SENIOR BULLETIN #1
September 2015
Welcome to your senior year, Class of 2016! Congratulations on all of your achievements thus
far. Remember, colleges, scholarships, and future employers will look closely at your academic
performance, attendance, discipline, and extra-curricular involvement during your senior year.
So, keep working hard! Your senior year can be a juggling act. There are decisions to be made
about college and your future, applications to complete, and tests to take as you prepare to leave
high school. It is the goal of the Counseling Department to help you through this process. You
should have completed a Senior Contract during scheduling last spring. This will ensure that you
know what courses you need in order to graduate and that you are enrolled in those courses this
year. Feel free to make an appointment with your counselor anytime if you have a question
regarding your senior contract or need assistance with college/career planning.
We will have a new senior bulletin each month so keep an eye out for future installments. Best
wishes for a successful and fun senior year!
College Planning
September
 Sign up for the SAT/ACT again
 Double check that your courses met graduation requirements
 Get shining letters of recommendation from your fan club of teachers and
employers
 If you didn’t make college visits over the summer, make plans to visit during a
long weekend or fall break
October
 Begin to gather information needed to complete applications.
 Contact colleges regarding scholarships and financial aid opportunities
 Follow up on your teacher recommendations.
 If you are applying for Early Decision, send in your applications now.
(Also, prepare applications for back-up schools)
 Start sending in your applications
 Sign up for December/January Tests (ACT/SAT)
 Take ACT of SAT, if necessary
November
 Continue filing applications with colleges. Don’t forget to have
ACT/SAT scores sent to colleges of your choice
December
 Consult your counselor again to review your final list of colleges. Be sure you
have all your bases covered
 Begin organizing information for FAFSA – get your pin number and complete
what you can before Jan. 1.
(We will have a financial aid workshop for students and parents on Nov. 10 from
5:30-6:30 PM at BCHS)
Helpful Websites
www.kheaa.com Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. Search for
information on Kentucky colleges, scholarships, and related information. Set up an
account to check your KEES money.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search Plan for college, prepare for testing,
search and apply for college…this website offers many options to assist you in preparing
for your college career.
https://www.cappex.com/ Compare colleges, find tuition and admission information and
discover your admission chances from more than 3,000 schools. Conduct a scholarship
search to find the ones that match your strengths and skills best. Our scholarship
directory has more than $11 billion.
www.fastweb.com Scholarship search
http://www.collegexpress.com/ Scholarship search
There are many other sites that allow you to search for colleges, to take virtual tours, and
to research loans and scholarships. Be aware, however, that some sites may be scams.
Never pay for anything related to college planning, scholarships or financial aid.
Talk to your Counselor if you have a question about a site or need assistance with college
planning.
Scholarships
QuestBridge National College Match
Deadline: September 28, 2015
The QuestBridge National College Match
is a college and scholarship application
process that helps outstanding low-income
high school seniors gain admission and full
four-year scholarships to the nation's most
selective colleges. If you are a student who
has achieved academic excellence in the
face of economic challenges, we encourage
you to apply to the National College Match.
QuestBridge's partner colleges offer
generous financial aid packages that cover
100% of demonstrated financial need,
making them very affordable for lowincome students. Visit
http://www.questbridge.org/forstudents/ncm-national-college-match to
learn more and apply.
Write Stuff Teen Essay, Poetry and
Visual Art Contest
Deadline: October 2, 2015
Youth in grades 6-12 in Kentucky and
Indiana may enter their original writing,
artwork or video about their own cancer
diagnosis or that of a family member or
friend. Cash prizes are awarded to the top
three participants in six categories.
Applications and more information is
available in the Guidance Office.
Wendy’s High School Heisman
Deadline: October 2, 2015
The Wendy’s High School Heisman
Program recognizes outstanding seniors and
their schools at every stage of the program.
