MUSTANG MESSAGES SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER Welcome to MUSTANG MESSAGES. This newsletter is especially designed for senior parents and seniors. It is my hope that the information given in this newsletter will be useful as you make plans for the future. I plan to include information on scholarships, important dates that you may want to remember, college rep. visit reminders, and other information that seniors and parents will need to know. MUSTANG MESSAGES will be distributed on a monthly basis. It will also be placed on the Silver Lake website in the “counselor corner.” If you have any questions or would just like to visit, please stop by or call me at the high school (402-756-6611). Sincerely, Chris Sluka COLLEGE FAIR – CCC HASTINGS SL seniors will be attending a college fair at CCC-Hastings on Monday, October 12. Almost 60 college and military representatives have been invited to participate. The fair will help students meet college officials and provide the opportunity for students to receive a variety of information from area schools. We plan to leave the high school around 8:30 and will return around 11:00. MAKING COLLEGE VISITS Senior class members and parents are encouraged to visit colleges that they are interested in attending. Fall typically is a good time to make campus visits because this gives the student plenty of time to make comparisons regarding the different aspects of college life. Students are encouraged to make college visit appointments through the guidance office. Most colleges need at least a week in advance notice so please keep this in mind when selecting a visit date. A college visit is considered an excused absence with homework to be done prior to missing school. COLLEGE CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT … Two programs are available which can help. The University of Nebraska’s CollegeBound Program offers students who qualify for a federal Pell Grant FREE tuition up to 16 hours per semester. This program is available for students attending the UNL, UNK or UNO. The NSCS Advantage Program, offers students who are Pell Eligible free tuition to attend Peru State College, Wayne State College, or Chadron State College. Federal Pell eligibility is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students and parents can begin to complete the FAFSA after January 1. Each program is renewable as long as the student continues to be Pell eligible and the student meets the deadline to apply. Contact the financial aid office of each college for more info. COLLEGE/MILITARY REPS TO VISIT The colleges listed below will send admission reps to Silver Lake: Doane College NWU UNL UNK UNO Tues., Sept. 8 11:30 Wed., Sept. 9 1:00 Thurs., Oct. 1 10:00 Tues, Oct. 6 2:00 Thurs, Oct. 8 10:00 DATES TO KEEP IN MIND Mon, Sept. 7 Labor Day-NO SCHOOL Tues, Sept. 15 JOSTEN’s Rep meet with Srs. Thurs, Sept. 17 12:30 out-PT Conference Fri., Sept. 18 No School Fri., Sept. 18 ACT Registration Deadline for OCT. test Fri, Oct. 2 Homecoming Mon., Oct. 12 College Planning @ CCC Fri, Oct. 16 End of 1st Quarter Mon., Oct. 19 No School ACT DEADLINES APPROACHING The ACT is a college entrance exam used by most four-year colleges for admissions purposes. Some two-year community colleges also use the ACT for admission reasons. High school students who plan to go to a four-year school or a two-year college that uses the ACT are encouraged to take the test in the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior year. Many scholarships also use the ACT as a determining factor and as a result, some students may choose to take the test more often. This year’s October ACT test date is Saturday, October 24. The registration deadline is Friday, September 18. The cost for taking the test is $39.50 each time a student tests. ACT encourages students to register online at www.actstudent.org. Other tests dates are: December 12 (register by Nov. 6) February 6 (register by January 8) April 9 (register by March 4) June 11 (register by May 6) EDUCATIONQUEST INFORMATION EducationQuest provides a variety of services for seniors and parents including brochures, college planning counseling and financial aid assistance. The 20152016 College Prep Handbook has recently been delivered to Silver Lake Schools and will be given to each senior. The Kearney office phone number is 1-800-666-3721. They also can be found on the web at www.educationquest.org. APPLICATION PROCESS CHANGING AT SOME COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES Test scores sent for admission to UNL and some other schools in Nebraska (such as the ACT) must be sent electronically from the testing agency. Test scores will no longer be accepted at these colleges from high schools. Students will need to find out how ACT scores are accepted from the college admissions office. When registering for the ACT, scores can be sent to up to four colleges at no additional cost. COLLEGE CLASSES FOUND AT SL Seniors are able to get a head start on college by taking a variety of courses at Silver Lake. English Composition is a general education requirement at most colleges and is being taught here by Mrs. Vap through CCC in conjunction with English 12A. College Algebra is available through CCC and our distance-learning network. College courses can also be completed through the CCC Learning Center at Silver Lake. Courses will also be available next semester at the cost of $94/credit hour plus the cost of books. Please see me if you or your child are interested in taking a college class. