Pelion Pride 2021
Issue 1: September 21, 2020
Stay in touch with the Counseling & Advisement Office
Twitter: @PelionCounselor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PelionCounselor
Instagram: @PelionCounselor
Mrs. Jessica Burke (Director): Last Names A-C jburke@lexington1.net
Ms. Amber Hartley: Last Names D-Mc alhartley@lexington1.net
Mrs. Alysha Walker: Last Names Me-Z awalker@lexington1.net
Mrs. Dana Crumpton: Career Specialist dcrumpton@lexington1.net
Ms. Tara Simmons: Graduation Coach tsimmons@lexington1.net
Please bring your college acceptance letters and scholarship award letters to Ms. Kirby in the School Counseling Office.
College Visit Procedures
Requesting Transcripts
Transcript requests for scholarship applications should be made to Ms. Kirby in the Counseling & Advisement Office.
FAFSA
Every college-bound senior needs to complete the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have not completed the FAFSA, The Educational Opportunity Center at Midlands Tech will help you. You do not have to be attending Midlands Tech to use this service.
Call 803-822-3749 to schedule an appointment. You will need to bring the following items to your appointment:
- Picture ID
- Permanent Resident card (if eligible non-citizen)
- Social Security card
- Most recently filed tax return and W-2 forms
- Parents’ most recently filed tax return and W-2 forms (dependent students only)
Student-Athletes: Are you planning to play sports in college?
NCAA link: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
NAIA link: https://www.playnaia.org/
Important Deadlines:
Clemson University
December 1 – Applicants who apply by this date will receive an admissions decision the week of February 15. Final deadline to apply for Fall admission is May 1.
College of Charleston
November 1- Early Decision Deadline – Students’ applications and all supporting documents – including transcripts and secondary school reports – must be submitted or postmarked by this date. Students should select the early decision option only if they have selected College of Charleston as their first choice and will not use scholarships and financial aid as a primary factor in their decision. Application materials for early decision candidates must be submitted by November 1. Decision letters are issued by early December 1.
University of South Carolina
October 15 - Early Application Answer Deadline – Students who submit complete applications and all required credentials by this date will hear from the admissions office by December 19. Answers may be acceptance, denial, or deferred decision until mid-March.
November 15, - Deadline for SC Honors College and Top Scholars Applications
December 1 - USC Regular Application Deadline
University of South Carolina now accepts the Common Application. There are three ways to apply to the University: University of SC Application, the Coalition Application or the Common Application.
USC Virtual Open House Events
September 21-24 and October 5-8 from 5- 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE to register
USC Aiken Teaching Fellows Program
At USC Aiken, our program is unique in that . . .
- Our program is small – Fellows will NEVER be a number! We are a family at USC Aiken. Be believe in quality over quantity.
- Our program is grounded in leadership – we build Teacher Leaders! We also participate in Disney’s Leadership program.
- Our program offers Fellows early, often and diverse in-classroom experiences. Fellows are teaching in their first semester!
Please refer to the USC Aiken Teaching Fellows website for additional context: https://www.usca.edu/education/programs-opportunities/teaching-fellows
Interested in Cosmetology or Barbering School?
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000
Application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15KLKJygxd00JD2fgSSes6v0nSOaz16Yh/view?usp=sharing
Eligiblity:
- All college-bound, high school seniors
- Essay
Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Scholarship
Amount: up tp $25,000
Application: https://scholars.horatioalger.org/about-our-scholarship-programs/
- Several different scholarships available
- Must be planning to enter college next fall
- Must have a commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree
- Critical Financial Need
- Community activities
- 2.0 GPA or higher
Heisman High School Scholarship
Amount: $500 - $5,000
Application: https://heismanscholarship.com/
CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION
- Students whose senior year of high school is the 2019-2020 academic year, graduating with the class of 2021.
- Students who have at least a weighted “B” grade average (3.0 GPA) during grades 9, 10 and 11.
- Students who participate in at least one high school sport.
- Students who have participated in volunteer service, community involvement or leadership within his/her school or community.
- Students who are a resident of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia (D.C.).
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
- A student may begin the application process by clicking the Register button at the top right of the application website.
- Students will enter their email address and be prompted to provide some basic account information and create a username and password for their application.
- If deemed eligible, students should then select “Begin Application” to complete the rest of the student profile section.
- Once a complete profile is created, the student’s unique application ID will appear at the top of his/her application by their name. It is important to retain this number for prospective customer service inquires.
- Eligible students may then continue to fill out the application. The application is scored by Scholarship America to determine school winners through national finalists. National winners are selected by a committee who reviews the national finalist applications.
