2009/10 Senior Newsletter
Congratulations are in order for reaching your senior year in high school!!! Now is the time to be finalizing post-high school plans. Everyone here is a ready and willing source of information to help you in making those plans. I’ve always told you that knowledge is a good thing. The best decisions you will make are the well-informed decisions. Please utilize the guidance office throughout your senior year. Enjoy your summer!
Things to Do
Be sure you have the correct courses you need to graduate!!!
Begin your college/tech school search in earnest by visiting campuses in person or online.
Involvement in school and community activities is important. Almost every scholarship application will ask for extracurricular activities. Join a club and be active in that club. Find an opportunity to do volunteer work for your community.
If you have narrowed your college choices down to three or less, consider applying this summer. Some institutions (such as Austin Peay) award scholarships to those who qualify based on date of application. After you apply, sign up on Ms. Sprinkles’ door to have your transcript sent.
Prepare to retake the ACT if you do not have the score you need. Remember that ACT OnLinePrep is available. See guidance for a username and password.
If you plan to take Dual Enrollment classes next year and your ACT score is not high enough, Vol State offers residual testing over the summer. Call 230-3484 for information.
Please look at the opportunity on the back of this newsletter for Tenn. Scholars. You may want to reconsider your course selections for next year.
Dates to Remember
ACT test dates: June 13 Sept, Oct, Dec in the fall
College Night: Sept. 30
Jan 1, 2010: 1st date that federal financial aid (FAFSA) application for school year 2010/11 can be filed
Useful Web Addresses (www.)
Colleges
UT Knoxville: utk.edu
UT Chattanooga: utc.edu
UT Martin: utm.edu
MTSU: mtsu.edu
TN Tech Univ: tntech.edu
Austin Peay: apsu.edu
Univ of Memphis: Memphis.edu
TN State Univ: tnstate.edu
Vol St Community College: volstate.edu
Nashville St Community College: nscc.edu
TN Technology Centers
Hartsville: ttchartsville.edu
Murfreesboro: ttcmurfreesboro.edu
Nashville: ttcnashville.edu
Career Information
http://tcids.tbr.edu
http://pathways.tbr.edu
http://careersrodp.org
http://collegefortn.org
Financial Aid
www.finaid.org
www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.fastweb.com
www.CollegePaysTN.com
SENIOR NEWSLETTER
September 15, 2009
The senior newsletter will be available every 4-8 weeks throughout the school year. Any information that comes through guidance that is important to seniors (such as scholarship information) will be included; current newsletters will be announced when available.
A WORD FROM YOUR COUNSELOR
Congratulations to Portland High School’s class of 2010! You are to be commended for your hard work and determination, two qualities that have helped you reach this point in your lives. There is much to be done this year. Along with the class work, you will be making preparations for work and college. I’m sure you are up to the task.
Don’t forget to enjoy yourselves. One way to do that is to get involved. I expect this class to do great things this year, especially during this week’s homecoming.
I look forward to working with you this year. Please don’t hesitate to come by the office if you have questions or need help with anything.
DATES TO REMEMBER
September 21 Paying for High Education
Seminar. PHS lecture hall 6:00
p.m.
September 30 College Night at Vol State
Community College, 6 – 8 p.m.
September 18 ACT registration deadline
October 24 ACT test date
October 1 SAT registration deadline
November 7 SAT test date
THINGS TO DO
1. Visit college and tech school campuses.
2. Begin preparing your resume.
3. Register for the ACT if you are working to improve your score. Packets are in guidance.
4. Get involved in school activities.
5. Start filling out college applications.
6. Find out about specific vocational or technical schools.
7. Athletes who plan to play in college need to complete the NCAA form on line.
8. Begin your scholarship search.
9. Be at school every day.
10. Listen to announcements.
HELPFUL WEBSITES – CAREERS
Career Planning – www.fastweb.com
America’s Career Info net – www.acinet.org
Bureau of Labor Statistics – www.stats.bls.gov
Occupational Outlook Handbook – www.bls.gov/ocohome.htm
TN Department of Labor and Workforce Dev. – www.sourcetn.org
TN Career Info System – http://tcids.tbr.edu
College for TN – www.collegefortn.org
TN Board of Regents Virtual Career Center- http://careers.rodp.org
FYI
Have you contributed to your community? If you have taken part in community service activities over the past year (or know someone who has), please let me know. There are opportunities for volunteers, such as the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. I would love to have a nominee from this school.
