CMR High School
Scholarship News
Scoop # 1
October
2015-2016
Financial Aid Information
The 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA forms for the current senior class will be available
on-line in early December. The information needed on the FAFSA form will be based on you and your parents’
2015 tax information. Financial aid forms cannot be sent in until January 2016. We will be having a FAFSA
information night in the upcoming future. Please plan to attend. Encourage your parents to file their taxes
early.
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Scholarships, Criteria and Deadlines
Please check out the criteria carefully. For example, if the scholarship requires you to attend a Montana school
and you are going out-of-state, you will not qualify. Scholarship information will be distributed via the "Scholarship
Scoops” each month. We will post our scoops online and have hard copies available in the counseling center.
Scholarships have deadlines. Don't wait until the last minute to get your application(s) completed, references
turned in, or transcripts sent. It takes time and effort to do a quality application.
Have a back-up plan. Apply to more than one school, and/or at least have a second or third choice in mind. Many
quality students make the mistake of applying only to schools where admission and selection are very limited.
It is recommended that you take your ACT or SAT test no later than the December test dates. Most colleges will
accept results from either test. Please see your counselor about whether or not it might be beneficial or
necessary for you to retake the test.
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Scholarship Scoops
Seniors: Be attentive to the scholarship scoops as they arrive monthly. It is impossible to put every scholarship that
colleges, universities, and vocational schools offer in the scoops. It is your responsibility to be searching out
scholarships that fit your needs. The Advisement Center will pass along scholarships that arrive periodically.
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Time to Register - Selective Service and You
All male United States citizens and male aliens residing in the U.S. and its territories must register with Selective
Service within the period starting 30 days before and ending 30 days after their 18 th birthday.
Log on to www.sss.gov and you can get yourself registered in about 5 minutes. If you have any questions or need
assistance, please see your counselor.
Montana State University 2016 Presidential Scholarship
The Presidential Scholarship is MSU's most prestigious scholarship award. Up to twenty Presidential Scholarships
will be awarded to freshmen entering Montana State University-Bozeman in September, 2016.
Criteria: Students will be selected as finalists on the basis of their academic accomplishments, intellectual or creative
distinctions, extracurricular activities, letters of reference, and original essays.
Eligibility:
• Applicants must apply for admission to MSU-Bozeman as an entering freshman.
• Should have a cumulative GPA or 3.75 and a composite score of 30 on the ACT or 2000 on the SAT. Exceptions
to these norms may be indicated on your application.
The application can be accessed at www.montana.edu/honors. Students are encouraged to visit the site and
begin the application process in a timely manner as the process is quite lengthy. Deadline is Dec. 14, 2015.
Please see Mrs. Lowry for questions or more information.
MSU Premier Scholarship Program
Hundreds of scholarships will be available to new freshman from Montana. If you are planning on attending MSU
next year, you should apply for admission, have your ACT and/or your SAT scores sent to MSU and check the
website www.montana.edu/admissions/premierscholarship.pdf. to access the application. Priority deadline is
February 2, 2016.
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Prudential Spirit of Community Scholarship
These $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who are recognized for volunteer community service.
Applications must be completed online at http://spirit.prudential.com (click on “Apply Now”) and the
“Certification” page must be turned in to Mrs. Lowry by Nov. 3rd, 2015.
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Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Sponsored by the local Coca-Cola bottler and The Coca-Cola Company, a public nonprofit foundation and the
largest business-supported scholarship fund of its kind. Each year the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation recognizes
outstanding seniors and awards 250 merit based scholarships. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is awarding $3
million in scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate leadership, commitment to community, and
academic achievement. Applications are available online at www.coca-colascholars.org. For more information,
please see Mrs. Lowry in the Advisement Center. Application deadline is October 31, 2015.
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Exchange Club Scholarship
Each year the Exchange Club in Great Falls selects a senior from CMR High School, Great Falls High School and a
number of high schools in the Cascade County area. Each senior selected will be invited to a noon luncheon and be
recognized as the winner for a particular month. A cash award of $100.00 will be presented with a certificate. A
Youth of the Year will be selected by the Exchange Club committee and receive a plaque and a $500.00
scholarship.
Seniors that have been active in government, school publications, newspaper, musical organizations, athletics, club
organizations, community organizations, and /or volunteer services should give consideration to this scholarship.
There will be an essay to write. The essay theme is "Investigating the Possibilities: Making the Community a Better
Place to Live.”
Entry packets may be picked up in the Advisement Center. Deadline: Packets must be returned to Mrs. Lowry
by November 13, 2015.
University of Montana Scholarships:
Davidson Honors College Presidential Leadership Scholarship
Applications for the Davidson Honors College Presidential Leadership Scholarship at the University of Montana are
available and can be downloaded and printed at http://umt.edu/dhc. Application deadline is December 31st.
Montana Resident Entering Student Scholarship
To apply you must complete the University of Montana Undergraduate application no later than December 31st. All
general scholarships will be considered from the undergraduate application. The application can be downloaded and
printed at: admissions.umt.edu
**Students DO NOT need to complete both applications. Those not awarded a Presidential Leadership Scholarship
will automatically be considered for the Montana Resident Entering Student Scholarship.
Horatio Alger Scholarship
The Horatio Alger Association seeks to assist students who have demonstrated integrity, perseverance in
overcoming adversity, strength of character, financial need, a good academic record, commitment to pursue a
college education, and a desire to contribute to society. A minimum GPA of 2.0, U.S. citizenship, school
involvement, financial need and a strong commitment to a bachelor’s degree at a Montana school are eligibility
criteria. Applications are available at: www.horatioalger.org/scholarships
Some parts of the application must be completed by October 25, 2015.