- Students may navigate the various sections of the application using tabs located at the top of the application after the student profile is created. If the student misses a required section, he/she will receive an error message and will not be able to submit their application until the required information is entered.
- Students must provide an accurate email address of the school official who will login to review the application and its contents, and confirm its accuracy. This school official cannot be related nor a parent/guardian of the student.
- Students may login to their accounts as often as needed prior to the student application deadline, or until their application has been submitted. Students will need to retain their username and password to login again.
Gardner-Webb University - Tucker Scholars
Amount: Full Tuition
***If you are interested in attending Gardner-Webb University, please see Ms. Hartley***
SC Association of Educational Office Professionals
Amount: $1,500
Application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ShVRIvyVR8uYGMk1XzYQr9AE8OOZGmi1/view?usp=sharing
- Complete the application form
- Write a one-page essay on "What career you have chosen to pursue and why"
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Transcript
- 2.0 or higher GPA
- Plan to attend an institution of higher learning
- U.S. Citizen
Marian Garrett Student Scholarship Application
Amount: $1,500
Application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dQJ_aSaFAKkyaYDHEXqaGo8lrePTF9op/view?usp=sharing
Eligibility:
1. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior.
2. Applicant must have maintained a “C” average or better in high school and a “B” average in high school business courses.
3. Applicant must plan to enter an accredited institution of higher learning in the fall term following the granting of the scholarship.
4. Applicant must be a United States citizen and a resident of South Carolina.
Prudential Spirit of Community Scholarship
Amount: up to $6,000
Application: https://spirit.prudential.com/apply/2021
- Students who have initiated volunteer activities
- Certification page should be emailed or hand delivered to Ms. Hartley to get the appropriate signatures before November 5, 2020
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
Amount: Full Tuition
Application: https://robertsonscholars.org/
- Designed to build next generation leaders
- Full Tuition at either Duke University or the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Francis Marion - Robert E. McNair Scholarship
Deadline: December 1, 2020
Amount: Full Tuition
Application: https://www.fmarion.edu/mcnaircenter/mcnairscholarsprogram/
BENEFITS OF THE GOVERNOR ROBERT E. MCNAIR SCHOLARSHIP:
- Free tuition, fees, and room and board for four years of study.
- A book allowance each semester.
- Opportunity to travel abroad during spring break of the freshman year.
- Opportunity to study abroad in one of nine exchange student programs. McNair Scholars can choose to study in Canada, England, France, Germany, and Ireland.
- Admission to the Francis Marion Honors Program. This includes the opportunity to travel on the yearly Honors trip held every Fall. Locations include New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
- Opportunity to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
- Early class registration.
- Upgraded Housing. McNair Scholars will live in the Forest Villas Apartments, the newest housing on campus. These furnished units contain four private bedrooms, two bathrooms, and shared living room and kitchen space. (One and two bedroom units may be available).
- Experiential Learning Opportunities outside the classroom.
- Participation in public service activities to further strengthen the local community.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Be a South Carolina resident.
- Be a high school senior.
- Achieve a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Have an SAT score of 1160 or higher (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math) or 24 or higher ACT score.
- Display a dedication to public service.
- Agree to participate in service learning/public service opportunities.
- Agree to participate in travel and study abroad opportunities.
- Submit two original essays: One focused on the value of public service. One focused on how you would make the most of your study abroad.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselor or employer.
* The McNair Scholarship is renewable for a total of four years provided that the recipient completes 30 semester hours each year and maintains a 3.0 GPA.
Kitty M. Fairey Educational Fund Scholarship
Deadline: December 2, 2020
Amount: Varies
Application: www.csascholars.org/kmfrRequirements:
- Must be enrolled in or planning to attend full-time an accredited college or university in the state of South Carolina.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Demonstrate financial need
- Official transcript
- SAT/ACT scores, if taken
- Letter of recommendation from a teacher
- Personal Statement/essay
- Student Authorization and Acknowledgements Form
- Personal statement/essay
- List of academic honors, leadership skills, community service, etc
- W-8 or W-9 IRS Form, as applicable
- A copy of your Student Aid Report
Clemson University - Lyceum Scholars Program
Amount: $10,000
Application: https://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/capitalism/lyceum/
Open to incoming freshmen, the Lyceum Scholars Program is the first college program in the US to use a Great Books approach to studying liberty, capitalism, the American Founding, and moral character.
All Lyceum Scholars are assigned faculty "Socratic Tutors" who guide their intellectual development for their entire four-year education.
Those interested in becoming Lyceum Scholars should apply in their senior year of high school to Clemson University and to the Lyceum Scholars Program.