If you’re selected as a school, state or
national finalist, you’ll receive a Heisman
Patch as well as an official winner’s
certificate, medal or trophy from the
program. Plus, you’ll be recognized by your
school, community and possibly the nation
at special events and ceremonies.
http://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.c
om/
Washington University in St. Louis
Danforth Scholars Program
Deadline: October 15
For students who would like to attend
Washington University in St. Louis and who
have demonstrated leadership, personal
integrity and dedication to academic
excellence. See your counselor to be
nominated
Kentucky School Board Association
First Degree Scholarship
Deadline: October 16, 2015
Eligible students are those who would be the
first members of their immediate families
(parents, guardian, siblings) to complete
degree requirements from an institution of
higher education. Students who meet this
criteria may sign up in the guidance office
through Oct. 16 to be considered for
nomination. KSBA awards two, $2500
scholarships to one male and one female
applicant from the state of KY.
Horatio Alger Kentucky Scholarship
Program
Deadline: October 25
Eligible students should have critical
financial need (50,000 or less adjusted gross
income per family), academic achievement,
and involvement in extracurricular or
community activities.
Applications are online at:
www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/
Coca-Cola Scholarship
Deadline: October 31
Applicants should be high school seniors
who are well-rounded individuals with
highly developed interests in their
community. Applicants are evaluated on the
following:
 Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA
 Demonstrated leadership in school
 Commitment to community
Applications are available at www.cocacolascholars.org
The Kentucky Ready-Mixed Concrete
Association
Essay Contest
Deadline: November 1, 2015
This program was conceived in an effort to
better educate young people about the
concrete industry. This essay contest is an
opportunity for young people to learn about
the importance of our industry and what
concrete contributes to society. Applicants
will be competing for up to $5000 in
scholarship money.
Applications are available in the
Guidance Office
Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards
Deadline: November 3
If you have made a difference by
volunteering in your community over the
past year, you could win $1000 and a trip to
Washington DC. Students in grades 9-12
may apply.
Applications can be found online at
www.spirit.prudential.com or
www.nassp.org/spirit
UK scholarships continued:
 Competitive – Otis A Singletary
Scholarship - Requires unweighted GPA
of 3.80 on a 4.0 scale and minimum 33
ACT or 1440 SAT (M+CR), and
completion of competitive scholarship
section of Admission application, by
December 1, 2015.
 Automatic - Kentucky GSP/GSA
Scholarships and Patterson Scholarships
(see new criteria on UK’s website)
2015 SAE Engineering Scholarships
Deadline: January 15, 2016
Applicants must be high school seniors
intending to earn a degree in engineering or
related science and must meet minimum
GPA and ACT or SAT requirements
outlined in the specific scholarship.
Multiple scholarships are available through
SAE, please see your counselor for more
details.
Applications are online at:
http://students.sae.org/awdscholar/scholarshi
ps/hsseniors.htm
UPS Metropolitan College Program
The University of Kentucky Academic
Scholarships
Deadline: Dec. 1, 2015


Academic - Based on academic
credentials on file in Admissions,
pending early application and
availability of funds. Completed
admission application and high school
transcript must be received by
December 1, 2015, in order to be
considered for an academic scholarship.
Qualifying test scores must be received
by January 15. Students are encouraged
to apply as early as possible.
Competitive – Presidential and
Commonwealth Scholarships - Requires
unweighted GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale
and minimum 31 ACT or 1360 SAT
(M+CR), and completion of
competitive scholarship section of
Admission application, by December
1, 2015.
UPS offers opportunities to have up to 100%
of your tuition paid if you attend University
of Louisville or Jefferson Community
College through this program. Students
must be employed by the UPS overnight air
operation in Louisville KY and must be on
the UPS payroll by specified date and
remain employed by UPS until the end of
the student agreement period. For more
information, see your counselor.
There are many other scholarship
opportunities available from
individual colleges, companies and
organizations. It is a good idea to
complete a profile at fastweb.com or a
similar site and to do your own
research for specific scholarships.
Make an appointment with your
counselor if you need assistance in
your search.