January 2016 LA QUINTA HIGH SCHOOL DENISE HALSTEAD, PRINCIPAL (714) 663-6375 COUNSELORS: ADRIANA ESQUIVEL (HOB-NGUYEN, D SHERRI GRELLE (A-HOA) LUCY FITZRANDOLPH (R-Z) HUY TRAN (NGUYEN, E-Q) SPECIAL FINANCIAL AID EDITION It is now officially time for seniors to start applying for financial aid for college. All students should apply for financial aid as this is the main path toward receiving free grants, low interest loans, and work study to pay for college, including community colleges and private colleges. Your counselors will be providing Financial Aid workshops on January 15th. If you want to get started early, here are the 3 steps to completing your financial aid application. 1) Complete the Cal Grant GPA Verification form, return to the Guidance office. To be eligible for Cal Grants, which is free money from CA to pay for college, we have to send your GPA. 2) Many of you have done this but we are still missing forms. If you have not turned in your GPA Verification form please come to the guidance office. 3) Complete the FAFSA application at www.fafsa.gov for 2016-2017. This is the free and official website to apply for financial aid. Having the current or last year’s income tax forms from your parents makes this task much easier. Request your parents to complete their taxes early this year and provide you with a copy. Remember you will be applying for the 2016-2017 school year which is your first year of college. 4) The deadline to send in the FAFSA application is March 2nd. Your counselor will provide Financial Aid workshops to help you fill out the FAFSA on January 15th. Please check our website regularly, www.laquintahs.org. Guides, tips, and updates will be posted to help you complete the FAFSA application. IMPORTANT DATE!!! Parent Financial Aid Night Tuesday, January 19th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm Representatives from University of California, Riverside will help parents and students with the necessary steps in completing the FAFSA. The presentation will be presented in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. All parents and students are encouraged to attend these very informative workshops. If you have any questions regarding the workshops contact Ms. Grelle. Counselors will be in the 200 Lab every day during lunch and after school to help with Financial Aid applications 1 La Quinta High School 2015 Reminder...Reminder...Reminder! Just a few last minute reminders As 1st semester is coming to an end, many of you will be receiving letters from colleges requesting that you send an updated transcript. It is very important that you come to the guidance office and fill out a “Transcript Request Form” and give it to Ms. Bhoot. Your transcript will be sent out once grades have been posted. Those of you applying to private colleges don't forget to get your Mid-Year Reports completed and submitted before the deadlines. Remember to give your counselor enough notice to fill out the required forms. If you happen to change your classes for second semester you must remember to notify ALL campuses to which you have submitted an application. You should contact the admissions office either by email or telephone as soon as possible. And lastly, official SAT, ACT and/or SAT II scores must be sent to the campuses that you have submitted an application to. In order to do so, access www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org. If you have any questions please stop by and see a counselor. Seniors - Look Ahead! Cash for College - get help with your financial aid application! Monday, January 11, 2016 Garden Grove High School 5:30 - 9:00 Senior Awards Night (by invitation) Wednesday, May 25th Year Book Distribution Friday, June 10th, 2:48 - 3:48 in Gym Senior Finals Thursday, June 16th and Friday, June 17th Senior Barbecue Friday, June 17th, 11am pool area Cap & Gown Distribution Friday June 10th after Senior BBQ in Gym (prices go up after Jan 15th! Order online at: Jostens.com or call 949-574-1444) Graduation Practice Monday, June 20th, 9:30am - 12:oo noon Graduation Tuesday, June 21st, 6pm Bolsa Grande HS Diploma Pick Up Wednesday, June 22nd, Senior Parking Lot 9am - 11am 2 La Quinta High School 2015 EOP Deadlines & Contact Info! CSU Name Bakersfield Channel Islands Chico Dominguez Hills East Bay Fresno Fullerton Humboldt Long Beach Los Angeles Maritime Monterey Bay Northridge Pomona Sacramento San Bernardino San Diego State San Francisco San Jose San Luis Obispo San Marcos Sonoma State Stanislaus EOP Deadline 3/2/2016 1/31/2016 11/30/2015 11/30/2015 11/30/2015 11/30/2015 2/1/2016 11/30/2015 1/15/2016 11/30/2015 2/15/2016 12/22/2015 12/11/2015 2/1/2016 11/30/2015 11/30/2015 11/30/2015 1/31/2016 12/15/2015 1/15/2016 2/15/2016 3/2/2016 11/30/2015 Contact Info (661) 654-2276 (805) 437-8939 (530) 898-6831 (310) 243-3632 (510) 885-3751 (559) 278-1787 eopadmissions@fullerton.edu (707) 826-3778 (562) 985-4288 (323) 343-3214 (707) 654-1288 (831) 582-4153 (818) 677-2351 (909) 869-3362 (916) 278-6183 (909) 537-5042 (619) 594-6298 (415) 338-1085 (408) 924-2637 (805) 756-2301 (760) 750-4861 (707) 664-2427 (209) 667-3108 3 How to Apply for Scholarships WHAT ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS? Few