News From the Counseling Office for May
May has finally arrived. Many of our Seniors are breathing sighs of relief.
It’s been a struggle for many, but the reward is just around the corner!
Graduation from high school is such an important occasion marking the completion
of a long process that has involved the lives of students, families, teachers,
and administrators. For the last 13 years many people have pushed toward
this goal. We are all so proud of our Seniors’ accomplishments
Our Juniors have started their graduation plans, too. In one short year, they
will be getting ready for caps and gowns. As they stand in the wings, anticipation
grows for them as well.
As the year winds down, it’s a good time to reflect on all the progress
made with all our students. Best wishes for a fun summer break!
Favorite quote for this month: “The roots of education are bitter,
but the fruit is sweet” - Aristotle
EducationQuest
Each month I will include the newsletter from EducationQuest. This is a free
service for us. The closest office is located in Rockbrook Village in Omaha.
These folks help with financial aid of many sorts as well as other services.
The toll-free number is at the bottom of the article and will always be
listed on this page. Call them as often as you need. Read on:
May 2008
_____________________________________________________
Seniors … borrow wisely for college!
The financial aid award letter you received from your college indicates the
loans you qualify to borrow. It may include loans you borrow directly from
the school (Perkins), from a lender (Stafford Loan), or from the federal
government (Direct Loan). In addition, your parents may qualify for the
PLUS loan. Your college will provide borrowing procedures.
Before you borrow, estimate your future monthly loan payments using our Student
Loan Repayment Calculator at www.educationquest.org/calc.asp <http://www.educationquest.org/calc.asp> .
The key is to borrow WISELY. Think about how debt may affect your future
lifestyle. We talked to a former college student named Brad who graduated
with a teaching degree, but can’t afford to be a teacher because he’s
paying off $30,000 in student loans! He offers these tips to help you avoid
his mistakes:
•
Carefully research the college you plan to attend to make sure it’s
a good fit. Brad transferred to three different schools, which added additional
years of school and loan debt.
•
Estimate your future salary and compare it to the amount of student loans
you think you will need.
•
Work while you go to college and use that money to pay living expenses.
•
Use your student loan money only for tuition, books and fees.
•
Keep track of your student loan debt. Brad said he didn’t pay attention
to his debt accumulation until his junior year, and then said, “It
was a shock!”
Summertime is planning time for Juniors
Juniors…summer is the time for serious college planning. Here are your
assignments:
• Start narrowing your college choices. Tour a few schools this summer. Visit EducationQuest and search the Internet for information about colleges that interest you.
• Update your Activities Resume <https://www.fes.org/resume/login.asp?whichPage=firstPage> on the EducationQuest web site. Include extracurricular activities, honors, awards and part-time jobs.
• Look for scholarships. Free resources include your guidance counselor
and ScholarshipQuest <https://www.fes.org/scholarquest/s_login.asp> at
www.educationquest.org, which has over 1,700 local and statewide scholarships.
Pay attention to the scholarships seniors are earning so you can apply for
the same awards.
•
Find a summer job to help pay for college expenses. Ask prospective employers
if they offer education assistance programs.
May “To Do” List
Seniors
___ Apply for student loans, if necessary
___ Register for freshmen orientation
___ Start a list of dorm room essentials
Juniors
___ Register by May 6 for June 7 SAT
___ Register by May 9 for June 14 ACT
___ Continue campus visits
___ Get a summer job and save for college
Scholarships at THS
These are the standing scholarships and awards with their eligibility requirements.
Other individual scholarships arrive throughout the year. Those are announced
on our daily announcements.
Local Scholarships and Awards
Adam Leroy Gardner Memorial Scholarship - current senior, nursing major,
2.5+ GPA, due before April 15th
Allely Family Memorial Medical Scholarship – current senior or past grad, medical program major, 3.0+ GPA, due before April 15th
American Title Insurance Company Scholarship – current senior, any type of postsecondary school, 2.5+ GPA, due before April 15th.
American Legion Scholarships – many different awards with various requirements, due before March 1st
Bernard LeMaster Scholarship – current senior, any type of postsecondary school, 2.5+ GPA, due before April 15th.
Arlin Lowe Math Scholarship – current senior, 2.0+ GPA, math-related major such as (but not limited to) engineering or math education, due before April 15th.
