College Scholarship for Homeless and At-Risk Students

Give US Your Poor is proud to partner with the Horatio Alger Association in offering college scholarships to homeless, formerly homeless, and at-risk students. The Horatio Alger Association provides approximately 1,000 scholarships each year to eligible students who have overcome adversity in their lives. For the second time in two years, in partnership with Give US Your Poor, the Association is reaching out directly to students who have experienced homelessness to invite them to apply for their scholarship programs.

The Horatio Alger Association provides scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. National scholarships are awarded at $20,000. Scholarships in each state are also awarded in various amounts.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply, students must meet the following criteria:

• enrollment full-time as a high school senior, progressing normally toward graduation in the Spring/Summer 2012, with plans to enter college no later than the fall following graduation;
• a strong commitment to pursuing and completing a bachelor's degree at an accredited institution located in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution. Idaho, Louisiana, and Montana state scholarship recipients must pursue and complete a degree at specific colleges and universities. Please see the individual program description for those requirements);
• critical financial need ($50,000 or less adjusted gross income per family is preferred, if higher explanation must be provided);
• involvement in co-curricular and community activities;
• demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
• United States Citizenship.

For More Information
For more information on this scholarship, please visit http://www.giveusyourpoor.org/partners/horatio-alger-association.php.  If you still have questions about the scholarship application process after reviewing the information on this webpage, please call (866) 763-9228.

Applying for the Scholarship
To apply for this scholarship, please visit https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/.

Senior Bulletin

September 30th

Test Reminders for Four Year Colleges

You must complete either the SAT reasoning test or the ACT test if you are applying to a four year college (not needed for community colleges).

Seniors must finish testing by December.

SAT: www.collegeboard.com

ACT: www.act.org

The Four Year Application Season starts October 1st

The online sites for CSU and UC campuses open October 1st.

For CSU applications, go to www.csumentor.edu and create an account. For UC applications, go to www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions to create an account. Put your usernames and passwords in writing-planner, phone, etc. You can submit CSU's starting October 1st and UC's starting November 1st. The deadline for both UC and CSU's is November 30th!

When applying, be sure to:

Get a copy of your transcript from your counselor

Read through directions before you begin

Do not submit anything until you've checked with a counselor

We will be having workshops on CSU applications starting the second week of October.

College Visits

UCLA, USC and Whittier will be coming to NHS. Sign up in the office.

College Fair

Saturday, October 29th. There is still room on the bus and it's FREE! We will leave NHS at 9am and return at 2pm. $500 scholarship drawing! Sign up with Ms. Polidano in B4.

Ready, Set, Go!

Seniors!
There are approximately 22 school days till graduation! Complete all your graduation requirements!
All Mt. SAC, Adult School, and AVENTA classes must be completed and grade turned in to your counselor by June 2nd. All CAR hours must also be completed by June 2nd.
Time is flying by! Don't procrastinate!
Questions? Hurry up and see your counselor.

Free Prom Dress!

Would you like to go to prom, but need help with a dress?
Azusa Unified School District, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa/Glendora Soroptimists and the Canyon City Foundation is hosting a Prom Dress Giveaway on March 5, 2011.
My Sister’s Closet will be held at Azusa Pacific University’s main campus
First session is 9:00-11:30 am
Second session 1:00-2:30 pm
Registration is a must for first session

Contact Silvana Cavazos at silvanaa@azusausd.k12.ca.us or by Phone: 626. 732.8032, APU Dept of Social Work 626.815.5487 or Nita Ulloa, Soroptimists 626.914.8268
For more information about the event at: http:sites.google.com/site/mysistersclosetazusa/

Special Occasion Gowns, shoes and accessories are FREE for you to try on and take home. You may pre-register for the event by phone, email, or simply plan to attend Azusa Pacific University’s main campus and look for the sign to direct you. We look forward to helping you enjoy your high school experience

Scripps College Academy Scholars Program

Applications for 9th and 10th female students to join the Scripps College Academy Scholars program are now available and are due by March 18, 2011. See your counselor for more information.

About the Scripps College Academy
The Scripps College Academy promotes excellence among young women in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. Each participant receives individual attention from Scripps College faculty, staff and undergraduate students who foster both academic success and personal development.

About SCA Scholars
The SCA Scholars program is a multi-year, intensive, pre-college sequence for motivated young women from the greater Los Angeles area. The program serves students who may lack the necessary resources in their homes, schools, or communities to prepare for success in a top college or university. SCA provides the program at no cost to the student, her family, or her high school. Academy alums have been accepted into prestigious colleges and universities throughout the country.

National Recognition
In fall 2010 the Scripps College Academy the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the nation’s highest honor for after school and out-of-school programs, presented by First Lady Michelle Obama.

