Student Services Student/Parent Newsletter
January 2016
The cap and gown representative will be here on Jan. 27th at 9:00 to
take orders. Standard package (cap, gown and tassel) is priced at
$69.50 made payable to Herff Jones.
Our school CEEB code is 341-812. This code is requested on college applications, ACT, and SAT
registration.
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Students planning on attending a four year college or university should definitely plan on taking the SAT or ACT as
early as possible. Fee waivers are available in the counseling office for eligible students. If you are planning on
attending a two- year school, you also have the option of skipping these standardized tests and taking an
admission test offered through the community college.
SAT Testing Schedule 2015-2016
www.collegeboard.org
Test Date
Registration Deadline
March 5
May 7
June 4
Feb. 5
April 8
May 5
Late Registration
Deadline
By Mail
Feb. 19
April 22
May 20
Late Registration Deadline
By Phone/Web
Feb. 23
April 26
May 25
ACT Testing Schedule 2015-2016
www.actstudent.org
Test Date
Feb. 6
April 9
June 11
Registration Deadline
Jan. 8
March 4
May 6
Late Registration Deadline
Jan. 9 –Jan. 15
March 5 – 18
May 7 - 20
Senior News:
Students, we love good news! Please share your acceptance letters with our school so we can post.
Also, if you receive a scholarship, whether or not you plan on accepting, please give Mrs. Eaker a copy.
Reminder to seniors….if applying to colleges that require a counselor or teacher recommendation,
please give a copy of an activity sheet or resume to the person you are requesting complete that
recommendation in a timely manner..
You can find fall 2015 admissions deadline and 2015-16 open house information for all NC colleges and
universities in the comprehensive CFNC Admissions and Open House Information Document. Check it
out at https://cfnc.box.com/Fall2015AdmissionDeadlines. Be sure and update your CFNC Account for
your senior year.
Need assistance applying for financial aid for college? FAFSA Day is scheduled for Saturday,
February 20, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Mark your calendars. Visit CFNC.org/FAFSAday or call
1-866-866-CFNC for more information or to register for a location
Parents and students: If you are looking for information on financial aid, find the information you need
online. Visit StudentAid.gov. for information on multiple subjects. Also, if you have not done so, visit
StudentAID.gov/fsaid to learn about and create a FSA ID for your FAFSA.
Also available, is the most recent edition of Student Financial Aid for North Carolinians. This booklet
contains information about a wide range of financial aid opportunities to the residents of North Carolina.
This publication is available online at CFNC.org/fabook.
Check it out! Free practice for the SAT is available on satpractice.org through Khan Academy.
Brainworks Learning Center offers ACT and SAT fast track workshops.. For information on this program, contact
choneycutt@brainworkslearningcenter.com or call (828) 381-1538. Scholarships are available
Engineering Bachelor’s Degree can now be earned by starting at CVCC. Under a new agreement,
students can complete an Associate in Engineering at CVCC and transfer credits to: East Carolina, NC
A&T, North Carolina State University, UNC-Charlotte, and Western Carolina University. For more
information contact the Admission Office at 327-7000, ext. 4216.
Student Transcripts: Many colleges and universities are now requesting that transcripts are sent
electronically. It is important that you know the correct spelling of your counselor’s name and their email address. If you are requesting that a transcript be mailed, there is a Transcript Request form in the
student services office that you need to complete. You can bring stamps for your transcript or pick them
up to mail yourself. Be sure to plan on at least a two day turnaround for transcripts to be processed.
Seniors, some of you will be receiving scholarship notices from colleges/universities as you apply. Please
bring Mr. Eaker a copy of any scholarship you receive (whether or not you choose to accept this) so we
can recognize your achievements
NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse for Student Athletes:
The clearinghouse evaluates your academic record to determine if you are eligible to participate at a
Division I or II college as a freshman student-athlete. (The clearinghouse is not the NCAA, but an
organization that performs academic evaluations for the NCAA.) Go to ncaa.org and click on the
eligibility center at the bottom of the page. For further information or assistance or for a fee waiver, see
Mr. Eaker in the Student Services Office.