scholarships will find their way to you. In the majority of cases you must look for them yourself. While many scholarships are available, their requirements vary greatly. Applying for scholarships takes work. Time has to be devoted to researching different kinds of scholarships. Not all scholarships require strong GPA’s. Many scholarships require membership in service organizations or involvement in community and extracurricular activities. The trick is to find a scholarship that fits you. Helpful Scholarship Databases Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund - maldef.org, Merit-based scholarships - meritaid.com, The College Board - www.collegeboard.org, Sallie Mae College Answer Service Online www..salliemae.com, California Student Aid - www.csac.ca.gov, EdFund - www.edfund.org, U.S. Department of Education - www.ed.gov/students, Mapping Your Future - www.mapping-your-future.org, Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com/Education/financial_Aid, United States Department of Education – www.ed.gov/ index, U.S. News & World Report – www.usnews.com, Scholarships: www.scholarshipworkshop.com, www.scholarships.com, www.gocollege.com, www.educatorsconnection.com/register.php www.scholarshipcoach.com, www.collegeanswer.com, wwwfastweb.com, http://www.cappex.com/ scholarships GRANTOR REQUIREMENTS John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest DEADLINE Up to $10,000 Essay on a U.S. elected official who has chosen to do what is right, rather than what is expedient Describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official that occurred during or after 1956 Apply: www.jfklibrary.org/essaycontest January 6, 2016 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program $10,000/year for 4 years toward Bachelor degree at university Exceptional student leaders and min GPA 3.0 & financial need Community service and demonstrated leadership potential Apply: http://www.reaganfoundation.org/GERFScholarships.aspx January 7, 2016 APIASF Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund $2,500 - $15,000 Must also apply for federal financial aid Asian and/or Pacific Islander as defined by the U.S. Census US citizen, national, or legal permanent resident Enroll in a college or university in the Fall of 2016 Minimum cumulative GPA 2.7 & a letter of recommendation Apply: http://www.apiasf.org/scholarship_apiasf.html January 8, 2016 Intertribal Timber Council Scholarship – Truman D. Picard January 11, 2016 $2,000 Validated enrollment in federally recognized tribe, Alaska Native Corporation, established by the U.S. Government, or photo of enrollment front/back. Certificate of Indian Blood will suffice Letter of application, resume & 3 signed letters of reference on letterhead dated w/in last 6 months Go to: http://www.itcnet.org/ GRANTOR Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS REQUIREMENTS DEADLINE January 13, 2016 Thru PhD degree., merit scholarship, must meet Federal Pell Grant criteria Be African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/ Pacific Islander or Hispanic American Be citizens, legal permanent residents or nationals of the US Cumulative GPA of 3.3 unweighted leadership in community service, extracurricular, activities Attend College or University in the Fall Submit forms by deadline: Nominator Form and a Recommender Form Apply: www.gmsp.org Edit Revise Scholarship $10,000 50 words essay and recommendation letters Apply: https://editrevise.com/scholarship January 15, 2016 Orange County Mensa Scholarship Information January $300 to $1,000 15, 2016 Must enroll in a degree program & be a Orange County resident Essay 550 word max Winner is not based on academics, financial need, or community service, it is all about the essay Apply: http://www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships California State University Fullerton’s Presidents Scholars Program Dell Scholars Program CSUF Scholarship! The Guardian Scholars Program Full-ride for 4 years for registration, annual book and supply allowance, lap- January 15, 2016 top computer, free parking & priority registration Must have applied to CSUF by November 30, 2015 Attain weighted GPA of at least 3.75 in all academic subjects Earn above-average scores on SAT and ACT exams Demonstrate evidence of significant contributions to school and community service activities during high school Admission to Honors program, employment opportunities etc. Apply online: http://www.fullerton.edu/scholars Participating in a Michael & Susan Dell Foundation approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12 (AVID, GEAR UP, Upward Bound) - see full list of college readiness programs on http://wwwdellscholars.org/ Minimum GPA 2.4 & demonstrate financial need & Eligible for Pell Grant Enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited university Apply http://www.dellscholars.org/ January 15, 2016 January Full cost of attendance including Year-round On-campus housing, priority registration, one-on-one academic advising, individual counseling/life coach- 15, 2016 ing, life skills workshops, community room, computer lab Must be a current or former student in the Foster Care System Must apply for FAFSA and qualify