SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION PROCESS

The scholarship winner will be selected by an ALSPRA committee and notified by mid-February. ALSPRA will award one $500 scholarship and present the winner with a certificate in recognition of his or her achievement. The winner will be honored during the Annual ALSPRA Conference luncheon in mid-Spring. In addition, the winning essay may be published on ALSPRA’s website.  In addition to the winning essay, student photograph may also be published on the ALSPRA website and will not be used as a criteria in the judging process.  The final decision will be left up to the discretion of the scholarship committee.

DEADLINE & SUBMISSION DETAILS

The deadline for the ALSPRA Student Scholarship is January 1. Mail your application to: ALSPRA, P.O. Box 2093, Montgomery, AL 36102-2093 or email it to alabamaschoolpr@gmail.com .  Application can also be found on the ALSPRA website at:http://www.alspra.org/.  Once received by ALSPRA, your essay and application materials become property of the Association and will not be returned.

Shelton State

Senior students who plan to enroll at Shelton State Community College in the fall 2015 (August 2015) here is the link:  http://www.sheltonstate.edu/admissions/complete_application_online.aspx Also, students who are interested in the Shelton/Mercedes partnership can also apply starting October 17th. Finally, students must apply to the college first, then the Mercedes program. The student will need a "S" number to start the application process.http://mbusi.com/employment/mechatronics-training

Here is a link to the Shelton/Mercedes Partnership:

http://www.sheltonstate.edu/future_students/mercedes_partnership.aspx

Burger King Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIPS UP TO $50,000

Do you know some high school seniors that need help paying for college? The BURGER
KING(SM) Scholars Program wants to help students gain access to a higher education.

Students eligible to earn a scholarship and be BURGER KING(SM) Scholars are:

High school seniors, BURGER KING(SM) employees, their dependent children, spouses or
domestic partners living in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada
High school seniors must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Plan to enroll full-time for the 2015-16 academic year at an accredited 2- or 4-year
school

Tell your students to apply today for the BURGER KING(SM) Scholars program! You can
download a flyer (in English and Spanish) to share with students:
http://scholarshipamerica.org/bk2015/email-1/bk-scholars-flyer-2015.pdf

Application Deadline: December 15, 2014

College Week Live - All Access October + Scholarship Opportunity!

Join College Week Live for free information about the following:

Click this link to be directed to the page that you see below!

Event Overview

Our biggest event of the Fall!

Everyone wants a behind-the-scenes look at what college life is really like. Now you can get just that. Login to live chat with current students at 200+ colleges to hear firsthand all you want to know about classes, programs, campus life, and more. You can also get advice from admissions reps and education experts on finding the best college match, getting financial aid, and more.

Plus you can enter to win our biggest scholarship of the season.  It's easy to enter:

- Login to the All Access College Fair.

- Visit three college profile pages on the site.

- You'll be automatically entered to win our $5,000 scholarship drawing.

Sign Up Now. 

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Agenda

The SAT/ACT – How to Succeed at Standardized Tests While Keeping Your Sanity
10:00 AM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Scott Farber

Founder and President of A-List Education 

Path to the Student-Athlete Experience
12:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Jessi Hilger

Coordinator of Customer Service at the NCAA Eligibility Center 

STEM Focused: The Exquisite Joy of Creating Amazing Code
1:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

David Thielen

Chief Technology Officer and Founder, Windward Studios, Reporting Software and Document Generation Software 

University of Rochester

2:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Narrowing the College Application List
3:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Susanna Cerasuolo

M. Ed., Founder and CEO of CollegeMapper 

Johnson and Wales University

3:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Steer your Career
4:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Aaron Doody

Project Manager, Service Innovation and PMO at Zipcar 

Conquering the College Essay
5:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Alan Gelb

Author of Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps 

New England School of Photography

5:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

University of Vermont

5:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Show Me the Money: Straight Talk on Important Financial Considerations for College
6:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Lyssa Thaden

Manager of Partner Education at American Student Assistance 

Secrets to Winning a Scholarship
7:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Mark Kantrowitz

Senior Vice President & Publisher of Edvisors 

University of Louisville

7:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

The State of College Admissions in 2014-2015
8:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Speaker Information

Dr. Michele Hernandez

President of Hernandez College Consulting and Application Boot Camp 

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 Scholarships

All Access October $5,000 Scholarship

Visit three schools while you’re there and you’ll be automatically entered to win a $5,000 scholarship

VFW Scholarship

First Place is $30,000!