The Student Service Office does not encourage or recommend that you pay for assistance with
scholarship searches. One of the best sources of scholarship and financial aid information is the Financial
Aid Office and Scholarship Office at the college to which you are applying. Be sure to visit each college’s
website and follow that individual school’s instructions regarding required forms and deadlines.
Some free search areas for scholarships and financial aid are:
www.fastweb.com
www.cfnc.org
www.collegefortn.org
www.actsstudents.org
www.collegeboard.org.
www.cappex.com
www.Scholarships.com
Scholarships:
Aspiring Nurse Scholarship – The Nursing School Almanac will award a $1,000 scholarship to an
aspiring nurse who best demonstrates: a track record of academic excellence, particularly in science and
mathematics and has a passion for the nursing profession. Students interested in applying go to
www.NursingSchoolsAlmanac.com. Application deadline is June 30.
AXA Achievement Scholarship offers scholarships in the amount of $2,500. Students must be active in
their community, have led a project that benefits others, and overcome personal challenges. Apply online
at www.axa.achievement.com by February 1.
Catawba College Teacher Education Department offers a yearly award of $2,500 to students who have
an interest in the teaching profession. Interested students may apply online at
www.catawba.edu/academyforteaching.
Catawba County John Hoyle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution awards a $500+
scholarship to a senior woman who wishes to continue her education at an institution of higher learning.
Applications are available in the Counseling Office. Due date for this scholarship is March 15.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship is given to one or more deserving North Carolina students in
honor of the life and legacy of Dr. King. Applicants must be North Carolina residents enrolled as seniors
in high school who are planning to continue their education beyond high school. Criteria for selection
include character, community involvement, and scholastic achievement. Apply at http://www.NCAE.org.
Applications are due by February 1.
Golden Leaf Scholarship Program will award up to 215 grants, each valued at $12,000 ($3,000 per
year) for the 2016-17 academic year. To be eligible, you must be enrolled at a public or private North
Carolina institution as a full time student, demonstrate financial need, present a satisfactory record of
academic achievement and community service. Extracurricular activities and information need to be
provided in a brief essay. The Golden Leaf Scholarship application is available at CFNC.org/goldenleaf.
The application deadline is March 1. To qualify, you must apply for FAFSA, available at www.fafsa.gov,
between January 1 and March 1.
Harry W. Clarke Memorial Scholarship Programs awards two scholarships to graduating seniors with
financial need, academic ability/achievement, good moral character, community service, extracurricular
activities, and work experience. One scholarship is for $2,000 for students attending a North Carolina
Community College and one scholarship is for $8,000 for a student attending a North Carolina four-year
college or university. Apply through The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Click
through scholarship names to find the above mentioned scholarship, go to the online instructions and
read carefully, view the applicant video and begin the process. You must use the following code to
enter into the system once you have logged on: CLA1 in order to begin the application. Deadline
is January 15.
Hickory Rotary Club “Service Above Self” Scholarship – Scholarship applications are available in the
Counseling Office. This scholarship is worth $3,000 per year for a total of $12,000. Criteria includes:
GPA in the upper fifth of his/her class, ability to thoroughly explain financial need, and demonstration in
an essay on how he/she lives out the motto of “Service Above Self.”
King’s College Scholarship Day –
King’s College will host a scholarship event on Saturday, January 23. Students must arrive at 10:00
a.m. Registration is not required. King’s College will award four $5,000 scholarships to the four students
who score the highest on a scholarship exam.
NC Retail Merchants Association Scholarship is calling for students working in retail, or with parents
working in retail, to apply for scholarship money toward next year’s tuition. Forty-eight awards valued at
$2,500 each are available through NCRMA and the Carolinas Food Industry Council. Applications and
transcripts must by post-marked by April 4. To apply go to http://www.retailpaysforcollege.org.