as an “Independent Student Must apply for the CSUF EOP Personal statement essay and Two letters of recommendation Unofficial high school or community college transcript Verification Letter of Foster Care Status from Social Services Apply: http://www.fullerton.edu/guardianscholars/ GRANTOR REQUIREMENTS DEADLINE (HEEF) The Hispanic Education Endowment Fund Scholarships January 19, $1,000 to $5,000 2016 Latino/a who has lived in Orange County for the past 6 years Qualify for financial aid & enroll in college/university fulltime in fall US Citizens, Permanent Residents & Dream Act/AB 540 students Family income limit of $45,000 & first generation college student Apply: https://oc-cf.org/scholarships Ronald McDonald House Charities Must be A-G eligible Minimum 2.7 GPA The RMHC scholarship program seeks to invest in students who are exemplary role models in their communities and have the initiative to fulfill their educational goals Apply at: http://aim.applyists.net/RMHC January 20, 2016 $1,500- $2,500 Attend college, university or vocational school in Fall Fill out a 1 page application Write 700-1000 word essay on “The Importance of Establishing and Maintaining Good Financial Credit During Your College years Apply at: www.cacesf.org January 20, 2016 Application form & short description of musical background On-site audition/interview with music faculty. Performance of two compositions representing different periods of music https://www.msmu.edu/undergraduate-bachelor-programs/music/ music-scholarship-auditions.aspx Jan 23 Feb 6 Apr 2 California Association of Collectors, Inc. Music Scholarship Auditions - Mount St. Mary’s College Navy ROTC Scholarships January 25, $180,000 - earn your commission as a Naval Officer 2016 Tuition, books, fees to 150 universities, & monthly stipend Guaranteed employment for at least 5 years Potential for post graduate degree at no expense! SAT requirements: 530 Critical Reading & 520 Math or ACT requirements: 22 English & 21 Math Release scores to code 0656 via Collegeboard.com or Actstudent.org Apply: https://www.nrotc.navy.mil Questions: call Travis Dobson: 714-396-2227 or 858-537-8044 I Have a Dream Scholarship $1,500 Must enroll in University or Community College Fall 2016 Respond: 250 words max “what do you dream about?” Apply: http://scholarshipexperts.clickmeter.com/em5k/ January 31, 2016 University of Dayton Ohio If you are planning on attending University of Dayton, in Ohio please see Ms. Grelle immediately for a $10,000 scholarship!! January 31, 2016 Playing with Purpose Award Scholarship Program From $75 - $2,000 to Christian Student Athletes! 2.0 minimum GPA Currently a varsity level athlete in one or more sports Apply: www.playingwithpurpose.org February 1, 2016 GRANTOR So Cal Edison Scholarship REQUIREMENTS PG&E Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) DEADLINE February 30 scholarships of $10,000 renewable for 3 years 1, 2016 3.0 GPA or higher Major in: Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Computer, Industrial, or Environmental Engineering, or Computer Services/Information Systems, or Environmental Sciences, Plan to attend a 4-year university and demonstrate financial need To apply visit: www.scholarshipamerica.org/edisonscholars February $1,000 to $6,000 Students must complete the general scholarship application and the 1, 2016 supplemental application to the specific Employee Resource Group. If you are applying for multiple scholarships, complete applications for each http://www.pge.com/about/community/scholarships/ Gilder Lehrman Institute Civil War Essay Contest The Make Sense Foundation (MSF) $10,000 or more to selected applicants Must be female and preparing to enter college in Fall 2016 Must complete an application and email, mail, or fax See Ms. Grelle for an application The Dream.US Scholarship helps cover Tuition, Fees, and Books for an AA or BA February 15, 2016 Must be DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) or TPS (Temporary Protected Status) eligible and applied for or received DACA or TPS approval For highly motivated DREAMers who want a college education and demonstrate significant unmet financial need First-time college student & attend one of TheDream.US Partner Colleges in 2016 and be eligible for in-state tuition Minimum un-weighted 2.5 GPA Have come to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday Go to: http://www.thedream.us/scholars/ Philippine International Aid U.S. Scholarship Fund Banatao Family Filipino American Education Fund February Up to $1,000 1, 2016 Examine Civil War thru letters, speeches, songs, photographs, newspapers, military orders, etc. Use minimum 5 primary sources. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-exhibitions/civil-war-essay -contest Six $2,000 scholarships Must be at least 25% Filipino heritage Minimum 2.75 GPA Have financial need Apply: wwwasianpacificfund.org/scholarships February 15, 2016 February 19, 2016 February $5,000 renewable scholarships up to $20,000 19, 2016 Be at least 50% Filipino heritage and major in Engineering, Math, Computer Science, Environmental or Physical Science at a university in the fall & have financial need Apply: www.asianpacificfund.org/scholarships 7