About Scripps College
Founded in 1926 by newspaper publisher and philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps College is a nationally top-ranked liberal arts college, and the women’s college of The Claremont Colleges. Scripps College is distinct for its unique interdisciplinary approach, small size, opportunities for undergraduate research, and its membership in The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven undergraduate and graduate institutions located within one square mile. Scripps alumnae go on to contribute to society through public and private lives of leadership, service, integrity, and creativity.

Adelante Mujer Latina Conference

Sign up now for the largest event for young Latinas in Southern California! Adelante Mujer conference will be on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at Pasadena City College.
The conference provides young high school girls with the tools nedded for a brighter future and serves as an opportunity to meet outstanding women in many career fields.
To register see Mrs. Sandoval or Mrs. Hernandez for registration forms. Forms must be turned in to Mrs. Sandoval in the main office if you plan to travel on the school bus to the conference. Forms due to Mrs. Sandoval by February 11 with $17 per person fee.

ROP Retail Sales

ROP is once again offering the Retail Sales class. In this class, ROP places students with a job at the Puente Hills Mall. Students will learn valuable job skills in retail. The time the student spends at the job also counts for high school credit. If you are interested, come by to see your counselor.

Happy New Year!

If you need extra credits or would like to earn credits, here's a great class that is fun and informative. ROP La Puente Valley's Law Enforcement Explorer Academy starts February 5 at 8am. The class is held on Saturdays at Bassett High School. If you complete the class, you will earn 10 credits plus receive explorer certification. For more information see your counselor or call ROP at (919) 731-7535.
Mt SAC will be hosting a College Preparation Day on Saturday, January 29th. Check in starts at 9:15am. Lunch will be provided. This is open to High School students and their families. The conference will cover how to make college a reality, how to apply for financial aid, and learn about hot new careers. There will be a change to compete for one of fifteen $500 scholarships. Register at www.mtsaccollegeprep.org
Seniors!
Don't forget to attend the Financial Aid Workshop on Wednesday, January 12 at 6:00pm in the Manor (English) and Little Theater (Spanish).

Testing Timeline for Juniors

JUNIORS – CLASS of 2012

TIMETABLE FOR TESTING – What happens next?

Use your PSAT scores to get ready for the SAT this Spring! Match the answers to the questions in the book. Be sure to understand the strategy of “educated guessing”.

NEXT STEP: Sign up for the SAT Reasoning test and the ACT!

The ACT is an alternative test to the SAT Reasoning test, used by all 4 year colleges and preferred by many. Many of our students do BETTER on the ACT! It does not grade off for guessing, and has a smaller Math section (but it does test in Science)

You should take BOTH. Be sure to take the WRITING option on the ACT.

You no longer need to take the SAT Subject tests for UC admission! BUT – some selective colleges (Ivy League, Stanford etc) still require them, and the UC’s will look at them if they are strong to help you in admission to selective majors (ie, take Math 2 for engineering).

DEADLINES for Spring tests are as follows:
SAT March 12 test - Deadline is FEB. 11
SAT May 7 test – Deadline is APRIL 8
SAT June 4 test – Deadline is JUNE 4

ACT February test – Deadline is JANUARY 7
ACT April test – Deadline is MARCH 4
ACT June test – Deadline is MAY 6

We will be getting more fee waivers if you qualify for free/reduced lunch. You can use 2 SAT fee waivers per year, and one ACT fee waiver per year. You should take 1 SAT and 1 ACT as a Junior, and take the SAT Subject tests in June (along with the SAT Reasoning test) if you are applying for selective colleges.

You have October, November and December of Senior year to re-test. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SENIOR YEAR TO START TESTING!! SAT and ACT are NOT required or used by community colleges.

We will remind you of deadlines, but it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be sure to sign up and take the tests! This is the first step toward college admissions.

JUNIOR GRADES are the MOST IMPORTANT! More important than SAT/ACT’s!! Be sure to do well on your finals!!!!!
QUSTIONS?? Please see your counselor!

SENIOR BULLETIN # 12 – SCHOLARSHIP EDITION !!

December 7, 2010
College &Career Center – Room K4

The Senior Bulletins will now start listing scholarships
First, a few important reminders:

EOP – Cal State U Applicants
If you checked YES to the EOP box on your CSU application, you should be completing this application ASAP on csumentor. EOP can help a LOT with admissions, registration, even money, so do a good job! Get this done by mid-December.
If you are using your counselor/teacher as a referral and they don’t know you well, please complete a Senior Data Sheet (available in K4.) We need family background especially.
Counselor emails are our first initial, last name and @rowland.k12.ca.us.
Example: shall@rowland.k12,ca.us, bdenny, asandoval, bdayton
Teachers are the same. Be sure to give us plenty of time, and say thank you!
IF YOU APPLIED TO DOMINGUEZ HILLS, YOU NEED A PAPER APPLICATION!
You can get this from Mrs. Hall, and she will mail or FAX it in. (they closed EOP early)

UC “Paper” Fee Waivers
If you checked the “by mail” option for 4 UC campuses, be sure you send in the green college board fee waiver AND the letter to the UC Processing Center.
If you need help with this, come in ASAP!