Do you know a high school student who could use some help paying for
college<http://heroes.vfw.org/site/R?i=UNhM16oE31mu8X2KDwPa6w>?

Let them know about the VFW's Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition!

This Year's Topic: Why Veterans are Important to our Nation's History and Future
DEADLINE: November 1, 2014

We need to spread the word, and we're asking friends like you to help out.

[Forward to a Friend]<http://heroes.vfw.org/site/R?i=mFQ9-LCe2ii-Gl87oAlX2A>
[FB-f-Logo__blue_50.png]<http://heroes.vfw.org/site/R?i=ipWSXehPVMx3R-4B-jIBhQ>



[Twitter]<http://heroes.vfw.org/site/R?i=hV6Z4FC7rKuKRMNzw_AJXw>


All students in grades 9-12 can apply. We want to reach as many patriotic students
as possible to compete for the grand prize: $30,000 paid directly to the American
college, university or vocational/technical school of their choice! Download the
application<http://heroes.vfw.org/site/R?i=5SzQUB5Sf0CCkNBlcFhHaw>.

Pass the word on to:

  *   High School Students
  *   Teachers
  *   Counselors
  *   Youth Groups
  *   Parent-Teacher Associations
  *   School Boards

Thanks for spreading the word about this incredible opportunity!

HOBO Scholarship

Each year HOBO awards a $2500 scholarship to a deserving high school senior from Coosa or Chilton County.  Funding for the annual scholarship comes from a combination of proceeds from the sale of the HOBO calendar.

Applicants who are seniors and residents of Chilton or Coosa County with a minimum B average, and entering any accredited Alabama  two or four-year college,  may apply. 

Each student applicant must complete the following:

• Lake Mitchell HOBO Scholarship Application Form
• Attach an official transcript of grades (9-12), and include their GPA, and ACT or SAT scores.
• Provide two letters of personal recommendation with names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
• Submit an essay on what they consider to be the most important environmental issue and state what they can do to make a difference regarding that issue.
• Participate in either a lake cleanup day or water monitor training where they learn to perform water chemistry tests.
• Complete an interview with the HOBO Scholarship Committee. Interviews are held in May at which time the winner is chosen.

All applications, with attachments and essays, must be submitted or postmarked by March 1 of the. 

Applications may be emailed or mailed to the following address:
Rebecca Beaty 
320 Shoshone Drive
Montevallo, AL 35115
rebecca.beaty@gmail.com

Contact Rebecca Beaty with any questions.
Telephone – (205) 305-7597
Email – rebecca.beaty@gmail.com

Here is the link to the HOBO Scholarship info for this year!
http://www.lakemitchellhobo.org/scholarships.html

Upcoming ACT Explore (8th Grade) and Plan (10th) Grade Testing

On Wednesday, October 15th the 8th grade will take the ACT Explore test.  On Thursday, the 10th graders will take the ACT Plan.  Both of these assessments will help the students see how well they could perform on the ACT and give them suggestions for improvement and other important information.
Testing will begin at 8:15 and last all morning.  Please do not plan any appointments for this day!  :)  Students can use their own calculator.  They will also not be able to have a snack during the test - please make sure they eat a good breakfast!
Feel free to call my office if you have any questions!
Mrs. Cochran
280-2822

Spirit of Community Award - Four Weeks Left to Apply

Please come see me if you are interested the opportunity below...  :)

Four weeks left to apply for Prudential Spirit of Community Awards!

Just four weeks remain for youth volunteers to apply for national recognition
through the 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

This program is an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on students who have
distinguished themselves through community service, and celebrate the spirit of
volunteerism throughout the student body. We hope you'll encourage your youth
volunteers to apply.

