Senior Newsletter #4
September 27, 2016
Facts on Federal Financial Aid
There are 4 Types of Financial Aid:
- Scholarships (merit and need-based)
- Grants (need-based) - money given by the government based on FAFSA results that you do not have to pay back
- Work-Study (need-based) - based on FAFSA results
- Loans (need-based and non-need-based) - Money given by the government based on FAFSA results that you do have to pay back.
- FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID) - This is a username and password that the student and one parent have to get to complete the FAFSA. The next senior newsletter will have instructions for obtaining this.
- FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) - the online application to apply for Federal Financial Aid. You will use your 2015 household income tax information to complete it. It will be available on October 1st.
- SAR (Student Aid Report) - This is the summary of your processed FAFSA application. Some scholarships will ask for this summary (ex. Susan Buffet Scholarship). It also contains your EFC number that is sent to the colleges.
- EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) - a number determined to be the amount of money your household can contribute towards college. Colleges determine your student aid package using this number and other information.
More Information in Following Newsletters!
NECC Criminal Justice Day
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Click here for information.
Fridays @ WSC
Click here to register
SAT Test
8:00 am at NHS
Sending Transcripts
Some colleges use an online system like SENDedu. They will have you grant us permission to upload your transcript to their system. You will have to give them your counselor's email address:
- Hernandez (last names A-D) - josehernandez@npsne.org
- Bartels (last names E-K) - brandibartels@npsne.org
- Marotz (last names L-Ri) - heathermarotz@npsne.org
- Marshall (last names Ro-Z) - kendramarshall@npsne.org
Some colleges like UNL, UNO, and UNK are no longer requiring us to send them an initial official transcript. You can just upload an unofficial transcript (you have access to this on Infinite Campus). They will require us to send an official transcript after graduation. Therefore, please complete the transcript request form for these colleges so that we have permission to send the final transcript. You can make a note on the request form that you have already sent the initial transcript.
QuestBridge National College Match
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.
College Match Scholarships, which are provided by participating colleges, cover the full cost of tuition, room and board, are loan-free, and require no parental contribution.
If you are a student who has achieved academic excellence in the face of economic challenges, we encourage you to apply. QuestBridge's college partners are committed to making college affordable for all students — regardless of financial background — and offer generous financial aid packages that cover 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Who Should Apply
- Academically outstanding high school seniors
- From families earning less than $65,000/year for a family of four
How to Apply
- Application is open
- Research college partners (only for certain colleges)
- Submit free application and other materials by September 27th
Wendy's High School Heisman
This year, Wendy's® is giving away 100 scholarships ranging from $1,000 up to $10,000. Seniors, scholar-athletes have a shot at winning a Wendy's® Heisman® Scholarship.
Since 1994, Wendy’s High School Heisman has been supporting education and celebrating the successes of top performing high school scholar-athletes. We’ve awarded nearly $2 million to support education across the country, and we’ve recognized the achievements of more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors, including students from YOUR SCHOOL.
Eligibility:
- Students must be seniors during the 2016-2017 academic year, graduating with the class of 2017.
- Have a cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of a B (3.0) or better.
Participate in at least one of the 43 sports recognized including:
Archery, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bobsleigh, Bowling, Boxing, Canoeing/Rowing, Cross Country, Curling, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian (Dressage/Eventing/Jumping), Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Ice Hockey, Ice Skating (Figure or Speed), Judo, Lacrosse, Luge, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Skiing (Alpine, Biathlon, Cross Country, Free-Style, Jumping), Snowboard, Soccer, Softball, Spirit/Cheerleading, Swimming (or Synchronized), Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Track & Field, Trampoline, Triathlon, Volleyball (or Beach), Water Polo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
Be a leader in school and in the community and serve as a role model .for underclassman.
- Go to: https://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/about/ for more information and to apply
- Put your counselor's email address in for the person to review your application.
- Do the previous steps by October 3rd!
US Youth Senate Program
This fantastic opportunity can only happen if qualifying students apply for the program. Click here for the application. The United States Senate Youth Program, is to be held March 4-11, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
I encourage you to support this outstanding program. Delegates receive an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. The delegates will meet United States Senators during the Senate reception and tour the Capitol, U.S. Supreme Court Building, and the Pentagon. They also tour historic landmarks and various Smithsonian museums. Each delegate receives a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundations. The foundation underwrites all Senate Youth Program expenses.
To be eligible, a candidate must be currently
serving in an elected or appointed capacity in any one of the following student government, civic or educational
organizations representing a constituency during the entire 2016-2017 school year:
a. Student body president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer
b. Class president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer
c. Student council representative
d. Student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission or board) to a district, regional or
state-level civic and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator.
For more information go to: https://www.education.ne.gov/ss/USSYP.html
Applications are due October 7th.
Horatio Alger Scholarship Program
106 - $25,000 Scholarships Awarded Nationally
50 - $6,000 Scholarships Awarded in NebraskaAs one of the nation’s largest college financial aid programs in the country, the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program is one of the major scholarship programs nationally that specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.
To be eligible to apply for a Horatio Alger State Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria*:
- Be enrolled full time as a high school senior in the United States; be progressing normally toward graduation in spring/summer of 2017 with plans to enter a college in the United States no later than the fall following graduation
- Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
- Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
- Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
- Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
- Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
- Be a United States citizen
Norfolk Senior High Counseling Center
Brandi Bartels E-K
Heather Marotz L-Ri
Kendra Marshall Ro-Z
Connie Ingram - Administrative Assistant
Website: http://www.norfolkpublicschools.org/schools/norfolk-high-school/counseling/
Location: 801 Riverside Boulevard, Norfolk, NE, United States
Phone: 402-644-2534
Twitter: @NHSGuidanceNews