Talawanda High School Senior Newsletter #6 February 2015 Dear Parents and Seniors, During this time of year many seniors are finalizing their plans for college. Students who have been accepted to more than one college and have not made a decision should visit those schools. Every college has special campus programs for prospective students. Call the admission office to find out what visitation programs are available. When considering a college or university, campus visits are the best way to learn about the school s unique qualities and to get a feel for what it would be like to live and study there. This issue contains more scholarships that seniors can apply for and valuable financial aid information. Read the information carefully and contact your counselor if you have any questions. Important FAFSA Information Whether you think you qualify for financial aid or not it is imperative that every family complete the FAFSA. This is how to determine if you are eligible for federal, state or collegebased financial aid. To complete the FAFSA online go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. It's a fast, free, secure and an easy way for students and parents to apply. Applying on line allows you to get your application results 7 to 10 days faster than if you mail in a paper FAFSA. In order to complete the FAFSA online you register online for a PIN number. Students and parents who are first time FAFSA filers must go to the PIN web site and register for a PIN which serves as the electronic signature for the FAFSA and the ability to gain access to other Department of Education systems. It is very important to submit the FAFSA by each individual college s priority deadline. Call the universities you are applying to for that information. Be sure to indicate college codes for all colleges you have applied. The College Code Guide book is available in the Guidance Office. Applying for a PIN: Go to: www.pin.ed.gov Enter personal information: name, social security number, Date Of Birth Provide address: street, city, state, zip code, e-mail
Scholarship Corner Please take note that this section of the newsletter contains timely reports of available scholarships. Applications must be submitted on time in order to guarantee postmark deadlines. Since there is no comprehensive scholarship publication, we want to remind seniors it is imperative that all copies of newsletters be saved in order to refer back to previous issues for scholarship information. The Guidance Office has copies of previous newsletters for those who may need another copy. College/University/Technical/Community School Scholarships Almost every school sponsors scholarship programs for students who make application to that specific institution. Extensive files are located in the THS Guidance Office for seniors to select scholarships they wish to apply for. Stop in before or after school or during a study hall to review available school based scholarships. General Scholarships Snyder Career Development Scholarship Eligibility: must be enrolled in a school district within the Butler Tech Careers Technical Planning District, graduating senior, must have taken at least three Family and Consumer Science classes, (one of which may be a middle school class), must demonstrate plans for pursuing post-secondary education in the upcoming school year. Amount: $500. Application: Submit Portfolio/Passport and application to the Career Initiatives office, (Return to Mrs. Zimmerman). Passport must include: Resume, Career Essay, College Essay and /or 21 st Century Skills questions, Transcript and one letter of recommendation. Interview by a team consisting of three to four members from Butler Tech, the local business community and /or local college. Deadline: March 23, 2015 to Mrs. Zimmerman. Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation - scholarship funds available to students who meet the requirements of those funds. Criteria: application, transcript, must complete FAFSA; submit your Student Aid Report (SAR) which comes to you as a result of having filed the FAFSA. Award Amount: variable. Application Deadline: applications located in THS Guidance Office or online at www.cincinnatischolarshipfoundation.org; due on or before April 30, 2015. McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Nursing Scholarships - financial assistance to individuals planning to prepare for employment as registered nurses. Eligibility: verification of acceptance to an accredited school of nursing, reside in MHMH service area. Criteria: application, essay/letter of motivation, goals, financial need, transcript, letters of recommendation, GPA/rank in class/test scores (ACT-SAT), motivation/financial need, leadership, Amount: $2,500. Application must be received by: April 1, 2015. Application available in the Guidance office.
Buick Achievers Scholarship Program - Criteria: enrolling for full-time study as first time freshman at a 4 yr. college, plan to major in one of the following: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, or Design, are interested in a career in the automotive or related industries. Amount: 100 scholarships for up to $25,000/yr., 1,000 scholarships at $2,000/yr., renewable for up to 4 years. Application: WWW.BUICKACHIEVERS.COM. Application Deadline: February 27, 2015. Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Scholarship - students pursuing education beyond high school to accredited college, technical, or vocational school. Eligibility: U.S citizen. Criteria: community involvement, financial need, character, academic achievement, veterans and their family members/dependents. Further criteria listed in application. Amount: variable. Deadline: received by April 10, 2015. Applications available in the Guidance office. Abbott & Fenner Scholarship Amount: $1,000.00 to winner(s) each year. Criteria: students submit an essay on the topic that appears on the scholarship page of the web site: http:// www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm - Further details are available on the web site. Deadline: June 15, 2015. Association of the United States Army Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter 2015 Scholarship Eligibility -1. Children and spouses of U. S. army Soldiers who are currently serving or have served in the Global War on Terrorism. 2. Army Soldiers and Army Veterans who have served or who are currently serving in Global War on Terrorism. 3. Family Members of AUSA Members who belong to the Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter. Application available in the Guidance office. Deadline : postmarked no later than April 1, 2015. Students who are planning a career in education. Eligibility: high school senior planning to The Delta Kappa Gamma Society Scholarship -awarded to 1 Butler County students become a teacher. Criteria: application and an essay. Amount: one $1000.00. Postmark Deadline: March 15, 2015. Applications available in the Guidance. 2015 Career Based Intervention-Career Connections (CBI-CC) JeffAkers Scholarship Criteria enrolled in a CBI or CC during grades 7-9, confirmation of enrollment to an accredited postsecondary institution by CBI-CC Board. Amount - $1,000 (one time) Deadline February 27, 2015. Applications available in the Guidance office. The William D. Squires Scholarship Criteria only students from Ohio can apply, primarily need-based, have a specific career goal, highly motivated, good character and show academic promise; (minimum 3.2 GPA). Application deadline: April 6, 2015. A copy of the scholarship application and detailed information are available for free from: www.wmdsquiresfoundation.org.