2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are open to students in grades 5-12 who
have participated in a volunteer activity within the past year. Honors are granted
at the local, state and national level. Top honorees earn cash prizes and
all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C. for four days of special recognition
events.

Here's how students can apply:
* Visit www.spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit
* Complete the application and the student/parent agreement by November 4, 2014
* Email or hand-deliver certification instructions to a middle or high school
principal, or the head of a county 4-H organization, Girl Scout council, American
Red Cross chapter, YMCA or HandsOn Network affiliate.

To learn more about the program, call 877-525-8491 or visit www.spirit.prudential.com.

MAX4Kids Foundation Scholarship

THe MAX4Kids Scholarship Program began in 2001 and has donated more than $290,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors.  This scholarship program awards ten graduating seniors with a $2,500 non-renewable scholarship to the institution of his or her choice.

Criteria:
The student must be a MAX customer, with an open account by OCTOBER 10, 2014.
The applicant must attend a high school in central or east Alabama.
The applicant must be a graduating senior of the class of 2015 and entering a 4 year institution, junior college or technical school in the fall of 2015.
The applicant must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA

MAX4Kids Scholarship applications are available in my office, at all MAX locations and online at www.myMAX.com.

Deadline to apply is February 13, 2015.

Scholarship and College Info Binder - OFFICE COPY

The UPDATED office copy of the Scholarship and College Information Binder is now available.

The binder has 4 sections - In State Schools, Out of State Schools, Local Scholarships and National Scholarships.
 I will post new additions to the binder as it is received.  Scholarships (not school specific - ex. Auburn) will be copied for the students to add to their binders.
College Admissions Info will be in the binder.  If you would like a copy of a specific school - I'll be glad to do that for you!

In State:
*Auburn University - Must apply to Auburn by Jan 15th, must apply for scholarships through AUSOM by Feb 15th.
*Central Alabama Community College
*Huntingdon College (Plus Band Scholarship information)
*Jacksonville State University - Preferred Deadline - March 15
*Stillman College
*University of Alabama - December 15
*University of North Alabama - Scholarship Deadline - December 15

Out of State:
*Mississippi State University - Scholarship Deadline - December 1
*University of Southern Mississippi - Scholarship Deadline - February 1

Local Scholarships:
*Smith Scholarship  -  Must be a senior, must have a C+ average, plan to attend college in the State of Alabama, must have made a significant contribution to family or community.
Online application:  www.smithscholarships.com
I have common questions about the application and additional information in the binder.

The Common Application

What is The Common Application?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit membership organization that, since its founding over 35 years ago, has been committed to providing reliable services that promote equity, access, and integrity in the college application process. We serve students, member institutions, and secondary schools by providing applications that students and school officials may submit to any of our over 500 members. Membership is open to colleges and universities that promote access by evaluating students using a holistic selection process. (from their website)

Not sure where to go and want to check out MANY possibilities?  Take a minute to check out the "Common App"...

Use the website link above as well as this additional information.  I have a copy of the additional info link in my office if you would like to check it out.

Scholarship Junkies - GREAT FIND

Scholarship Junkies (found while looking for scholarship information on PINTEREST - make sure you are googling and looking every day!) is a great find.  You are able to submit any essays that you are using for applications and scholarships - they set you up with a student who has won a scholarship in that area to check what you are submitting.  This is a free service!  They also have a great FAQ section about scholarships in general.  Check this out!

What can I DO with this Major?

GREAT tool to help you explore majors and jobs that match up!  Take a minute to check this out.  :)
(from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor)
http://careerservices.umhb.edu/what-can-i-do-with-this-major

MORE scholarship links

A huge list of scholarships can be found here:

http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/average.phtml


Don't underestimate the power of Google!  Found this list while searching for something else.  Spend time everyday looking for scholarships!

Flex Request Link

Click here to Choose your Flex Classes!

New scholarship find from Pinterest!