READ YOUR MAIL AND EMAIL !!
If you applied for UC, CSU or a private college already, please read every piece of mail and email carefully! They may request transcripts or other info THIS MONTH.
If you are not sure, ASK US. READ EVERYTHING !!
…and be sure to send your test scores directly to the colleges
on collegeboard.com and act.org. Let us know if you need help !!

Private Colleges
We need to focus on private and out of state colleges now –
The selective colleges have deadlines on January 1!
Please look up the info for the college (most are on commonapp.org),
and let your counselor know which schools need to be sent info.
Most need the Secondary School Report (which includes the counselor letter,
the transcript and the school profile) and at least one teacher letter, along with your essays and application – different for every school!
Please get busy NOW to give us time to do a good job.
QUESTIONS?? Please see your counselor.

Community Colleges
We will focus on these in early Spring!
Mount SAC will be visiting several times., including the Summer Bridge program.
The earlier you apply, the better chance of getting classes, transferring etc!


SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID
Please see the reverse side for important info!


FINANCIAL AID
The most important source for financial aid is the FAFSA form, which must be filled out for Cal Grants, Pell Grants and some loans, as well as some college scholarships.
EVERY DOCUMENTED STUDENT SHOULD COMPLETE THE FAFSA!
We are having workshops for EVERY Senior during English on Thursday 12/9, and
also giving your parents a “jumpstart” meeting on Tuesday 12/7,
and a line-by-line workshop in January for more specific help.

The FAFSA form is available on fafsa.ed.gov (BE CAREFUL OF OTHER “SCAM” SITES!!)
It can be started now but CANNOT BE SUBMITTED UNTIL JANUARY 1!
Be sure you are applying for the 2011-2012 school year – very important!
DO NOT SUBMIT THIS WITHOUT CHECKING WITH A COUNSELOR.
Simple mistakes cost big bucks!
The DEADLINE for FAFSA is MARCH 2 – but file is ASAP!
(especially for private colleges, which allocate funds as FAFSA’s come in)

SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many scholarship opportunities, and students who are proactive get the most!
Sources include high tech: scholarship searches like fastweb.com, and
Low tech: checking the scholarship box in K4, your parents’ work, stores, radio etc.
You usually need to write an essay, and your UC personal statement usually works!
You also need letters of recommendation for many scholarships = ask teachers EARLY.
Some scholarships are very competitive (Gates Milennium, Coca Cola)
Some are slam dunk (City of La Puente, if you live in city limits)
Some require joining (PTSA – join for $5, eligible for state and local scholarships)
DO NOT PAY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS OR ADVICE! Lots of scams are out there.

Best bets:
Do your FAFSA asap – it’s the best source of money.
Do a search on fastweb.com – they have ALL of the scholarships and it’s NOT a scam.
READ THE SENIOR BULLETIN carefully and check the box in K4 daily !!

CURRENT SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE BOX IN K4:
Black College Expo – 500 word essay on college. DUE DEC. 13!scholarships@thecollegeexpo.org
Young Entrepreneur – must operate own business! Due Dec.31 – www.NFIB.com/YEA
JFK Profiles In Courage Essay – Due Jan. 8 wwwjfklibrary.org
Gates Milennium – super competitive; underrepresented, citizen ,unwt.3.3 gpa, low income. gmsp.org
Washington Crossing – history/govt. interest. Gwcf.org, due January 15
Milken Scholars- 3.6 unweighted gpa, 1850 on SAT or 28 ACT, need – due Jan. 21!
CAC Collectors (essay on credit management req) Postmarked Jan. 31 scholarships@calcollections.net
Christermon Schol – parent/grandparent work in co.w/beverage license. Due 2/1.www. christermon.com
PTA Senior Scholarship – must join PTA! Due at the state office by Feb.1
KFC Colonel’s Scholars – 2.75 gpa, public college, citizen, need. Due Feb.9. www.kfcscholar.org
Girls Going Places – essay on business plans. Due Feb. 28. www.GirlsGoingPlaces.com.
CSU Fullerton Future Scholars – low income, 1st generation, 2.5 gpa. Due March 2.
Cabrillo Club – Portuguese descent. Due March 15www.cabrillocivicclubs.org
US Bank – random drawing, $1000! Apply at usbank.com/scholarship by March 31.


THERE WILL BE MANY MORE !!! K4 also has a printout of random opportunities.
Be sure to: search on fastweb.com
Have your parents check at their work.
Keep your eyes and ears open!

…AND be conscientious about coming by to check, asking for letters, etc!
THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Please take it seriously!