Charles L. Warren Memorial Heritage Scholarship - seniors who attend schools that are members of the OACAC organization. Eligibility: student from underrepresented populations with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale who are in a college preparatory curriculum, attending an Ohio college/university. Criteria: application, transcript, counselor recommendation, personal statement. (Students may also submit a recommendation from a teacher, clergy or someone who has worked with them through a community organization.) Amount: one time $1,500. Application Postmarked Deadline: March 16, 2015; To apply go to; http://oacac.org/student-scholarships/ Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Foundation Scholarship ( OOGEEP) Criteria; U.S. citizen, must have a career goal in the crude oil and natural gas industry, or related energy field, must be an OHIO resident or a student attending, or planning to attend, an accredited OHIO College, University or Trade School, maintain a 2.50 or better G.P.A. for renewal, submission of transcripts is encouraged, but not required. Additional requirements; A recommendation from a teacher, employer or other mentor figure. (Recommendations from family members are not acceptable). An essay consisting of no less than 250 words, and no more than 500 words, describing personal and career goals, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, awards/recognitions, community service, work history, financial needs, and personal or family influences. Applications available in the Guidance office. Deadline: March 31, 2015. Ohio Agricultural Council Scholarship Program Eligibility; high school seniors preparing to enter college, applicants or their parent or legal guardian must be a resident of the State of Ohio, applicant must have declared or plan to declare a major in agriculture at any two-year or four-year college or university, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 preferred. Applications; obtained online at www.ohioagcouncil.org. Include with application high school transcript and a letter of recommendation. Deadline; Feb. 27, 2015. (Applications can also be picked up in the Guidance office). Let Us Never Forget Scholarship : In Memory of Spc. Anthony Vinnedge - Tony Vinnedge was a lifelong resident of the Oxford area who graduated from Talawanda High School in 2001. He enlisted in the Army. While serving his country in Iraq, Tony lost his life. This scholarship is being given in Tony's memory. Eligibility: graduating senior planning to pursue further formal education; at least 2 full years of music plus at least l semester in their senior year; special consideration will be given to students who plan to pursue Vocal Music as a career. Amount: $1000. APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENSION; MARCH 1, 2015 AT MIDNIGHT. Application Instructions: http://yellowribbonsupport.com/scholarship.aspx
Burdette Ehrhardt Memorial Scholarship; Eligibility; graduating senior with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, pursuing a career in conservation, natural resources, environmental education, conservation law enforcement, biology or related field at an accredited institution of higher education, demonstrate leadership and motivation to participate in extra-curricular activities, demonstrate a commitment to and passion for conservation and improvement of wildlife habitat, students must submit an autobiography and essay(see application for details), two(2) letters of recommendations.( Employees of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and their family members are not eligible to apply). Deadline; Feb. 13, 2015. Applications available in the Guidance office. FYI Cincinnati State Open House March 13, 2015, 9am to 3pm. Register at Cincinnati State Engage 2015. FAFSA4caster Is there any way our family can get a "sneak preview" of what our expected family contribution (ERC) will be? The FAFSA4caster is a financial aid estimator that you can use before officially applying for financial aid using the FAFSA. To access FAFSA4caaster go to: www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov. FAFSA4caster will provide you with an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is an index that colleges use to determine what types of student aid you may receive. Using your EFC, FAFSA4caster will then determine what types of federal grants, loans, and work-study you may qualify for and will provide you an estimated award amount for each. Students considering furthering their education beyond high school can use this FREE tool to: 1) calculate their eligibility for federal financial aid and 2) reduce the time it will take to complete the FAFSA, the qualifying form for all federal financial aid.
Local Oxford Area Scholarships for Seniors Scholarship booklets will be available in the Guidance Office to provide seniors with information regarding local scholarships by the last week of February 2015. LISTEN FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OR STOP BY THE GUIDANCE OFFICE! The packet identifies financial aid resources that are given by Talawanda High School or those granted by local individuals and organizations. Criteria for the scholarships include areas such as: career plans, scholastic achievement, financial need, volunteer service, extracurricular activities, leadership ability, GPA, class rank, test scores, essay, motivation and character. All applications must be completed and returned to the Talawanda High School Guidance Office by 3:00 p,m, on Monday, March 30, 2015. Don t Forget - Selective Service Registration Under federal law, virtually all men must register with the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. However, the Selective Service NOW accepts early submission of registration. Male students who are 17 years and 3 months old can submit information and be automatically registered when they turn 18. Registration can be done on the Internet at www.sss.gov or students can pick up a registration card at a local post office. Once a young man registers, he stays eligible for programs and benefits connected to registration, such as college loans and grants, federal jobs, job training, and citizenship for immigrant men seeking to become U.S. citizens