Don’t forget about filling out FAFSA!! Clinton High School – Class of 2014 Senior Newsletter March 2014 June 3 isn’t very far away! Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid provides over $80 billion annually in financial assistance for college. To receive federal student aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after January 1. Apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov SC Business Week th th An opportunity for current 10 , 11 , and 12th graders to get an inside look at business in action and educate them on entrepreneurship and the American free enterprise system. Held at Presbyterian College July 14-19, 2013. See Mrs. Wiggins for an application or you can download one at www.scbusinessweek.com . Applications are due Friday, April 11; however, students are advised to apply early. Report Cards Are you passing your courses? Is your attendance what it should be? Don’t let “senioritis” mess up your last nine weeks of senior year. The nine weeks ends March 14, and report cards go home March 20. Finish strong!! Perfect Attendance? Have you had perfect attendance all 12 years of school? The state recognizes these students at graduation each year. Please let Mrs. Wiggins know by Friday, April 11 so that we can submit your name in a timely manner. Graduation Supplies By now, you should have ordered and paid for your graduation supplies. All seniors must pay for a cap, gown, and diploma cover. If you are borrowing a cap and gown from a past graduate, you still need to pay Jostens $40 for the diploma cover. See Mrs. Wiggins or Coach Wofford if you have questions. Academic Banquet and High Honor/Honor Graduates The Academic Banquet is held each year to honor students that have maintained strong grades. This year’s banquet is Monday, May 5. Invitations for the 2014 Academic Banquet will go out after Spring Break. Students must maintain a GPA of 4.0 on the SC Uniform Grading Policy in order to be invited to the banquet. GPA’s are calculated at the end of the 1st semester. Honor and High Honor Graduates will be recognized at graduation. To qualify, students who achieve a 3.754.499 will be recognized as an Honor Graduate. Students with a 4.5 GPA or higher will be recognized as High Honors Graduate. The GPA will be computed at the end of the school year for this recognition. The actual GPA will be used without rounding up. Have You Received Scholarships? Each year, we tally the amount of scholarships that the graduating class receives. Class of 2013 reported winnings totaling $5,405,204. What do you say, Class of 2014? Can you beat them? Bring Mrs. Wiggins copies of your scholarship notifications as well as your financial aid packages from colleges. If you turn these in by Wednesday, May 21 we will also list these in the graduation program. Scholarships Continue to check the CHS Guidance Website regularly for new scholarship information. Many scholarship opportunities can be found through scholarship databases like www.fastweb.com Adhere to scholarship deadlines. If you need a transcript or letter of recommendation, give your teacher/counselor ample time to meet deadlines as well. A listing of new scholarships in addition to the ones below will be on the school website! Current Scholarships Available Piedmont Technical College Scholarships o Several scholarships available to students planning to attend Piedmont Tech in the Fall o Applications available in guidance o Deadline: Friday, April 11 “My Books Cost How Much?!” Book Assistance Scholarship 2014 o Eligibility: first-generation college student, single parent household, B average, community service. Scholarship will pay for first semester books in college o Applications available in guidance. o Deadline: Friday, April 11 McAlister Foundation Scholarship 2014 o FULL scholarship awarded to one graduating member of the CHS Class of 2014 – student must demonstrate financial need and be attending a public institution in South Carolina in the Fall o Applications available in guidance o Deadline: Friday, April 11 Charles L. Cummins, Jr./Mae B. Wham Scholarship o Applicants must be current seniors and residents of Laurens County, demonstrate financial need, have a 2.4/4.0 or better GPA, demonstrate leadership qualities, and participate in extracurricular school and community activities. o Applications available in guidance o Deadline: Friday, April 11 Mercer Silas Bailey Memorial Scholarship o One Clinton High student will be awarded a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year for up to 4 years). o To be eligible, an applicant must be a graduating senior at Clinton High, must be accepted into a 4-year degree granting college or university, must show need for financial assistance, and must file a completed application by the deadline. o Applications available in Guidance o Deadline: Friday, April 11 2014 Remember: To have transcripts and school information sent for college applications, you must complete a transcript release form and include $1 for postage. If you have not applied to college, please see Mrs. Wiggins right away for some direction. Pay attention to scholarship deadlines. Some deadlines in this newsletter are intentionally earlier than the actual deadline in order to give counselors time to complete paperwork and have postmarked on time.