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE The scholarships listed below are now available to apply to. Some of these can be applied for online. See the details for more information. Scholarship: Coca-Cola Scholarship Requirements: Seniors with a cumulative “B” average, who are actively involved in school and community, work part-time, and who exemplify leadership and commitment, and who plan to attend a four-year college. Apply at: www.coca-colascholars.org Amount: $1000-$5000 (renewable) Deadline: October 31, 2015 Scholarship: Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Scholarship Requirements: Senior who will graduate from a Nebraska high school, who needs financial assistance to attend college, has at least an 80% high school cumulative grade point average, and who will attend a Nebraska state public 2 or 4 year college/university. Apply at http://buffettscholarships.org. (Silver Lake HS had three recipients of this scholarship last year.) Amount: Varies depending on the college the student will attend, but is typically equal to the cost of tuition at the student’s college. Deadline: February 1, 2015 (application is available beginning November 1, 2015). Scholarship: Gates Millennium Scholars Program Scholarship Requirements: Student who is African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American. Student must be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the U.S. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of B to B+, must have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities, and meet Federal Pell Grant Eligibility criteria. Students should be studying one of the following career fields: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science. Apply at: www.gmsp.org Amount: varies based on student’s unmet financial need, renewable Deadline: January 13, 2016 Scholarship: NSCS Board of Trustees Scholarship Requirements: Student who will be a Nebraska high school graduate with a minimum ACT score of 25 who plans to attend Chadron State, Peru State or Wayne State College. The student must maintain a 3.25 GPA while in college. Amount: Full tuition for four years at Chadron St., Peru St., or Wayne St. The current total value of this scholarship would be $18,100. Deadline: The student must be admitted to the state college of their choice by January 15, 2016. For Chadron or Wayne, the student must also complete a general scholarship application from the college. Scholarship: Governor’s Opportunity Award Requirements: Student who will be a Nebraska high school graduate with an ACT score of 21-24 who plans to attend Chadron State, Peru State, or Wayne State College. An essay addressing reasons to stay in Nebraska after college is part of the application. While in college, the student must maintain a 3.25 GPA. Apply online at www.nscs.edu. Amount: Half-tuition for four years at Chadron St., Peru St., or Wayne St. The current total value of this scholarship would be just over $9000. Deadline: The student must be admitted to the state college of their choice by January 15, 2016. For Chadron or Wayne, the student must also complete a general scholarship application from the college. Scholarship: Prudential Spirit of Community Award Requirements: Student must complete application form describing a volunteer community service activity performed over the past year. Apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com. Amount: $1000 Deadline: November 3, 2015 Scholarship: Horatio Alger Scholarship Requirements: Student who exhibits a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree (may begin at a community college), demonstrate financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required), be involved in cocurricular and community service activities, display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, and have a minimum grade point average of “C” or above. Apply at scholars.horatioalger.org. Amount: $6000 to $20,000 Deadline: October 25, 2015 Scholarship: Hearst Foundation Scholarship Requirements: Senior who has been/is a class officer or student council representative. A qualifying exam is part of the application process. Applicants should have an interest in civics and/or government and are encouraged to major in history or political science. Amount: $5000 and expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. from March 5-12, 2016 Deadline: October 2, 2015