Boy Scout Troop 158 Scholarship – current senior or past grad, any type of postsecondary school, been active in Troop 158 for 3 consecutive years, due before April 15th.
Burt County Farm Bureau Scholarship – current senior, must be member, ag-related major, due April 13.
Burt County Pheasants Forever Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary school, 2.5+ GPA, due before April 15th.
Burt County Museum, Inc/Jim Fischer Scholarship – current or past-grad, majoring in studies in history, 3.0+ GPA, due before March 31st.
Cargill Community Scholarships – not received yet.
Carriage House Foundation Scholarship – auto industry major. Usually due in March.
Central Valley Ag Scholarship – parent must be member or employee
of CVA, current senior, any postsecondary school in ag related program, due
before April 1st.
1. Coop Council Scholarship – parent must be employee, ag- major, current
senior planning to attend UNL or Chadron State College, due before April 15th
2. Agrilance/Croplan Scholarship – current senior, agronomy or crop production
major, due before March 1st
3. Monsanto-Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship – current senior, ag-major,
due before February 15th
Chet Linder Memorial Scholarship –
Class of 1937 Scholarship – current senior or past grad, any type of postsecondary school, 2.0+ GPA, due before April 15th.
Class of 1969 Scholarship – current senior, any type of postsecondary school, due before April 15th
Computer Club Scholarship – current senior, active member of TH Computer Club, any postsecondary school majoring in IT related program, due before April 15th.
Craig Foundation Scholarship – current senior with a Craig address, phone number, or resident of Craig Fire District, ACT composite score of 20+ and 2.5+ GPA, any Nebraska postsecondary school, 250 word essay, due before April 1st.
Emmett & Mae Johnson Memorial Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary school, due before April 1st.
Farm Bureau Insurance Company Scholar/Athlete and Nebraska Coaches Association Scholarship – two-years participation in 2 sports, lettered in two sports,ACT 24+, top 25% of class, due before April 1st
Fremont Area Medical Center Foundation Scholarship – current senior, live in the area served by FAMC, major in medical field, due before March 5th.
FFA Scholarships – many different ones (including Monsanto Imagine) with various requirements, due before February 15th
Dr. Harold Blanc Memorial Scholarship/ Glenn Preston Memorial Scholarship/ Leland Sunderland Memorial Scholarship – current senior, requires essay, due before March 30th
Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship, Nebraska Elks Association Past Exalted Ruler’s Scholarship, and Nebraska Elks Association J.B. Ferguson Golf Scholarship – current senior, due in January
Guy Mytty Memorial Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary program, GPA 2.0, due before April 15th
Harrington Foundation Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary program, due before April 30.
Henry Bayard Johnson and Gladys Wesgarrd Johnson Scholarship – current or past grad, any postsecondary, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Herman Chapter Order of Eastern Star – current senior with Herman address, any postsecondary program, due before April 1st
Jack Family Scholarship – current senior or past grad, education major, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Jane Chapman Scholarship – current senior or past grad, music education major, GPA 2.5, due before April 15th
Karl A. Nielsen and Sister, Karen J. Nielsen Scholarship – current senior or past grad, any postsecondary program, due before April 15th
Lois and Rognar Albert Peterson Scholarship – current senior or past grad, any postsecondary program, GPA 2.0, due before April 15th
Mackey Chapter Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary program, GPA 2.5, due before April 1st
Marialice Jackson Memorial Scholarship – current senior, nursing major, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Maynard Jensen American Legion Memorial Scholarship – Current senior or past grad, veteran-affiliated, any postsecondary school, due before March 1st.
McGill Scholarship – current senior or past grad, any postsecondary program, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Millennium Vocational-Technical-Trade School Scholarship – current or past grad, any postsecondary program, due before April 15th
Nancy Peck Memorial Scholarship – current senior or past grad, must have been in music for two years in high school, preference for music major, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Nebraska Elks Association Vocational Scholarship – current senior attending, community college, trade or vocational school, due in January
Nebraska Roping Horse Association Ray Warren/Tom Forst Memorial Scholarship – current senior, ACT 26+, top quarter of class, for 4+ year program, due before February 28th
Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers –Northeastern Chapter – current senior attending a ABET-EAC programs, due before February 5th
Northeast Nebraska Corn Grower Scholarship – current senior, ag-related major, due before March 15th
Paul Wilson Major Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary, 2-yr program needs 2.5 GPA, 4+ year program needs 3.0 GPA, due before April 15th
Peter Kiewit Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program – current senior, have taken ACT or SAT, ranked in top 20% of class, due before January 10th.