Rotary Club of Lake Hickory – offers $35,000 in scholarships to qualified seniors in Catawba County.
Criteria for this scholarship is; students must be in the top 20% of the graduating class; have financial
need; and submit three recommendation letters with the application. Applications are available in the
Counseling Office and must be postmarked by March 11.
SECU – State Employees Credit Union – The SECU “People Helping People” Scholarship will select
one Hickory High School student to receive a $10,000 four-year college scholarship. Students must meet
the following criteria: must be a US Citizen and resident of NC; be accepted and planning to attend one
of the 17 UNC system universities; have at least a 2.5 GPA; have demonstrated leadership, excellence of
character, integrity and community involvement.
UNCG Guarantee Scholarship – UNC Greensboro provides low-income recipients the opportunity to
attend while accruing little or no debt. Required scholarship criteria: NC Resident; have a family income
that does not exceed 100% of poverty (determined by submitting the FAFSA); demonstrated academic
potential (Composite SAT score of 1000 or Composite ACT Score of 21). To apply for this opportunity,
submit your college application to UNC-G as soon as possible, complete the FAFSA form, and visit
www.guarantee.uncg.edu for the application. Deadline for this is March 1.
WKBC is offering a $5,000 scholarship to graduating seniors interested in a career in broadcasting. Due
date for this scholarship is April 15.
Previously listed scholarships:
Gates Millennium Scholars
RMHC/HACER
Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student
Sportsquest Scholarship for Christian Athletes
Professional Construction Estimators
Army ROTC Scholarships
NC Scholarship Program for Children of War Veterans
WACE – The Best of Co-Op
Centre College
Clemson Lyceum Scholars
January 13
January 20
February 1
February 1
April 30
Professional Construction Estimators offers scholarship awards to area students who have chosen to
pursue construction management, civil engineering, architecture, drafting, and related fields. At least one
scholarship of $1,000 is awarded each year.
RMHC/HACER offers four $100,000 scholarships each year as well as local scholarships to Hispanic
students. Applications are available through January 20. Get your application and full details at
MeEncanta.com.
Current Scholarships:
2016 Profile in Courage Essay Contest January 6
Gates Millennium Scholars January 13
Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student February 1
Sportsquest Scholarship for Christian Athletes February 1
Army ROTC Scholarships
NC Scholarship Program for Children of War Veterans
WACE – The Best of Co-Op
Older Scholarships:
Army ROTC Scholarships are available to students planning on attending UNCG. Recipients become
Army lieutenants upon graduation. Scholarship funds include tuition and fees or room and board, a
monthly stipend, and book allowance. For information, contact greg.killeen@unc.edu or 706-864-1884.
Gates Millennium Scholars – Students who are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian
Pacific Islander or Hispanic American can apply. You must be a citizen or legal residence, have a GPA of
3.3 (unweighted), have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service,
extracurricular, or other activities, and apply for the FAFSA. Apply at http://www.gmsp.org. Deadline:
January 13.
NC Scholarship Program for Children of War Veterans – If your parent was a resident of NC when he
or she entered military services you may be eligible for a scholarship to attend an approved university,
community college, or technical institute within NC. Funds provide scholastic support to help children of
certain disabled, deceased, combat, or POW/MIA veteran. For additional information, contact the
Catawba County Veterans Office at (828) 465-8255. Information may also be located at
www.doa.nc.gov/vets/locations.
Sportsquest Scholarship for Christian Athletes: Students must meet all of the following criteria:
maintain a minimum “C” grade average or higher; be a current varsity athlete in one or more sports; and
be an active Christian. To apply online visit: www.playingwithpurpose.org. Application deadline is
February 1.
Seniors are allowed two college visits during their senior year if proof from the admission office from the
college is brought back to school.
Athletic scholarships are available through NCHSAA. To apply go to http://www.nchsaa.org/studentsparents/student-athlete-scholarships.