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Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Any high school senior who is a US citizen is eligible to apply. Male and female students compete separately for
identical awards. Scoring is based on scholarship, leadership and financial need. Application deadline is on or
before December 4, 2015. Applications are available at: www.elks.org/enf/scholars/applymvs.cfm
Elks National Foundation Legacy Award
The Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards scholarship contest awards one-year, $1,000 scholarships to children
and grandchildren of Elk members who are high school seniors, going on to college and exhibit the core values of
the Elks National Foundation: Knowledge, Charity, Community and Integrity. Applications are available online at
www.elks.org/enf/scholars/legacy.dfm and the deadline is January 29, 2016.
NFIB Scholarship
The National Federation of Independent Business created the foundation to promote the importance of free
enterprise and small business. The foundation will be providing scholarships to students who have demonstrated
entrepreneurial spirit and initiative and are entering their freshman year of college in 2015. Applicants must meet
certain academic standards. For more information and to apply, log on to www.NFIB.com/YEA. Deadline is
December 18, 2015.
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
Each year, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution awards over $150,000 through more than 25
scholarships to young individuals for their outstanding academic achievements. The DAR Scholarship general
application and the DAR Scholarship Financial Need form, as well as application forms for specific scholarships,
such as the American Indian Scholarship, the Frances Crawford Marvin American Indian Scholarship, and the CD
format requirement for the Nellie Love Butcher Music Scholarship can be found at www.dar.org All scholarship
materials must be postmarked by February 15, 2016.
DAR Good Citizen Award
One applicant from CMR will be selected to represent our school for the DAR Good Citizen Award. The CMR
representative will then be required to write an essay before his/her name is turned into the local chapter
competition. Students may win from $50 to $500 dollars. Students must turn in applications to Mrs. Lowry by
Wednesday, October 28, 2015.
Gates Millennium Scholarship
This scholarship is open to African American, American Indian, Asian Pacific Islander or Hispanic American
seniors who have a cumulative 3.3 grade point average, are eligible for a PELL GRANT, and who have
demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities.
This scholarship will pay for ALL expenses and can even be used while you are in graduate school under specific
conditions. Please visit http://www.gmsp.org/ for more information.
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Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Through WUE, students in western states may enroll in more than 140 two-year and four-year college institutions at
a reduced tuition level: 150% of the institution’s regular resident tuition. Participating states: Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington, Wyoming,. Search the WUE Online Database to see which institutions participate and which programs
are available at the discounted WUE. Contact participating schools for applications and more information.
Seattle University
The Sullivan Leadership Scholarship is available to students who plan to attend Seattle University. Ranging from
$11,500-$18,500 per year, this scholarship is renewable for up to four years. Applications must be received or
postmarked on or before Nov. 15th, 2015.
Cottey College
Please see Mrs. Lowry for information on this all-female, private college with strong ties to Great Falls. Wonderful
scholarships are available, as well as opportunities for mentorship with your application.
Honors Graduation
Five $1,000.00 scholarships will be given to students who qualify for this national competition. Students are asked
to submit projects in art, photography, videography, music and creative writing. To learn more, please visit
www.honorsgradu.com/scholarship.
Voice of Democracy
To enter this scholarship competition for up to $30,000, you must record a 3-5 minute original essay on this year’s
theme My Vision for America. Deadline is Nov. 1, 2015.
Things to Note:
*All Scholarship Applications Should:
1. Be typed or word processed. (See Mrs. Lowry if you need assistance)
2. Be on time
3. Be complete
*Don’t forget to write a thank you notes to those who write you letters of recommendation.
*MSU Fridays – These will be held periodically throughout the year for prospective students and their parents to
explore MSU academics, extra-curricular activities, and student life. These will be held Oct. 16, 2015; Jan. 29, 2016;
Mar. 11, 2016; April 8, 2016. Students can register at www.montana.edu/admissions/msufriday. See Mrs. Lowry
for more information.
MT Tech Major Exploration Tech Days – MT Tech is hosting a number of events to showcase what MT Tech is
all about. Exploration Days are October 16, 2015, March 11, 2016 and April 22, 2016. Students can go online to
RSVP for the event at http://iam.mtech.edu/techday/inquiryform.
Mrs. Julie Tramelli is our new College Pathways Advisor and is available to assist students and parents with
their post-secondary needs and questions. She is available at CMR on Mondays and Thursdays.
CMR College Visits:
Gonzaga University—October 6, 2015-1st period
MSU-Billings—October 6, 2015-11:30 a.m.
Corban University—November 4, 2015-10:30 a.m.
Seattle University—November 4, 2015-8:00 a.m.
Carroll College—October 27, 2015
UM-Western—November 13, 2015-10:15 a.m.
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Things to Think About:
*College Application Week is coming up the week of November 2nd! Take
advantage of the opportunity to submit your in-state college application with a
waived or deferred fee! Mrs. Tramelli with have more information coming soon.
*Common Application—provides applications, both online and in print, that
may be submitted to more than 400 colleges and universities mostly private, out
of state schools. See Mrs. Lowry or your counselor for more information.
*Register for the ACT/SAT or compass test before December!
*College Planning Webinars for Parents/Students are available monthly
(30-45 minutes each) to assist with college planning and financing. Each month
presents a different topic and is limited to 1,000 attendees. For more information
and to sign up, go to http://www.getcollegefunding.org/lp/monthly-webinarsschools/ and click on “Register Now!”
Don’t forget to sign up for Remind 101!
Grab your phone and text @cmr15 to 406-564-1489.
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