The AXA Achievement Scholarship
Amount: $10,000-$25,000
The AXA Achievement Scholarship offers college scholarships of $10,000 and $25,000 to high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their activities in school, the community or the workplace. The scholarship is sponsored by the AXA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AXA US. Your application MUST be one of the first 10,000 submitted electronically by the deadline date. Apply early!
Navy ROTC Scholarship
Amount: 4-year Scholarship worth $180,000
Application: http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/
Earn a 4 year scholarship with no obligation to the Navy until your sophomore year. Program completion and graduation will result in Commissioning in the US Navy. A 5 year minimum active duty obligation as a naval officer will be required.
- Must be at least 17 years old and not older than 23
- Minimum SAT Score of 1050, or Minimum ACT score of 22, or graduate in the Top 10% of high school class
South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Application: www.scholasrshipprograms.org
Applicants must:
- Be seniors in a South Carolina high school OR undergraduates in a South Carolina college or university.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale through the spring 2020 semester.
- Be residents of South Carolina.
- Have a competitive or recreational interest in golf.
- Recipients must attend an accredited public or private, four-year college or university located in South Carolina in the fall of 2021.
John F. Kennedy: The Profile of Courage Essay Contest
Amount: $500-$10,000
Application: https://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest.aspx
Eligibility
The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas. Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate. Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and members of their families are not eligible to participate.
Discover Student Loans Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Application: https://scholarship.collegecovered.com/
Students and parents can enter by signing up to receive tips and resources on CollegeCovered.com. No purchase or loan necessary to enter or win.
Army ROTC Merit Based Scholarship
Deadline: February 4, 2021
Amount: Varies
Application: https://www.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.html
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be between the ages of 17 and 26 and/or must be able to commission as an Officer by age 30.
- Have a high school cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Score a minimum of 1000 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the writing test scores).
- Meet the physical standards.
- Civil convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in the Reserve Component (Army Reserve or National Guard).
CLICK HERE for additional information
Christian Connector, Inc Scholarship Drawing
Amount: $2,500
Application: http://www.christianconnector.com
The scholarship runs each year from June 1st through May 31st. The drawing winner of each scholarship is selected at random and The Christian Connector, Inc. reserves the right to change the random drawing selection process at any point. Individuals must meet the below guidelines in order to be eligible to receive the scholarship.
Drawing Guidelines:
- The scholarship recipient must have plans to enroll for the first time as a full-time student at a Christ-centered Christian college or Bible college within 16 months of being notified by The Christian Connector, Inc. that he/she has won the drawing.
- The Christian Connector, Inc. reserves the right to make the determination of whether or not a particular school qualifies. Any school that is a member of the CCCU, NACCAP or ABHE automatically qualifies.
- The scholarship recipient may not currently be enrolled at a Christian college or Bible college.
- The scholarship will not be sent to the individual recipient, but rather it will be sent directly to the school of choice, meeting the above criteria.
- An individual cannot enter the scholarship drawing more than once, however, he/she may use the request form and Christian Connector services as often as they wish.
- By completing the information request form, the winner of the scholarship allows their name, city and state to be used on the site and in promotional materials, announcing that he/she is a Christian Connector scholarship recipient.
Should the initial randomly selected individual(s) not meet the above guidelines for the scholarship drawing entered, the scholarship will be forfeited and offered to another individual until a selected individual who meets the above guidelines is awarded the appropriate scholarship.
American Muscle Automotive Scholarships
Amount: $2,000
Application: https://www.americanmuscle.com/scholarships.html
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Scholarships are restricted to those students pursuing an automotive degree or related field of study.
Ponton Law Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Application: https://www.jamesponton.com/practices/car-accidents/#scholarship
- This scholarship is judged & awarded primarily on merit & need.
- Completed application must be submitted online by July 31, 2021. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
- INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
- Applicant must plan to attend college by Fall semester 2021.
- Must have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0.
- A transcript must be attached for application for consideration.
- Applicant must submit an un-opened copy of official transcripts if selected as a finalist.
- This scholarship is a one-time award worth $1,000 to be awarded the fall semester of 2020.
- Although not required, applicants are encouraged to submit recommendation letters and/or resumes to substantiate their application.
- Applicant will be required to demonstrate both their merit and their need for this scholarship
More Scholarship Resources
Always check the college's financial aid page for scholarship opportunities.
Pelion High School
Website: http://www.pelionpanthers.com
Location: 600 Lydia Drive, Pelion, SC, United States
Phone: 803-821-2208
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PelionCounselor
Twitter: @PelionCounselor
Lexington One
Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin or any other applicable status protected by local, state or federal law.
The district will use the grievance procedures set forth in policy to process complaints based on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The district designates specific individuals to handle inquiries or complaints. To find out whom to contact and how to contact them, please go to our website at http://www.lexington1.net/contact-us.