List of "easy" scholarships found on Pinterest!  Worth taking a look...  :)

http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/blog/college-planning-2/a-slackers-guide-to-scholarships

Senior Parent Letter

Seniors,
Please take a moment to share this information with your parents.  I will send this letter home tomorrow with the permission form for the Career Fair!

VHS Senior Parents,


Welcome to Senior Year!  I wanted to share a few important tidbits from the Counseling Office so that I may best assist you!

I have College Planning Binders for sale in the Counseling Office for $5.  These binders have a wealth of information for you and your family.  If you do not wish to purchase a binder, I also have copies in the library.  I recommend buying your own - it is a great place to have a central location for all of your federal aid, scholarship and application information.  As more information comes into my office, I will copy that for your child to add to his/her binder.

Please take a moment to subscribe to my blog:
http://cochrans-corner.blogspot.com/
I post scholarship, school and other information regularly.  There are also many post that are archived on the list that you can look over from last year.  This is a great way to stay in touch and up to date on the information from my office.

Also, please feel free to email or call me to set up an appointment.  I would love to meet with your family and discuss how best to help your child plan for life after VHS.
My email is cscochran@chilton.k12.al.us and my office phone is 205-280-2822.

Here are a few upcoming dates of importance:
September 10th - Chilton County College Fair Cost is $3 to cover transportation
                              Dress is “Interview Appropriate”
                                Students need money for lunch
Sunday, September 14th - National College Fair Birmingham, BJCC   1-4 PM
                        Not a school event, but I will be there!
                                                Students must Pre-Register
                                                                                https://www.gotomyncf.com/Registration
                                                This event is FREE
September, 13 - ACT         VHS   8:00 AM
September, 19th - University of Montevallo Visit from Adrian Cofer during Flex
September, 26th - University of West Alabama Visit from Libba McClendon during Flex

It’s a busy month!  I will send more information home as I have it available.
Please let me know how I can help you!

Thanks,


Christina Cochran

Scholarship Links

Here's another great place to look for scholarship information:
http://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/resources/college-counseling/scholarship-links/

Ag Exploration Days - Auburn University

I just received materials for several events held at Auburn for those interested in their Agriculture program.  Please see me or follow the link below to the events listing!
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/students/future/events/

Upcoming Events...National and Local College Fair

The Birmingham National College Fair will be on Sunday, Sept 14th from 1-4 pm at the BJCC.  This is a great opportunity to meet college representatives from around the country, as well as attend FREE workshops!
You will need to login and print off a barcode.  The barcode will be used at the event - don't forget to bring it!  If you are talking with a vendor that you would like more information from, they will scan the barcode, saving you both time.  :)
To register:  www.gotomyncf.com
For a list of schools attending:  http://bit.ly/NCFExhibitorSearch

Our local Chilton County Career Fair will be on Wednesday, September 10th.  We will travel to Jefferson State CC in Clanton that morning and stop for lunch on the way back.  More information soon!

Senior Portraits Thursday (Aug 7)

Seniors:  If you did not get a post card about senior pictures...call the main office in the morning.  If no one answers, just try back again.  :)  There is a sitting fee for pictures  ($25).  That is ONLY if you want to be able to purchase pictures.  If you pay the fee - they will make you a proof book that you can pick the poses that you wish to purchase.  The $25 does not actually buy you anything...  :)  Just the opportunity to purchase later.
If you do not want order pictures please come by and take your formal picture - those are the ones that are used for school.
*If you DO want to buy pictures and want to take other poses...just bring things you would like to change into - like taking a "band" themed picture, favorite outfit, etc.
Again, please call the office with any questions!  :)  280-2820

Seniors - Dual Enrollment

Seniors:
If you are interested in Dual Enrollment at Jeff State - we have paperwork that needs to be filled out!  I have that available in the office or you can find it on Jeff State's website:
http://www.jeffstateonline.com/enroll/become/high-school-students/dual-enrollment/

Remember - this year is is a little different.  They will be offering English 101 and Western Civilization in the Fall and Eng 102 and Western Civilization (Second Part) in the Spring.  You would need to be at Jeff State M-Th for 1st block all year.
***You only receive HIGH SCHOOL credit for English.  If you decide to not take the Western Civilization - they will allow that too.  Please talk to me if you would like to just take English!  (it is cheaper)  :)

To apply - you must have a 3.0 GPA (or higher) and scored at least a 20 on the English sub test of the ACT.  IF YOU DID NOT - that's ok - you need to take the COMPASS placement test.  They offer it every Thursday from 8:30-10:30 AM.