Sam Walton Community Scholarship – available online at www.walmartfoundation.org from Nov 1-Jan 12, use access code SWCS, current seniors, no affiliation to Wal-Mart.
Southeast Community College Educational Foundation Scholarship – online app at http://scc.scholarships.nelnet.net only – no paper – due before February 1st.
Susan Gill Memorial Scholarship – current senior, 4-year program, two year of foreign language in high school, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Tekamah Area Veterans Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary program, GPA 2.0, veteran-affiliated, due before April 1st
Tekamah Fire & Rescue Association Scholarship – current senior, 2- or 4-year program, fire protection or health-related major, due before April 15th
Tekamah Chapter Order of Eastern Star – current senior, any postsecondary program, GPA 2.5, due before April 1st
Tekamah-Herman Alumni Association Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary program, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Theda M. and Adolph M. Jezek Scholarship – current senior or past grad, any postsecondary program, GPA 3.0, due before April 15th
Washington County Pheasants Forever Chapter Scholarship – current senior (Washington County resident), wildlife, biology, agromony, horticulture, or other natural sciences major, due before April 15th
Washington County Republican Women Scholarship – current senior, Washington County resident, top half of class, any postsecondary school, due before April 10
Wayne W. Loftis Scholarship – current senior, any postsecondary program, GPA 2.0, due before April 15tth
Other Scholarship Due Dates
AXA Achievement Scholarships – Current seniors, any postsecondary program,
proof of an achievement project, due by December 15.
FOR EVERYONE
Another Great Service
EducationQuest provides a monthly email with tips and advice called “Countdown
to College”. It’s designed for grades 9-12 and College Freshmen.
You can sign up for this at http://www.educationquest.org
And One More Opportunity!
Metropolitan Community College is offering a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) class in Fremont at their campus on East 23rd Street beginning on June 6th and ending July 12th. More information about registration and fees can be found at www.mccneb.edu/healthcareers
Or by calling 1-402-721-2507 and asking for a Student Services rep. There is also a packet available in the High School Counseling Office.
Creighton University School of Nursing is offering an opportunity for you
to explore the nursing career. “Nursing Profession Day” will
be held on Thursday, September 27 from 8:00am to 1:30pm. For more information
contact Joyce Bunger at JoyceBunger@creighton.edu or 402-280-2029
News from Northeast Community College
There are changes in admissions for the Drafting and Utility Line Programs
beginning with the Fall 2008 applications. For both programs there is a
minimum score in one of the following tests:
ACT COMPASS ASSET
Math 18 30 37
Reading 14 60 35
Writing/
English 14 34 38
If a student does not meet the minimum placement scores, the student will be admitted, but must successfully complete the required transitional skills course to be admitted to the programs.
Also, NECC is offering a Rural Agribanking option as part of the business program. It is designed for students planning to enter the work force rather than transferring to a 4-year institution. Interested students should visit local banks to discuss tuition reimbursement and scholarships.
Another new program at Northeast is Renewable Fuels Technology. It’s a two-year, Associate of Applied Science degree with 63 credit hours of instruction. It includes a summer internship at an area ethanol plant. It’s designed to teach the ethanol production process.
Check out Explore Northeast Days online at http://www.northeastcollege.com. There is information there about campus visit dates.
JUNIORS – PLEASE NOTE!
Community-Junior-2-Year Colleges are requiring ACT scores for admissions. This means you should plan to take this test in April, 2008. Contact the Csl Office for help with registration. Plan to take the test again in October of your Senior year.
Our Career Representatives
Representatives from colleges, vocational schools, and the military are scheduled each month to visit our school. Students get to visit with them by signing up in the Counseling Office prior to the visit time. Parents may also sit in on their visits without pre-registering. We encourage this family involvement because parents have good questions and it saves a trip to a campus.