Information is a good thing! Attend the Paying for Higher Education seminar at PHS on September 21. Check out technical schools and colleges on their web sites. Talk to college admissions counselors when they visit at lunch. Tour campuses of schools in which you are interested. School websites have information about “Senior Days” that are specifically designed to give you a good idea of what that school is all about. Go to College Night on September 30 at Vol State in Gallatin. Admissions counselors from colleges across the state and country will be there to share information and make contact with interested prospective students. The time is 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
East TN St: etsu.edu
SENIOR NEWSLETTER
October 23, 2009
New Scholarship Information
Elks National Foundation 2010 Most Valuable Student. Information and applications in guidance.
Deadline: October 30, 2009
Scarlett Family Foundation. For students majoring in business or who have demonstrated entrepreneurial interests or leadership. www.applyists.net
Deadline: December 15, 2009
Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! College Scholarship. www.ohtheplaces.org
Deadline: February 15, 2010
Vietnam Veterans of Sumner County Chapter 240 Scholarship.
For students who are children or grandchildren of a veteran or someone now in service. Applications in guidance.
Deadline: January 11, 2010
AXA Achievement Scholarship
www.axa-achievement.com
Deadline: December 15, 2009
ATHENA Award Program
For female seniors.
www.NashvilleATHENAAwards.org
Deadline December 18, 2009
KFC Colonel’s Scholars
www.kfcscholars.org
Deadline February 10, 2010
Grote Chemistry Scholarship
For Univ. of TN at Chattanooga chemistry majors including pre-med and pre-dental.
Information and applications in guidance.
Deadline February 1, 2010
U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship Program
Selected through random drawing.
www.usbank.com/studentloans
Now through March, 2010
Suntrust Off to College Scholarship
Selected through random drawing.
www.offtocollege.info
Now through May , 2010
Washington Crossing Foundation
For students planning a career in government service.
www.gwcr.orf
Deadline: January 15, 2010
National Co-op Scholarship
For students attending 1 of the 8 NCCE Partner Colleges such as Johnson & Wales.
www.co-op.edu
Deadline: February 15, 2010
USDA/1890 Nat’l Scholars Program
For students majoring in agriculture, food, natural resources, or related discipline at one of the 18 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions.
Information in guidance or at www.ascr.usda.gov/1890programs.html
Deadline: February 1, 2010
Essay Contests
The Fountainhead Essay Contest
www.aynrandeducation.com
Tennessee Concrete Association
Information in guidance
Deadline: November 30, 2009
JFK Profiles in Courage Essay Contest
www.jfklibrary.org
Dates to Remember
November 6 Registration deadline for-
December 12 ACT test date
November 12 Registration deadline for –
December 5 SAT test date
Tips for Scholarship Applications
1. Remember, most are competitive
2. Be NEAT
3. Type or use black ink
4. Follow instructions completely
5. Meet deadlines
6. Ask for letters of recommendation in advance
7. Have someone proofread all essays and applications
Things to Do
Are you interested in taking Dual Enrollment Film, Psychology, or Algebra with Vol State next semester? This is a great way to earn college credit before you even start your freshman year in college. You must have made a 19 on the ACT in English and Reading to enroll in film and psychology, and a 19 in math to enroll in algebra. A $300 scholarship grant from the state is available to be paid toward tuition for the class. See Ms. Freeman by November 6 if you are interested.
Many colleges have senior preview days – check the college/tech school’s website for dates.
Do you need to improve your ACT scores? Contact the NEWSKILLS Center at Vol State at 230-3676. Ask about ACT preparation and costs.
Did you know the Wilder-Naifeh grant is available to any Tennessee resident who enrolls in a Tennessee Technology Center (such as Hartsville Tech)? This includes your parents; up to $2000 per year is available. Apply to the school, and file the FAFSA after January 1st. Applications can be found on line or in guidance.
Are you interested in the electrical industry as an electrician or lineman? Nashville Electrical JATC has an apprenticeship program that pays you while you train. See guidance for more information.
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the application for federal grants and loans, state grants, and for the Hope Scholarship. Because it requests information regarding 2009 income, it cannot be completed until after January 1, 2010. The application, which is online, must be signed electronically by both you and your parent. You can apply for your pin number for the signature now. Go to fafsa.ed.gov and click on “apply for a PIN”.
Many colleges have deadlines before the Christmas break. Local ones include:
Austin Peay – Some of APSU’s scholarships are given on a first-come first-serve basis, so apply now!
MTSU – December 1 is the priority deadline for scholarships.
Tenn Technological University – December 15 is the scholarship deadline.
University of TN Knoxville – November 1 is the deadline for competitive scholarships;
December 1 is the admission deadline.
Application for admission should be made before or at the same time that scholarship applications are sent. Don’t forget to have supporting documentation sent as well. This includes your transcript and ACT scores. Ms. Sprinkles will send them when you sign up on the notepad that can be found on the guidance counter.
Sumner County Schools