Please share this with others that might be interested!  Call the school before you come by to make sure I'm in the office or set up an appointment.

FREE ACT/SAT Apps

This article has a few FREE apps to get you started.  Check it out here:

US News "Jump Start SAT and ACT Study Plans with Free Apps"

Scholarship Search Engines

Seniors:

Please make sure to sign up on the following search engines for scholarships!  This is a wonderful FREE service.  PLEASE make sure to not give out credit card or social security number to ANYONE.  If someone asks, please check with me first!  :)

www.fastweb.com

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

Congratulations Graduates!

Congratulations to the Class of 2014!  Best Wishes!!!!!
Click here - Clanton Advertiser Article

ABC 33/40 Texting and Driving Campaign

Recently ABC 33/40 came to VHS to spread the word about the dangers of texting and driving.  Here is a link to the clip that aired today!!!!  Take a look! 
ABC 33/40 Video

ACT - ALL GRADE 11 Students - April 23rd

Please don't forget...all 11th grade students will be taking the ACT at school (for free!) on Wednesday, April 23rd.  Students need to arrive on time - well rested and ready to go!  We will provide a snack during the break as students may have a later lunch due to the testing schedule.  Please do not schedule any appointments for this date.  Students may also use an ACT approved calculator.
If you have any questions - please give me a call!  280-2822

Jefferson State Community College - Clanton Summer Schedule

Looking for a summer class?  Check out the link below?  Students in Grades 10-12 are able to participate with Accelerated Classes. 
If you would like to learn more about Accelerated Classes, please see Mrs. Cochran!

http://www.jeffstateonline.com/files/schedule_clanton.pdf

Don't Forget! FASFA Drop in Session Friday

Don't forget!

Landon Taylor will be here Friday to help you fill out the FASFA!  This is a free workshop for seniors that will take place in the ACCESS lab from 3:30-5:00 pm.  This will be setup for you to drop in when you can.  The process takes about 30 minutes to complete!  If you need more information, please send me an email or give me a call!

280-2822 or cscochran@chilton.k12.al.us

Mrs. Cochran  :)

Jefferson State Scholarship Due/New Scholarships in the Office!

Students who qualify for the Jefferson State Community College scholarship need to submit their information ASAP.  If you are unsure if you qualify or not - please come by my office.

There are several new scholarships that have been passed out to the senior classes.  If you happened to miss me, please come by the office and take a copy.  :)

Random Acts of Kindness Week

This week, we have been celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK).  Our staff have been watching for students and other staff members who are demonstrating kindness to others.  Once they have been spotted, they are putting their names in a drawing.  One staff member and student at the annex and high school will be drawn on Monday morning for a fun prize and their pictures will be sent to the paper.  Watch these videos below to learn more about this global movement and celebrate with us!

http://youtu.be/nwAYpLVyeFU  (RAK - LifeVest Inside)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF9b1cq-PAI
(Commercial from Thailand - appropriate for older students)

College Counts Scholarship (Due 3/19)

You’re going to love college, but paying for it can be tough. That’s why, on behalf of the CollegeCounts Board of Directors, Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer has introduced the CollegeCounts Scholarship: to provide funding assistance to Alabama high school students with demonstrated financial need to attend college for the betterment of the student and the state. If you’re thinking about enrolling at an Alabama college or university, the CollegeCounts scholarship might be for you. 
Be a high school senior or first-time college freshman beginning in fall 2014

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be an Alabama resident
• Planning to enroll in an Alabama eligible educational institution in fall 2014
• Demonstrate financial need
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75
• Have an ACT score of 26 or below
  (applicants attending a two-year school will not be required to submit ACT scores)

Apply Here:  http://collegecountsalabama.com/