WBHS Counselor Connection & News
News & Info for the WBHS Community March 7, 2020
In this issue:
- Upcoming College Rep Visits - Navy, University of Nebraska and DePaul University
- Junior Parent Financial Aid Night
- OTEC Info Night
- Important Message from Athletics Office
- Brown Bag Lunch Series Topic for juniors: ACT/SAT Prep Advice
- Attending OCC this Fall? Next Steps Meeting
- Attending Oakland University this Fall? Next Steps Meeting
- WBSD Innovation Extravaganza
- Sailing Information
- Career Readiness Family Expo
- Metro Detroit College Fair
- Mrs. Essig's Top Picks - Articles of Interest
Scholarships -
(Please note - Scholarships are listed in two editions of this newsletter,
please check prior editions of the Counselor Connection for more!)
- Be Like Bob Scholarship - $1500 exclusively for WBHS Students!
- B'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region College Scholarship
- NOBLE Scholarship
- REALTOR Scholarship Fund
- OCTEA Scholarship
- 100 Mensches Essay Contest
- David Barnes Scholarship
- NPHC Scholarship List
- Skilled Trade Scholarship Program
- OCC Scholarship
- VIBE Credit Union FUSE Scholarship
- Colleges that Change Lives Scholarship
- AAA School Safety Patrol Scholarship
Check Twitter Daily for Additional Scholarships @WBHSCounseling #WBHSScholarships2020
Upcoming Rep Visits to WBHS
Monday March 9, 2020 Navy 10:00 a.m.
Monday March 16, 2020 University of Nebraska 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday March 18, 2020 DePaul University 9:00 a.m.
Attention Juniors and Parents:
NOTE CHANGE IN JUNIOR FINANCIAL AID NIGHT IS NOW VIA ONLINE PRESENTATION!
You are invited to attend a virtual financial aid presentation to learn general information regarding the financial aid process. The presenters are the same...Just like a Financial Aid Night held at local high schools, we provide general information able to be used no matter what college or university students plan to attend. Topics include the elements of financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), variety of resources available, and more!
Please join this virtual presentation from your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone using either WiFi or cellular service. Below are linked handouts available for download, print, or viewing during the presentation.
Event Details: Junior Financial Aid Night
Date: April 7, 2020
Time: 7:00 PM
Link to join: www.bit.ly/LiveWithCarrie
Handouts:
Presentation Outline
OTEC Information Night
Important Message from Athletics Office
UPDATE - PLEASE READ: If your student has played a Fall or Winter sport and paid their pay-to-participate fees then no fee is required for spring district sports. Club sports will turn payments into their coaches.
Athletics has a new fee structure for district sports. This does not include club sports. We now have a ONE time fee for athletics. This is a change from the tiered structure that West Bloomfield School District had used for years, which required students to pay based on the number of sports they participated in each year.
The one-time fee structure for athletics will be as follows:
High School Level:
Regular Rate $325
Free/Reduced Lunch Rate $160
Middle School Level:
Regular Rate $225
Free/Reduced Lunch Rate $110
A family cap of $800, still applies for all athletes in the family, including both Middle School and High School Level. It is a “true” family cap.
Pay to participate fees for athletics can be paid online with a credit card at the link below:
Fees can be paid in cash or by check at the West Bloomfield High School Athletic Office as well.
**For Self-Funded Sports: Please contact coach for your payment options. (e.g. Field Hockey, Equestrian, Snowboarding, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, and Sailing)
BROWN BAG LUNCH SERIES IS HERE!
11th/12th Grade Students - Announcing the 2020 Spring Brown Bag Lunch Series! Please take a minute to look over the attached document to learn how to join us for a discussion on a variety of college related topics.
Click on the link to register:
Seniors Admitted to Oakland University
March 16th at 11:24
Click here to register! - https://forms.gle/KYCWbe4YMtiCHRTu5
P.S. If you haven't applied to OU, but are still interested, you may join us as well!
Seniors Planning to Attend OCC in the Fall.... Information Session
Wednesday, April 8th at 9:00 a.m. in the College and Career Center.
Click here to register - https://forms.gle/oM9mMrncADa91usC8
Sailing Team- Check it out!
Career Readiness Family Expo
Fee Waiver Information for ACT/SAT Tests
If you qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, you may be eligible for waivers for the SAT and ACT.
Please see your counselor or Mrs. Essig to learn more!
WBSD Innovation Extravaganza
Metro Detroit College Fair in Novi - NOTICE NEW DATE!!!!!!
There’s a new date for the Metro Detroit College Fair!
Mark your calendars for:
Metro Detroit National College Fair
Monday, April 27, 2020
8:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Suburban Collection Showplace
Novi, Michigan
Students should click here to register.
Mrs. Essig's Top Picks
Prompt Essay Coaching
Prompt is the #1 provider of college essay coaching and feedback. They help thousands of students gain admission to top-50 colleges every year.
Prompt will match your student with one of their expert Writing Coaches for support on all of their essays.
You can click here to learn more about Prompt.
Our families can get a FREE, 30-minute strategy session to brainstorm compelling experiences and create an essay plan.
Create a free account and sign up for the session before March 22nd.
***** Please note this is an advertisement. WBHS does not endorse or vet these organizations.
SCHOLARSHIPS - Where to look
Please note that Ms. Essig posts all scholarship information on our Twitter account. You do not have to have a Twitter account to read the posts. We post opportunities in the newsletter twice and then remove them. Please follow the Twitter page for the most up-to-date opportunities!
https://twitter.com/WBHSCounseling
Look for #WBHSScholarships2020.
How do I find scholarships?
1. Apply for Financial Aid after October 1st. www.FAFSA.gov
2. Check with each college in which you are applying for merit based scholarships and deadlines.
3. Check for memorial and alumni scholarship opportunities at each college in which you may qualify.
4. Check with student’s/parent’s employer, banks/credit union, religious & civic affiliations, etc. for scholarships.
5. Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/WBHSCounseling Click on the hashtag #WBHSScholarships2020.
6. Read the Counselor Connection
7. Conduct a search by using a national search engine, such as www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com, www.myscholly.com, etc. Be sure to create an email address just for these searches as students will receive a lot of email. There is no need to pay money for these services! Watch for scams!
8. Check Careeronestop: https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx
9. Beginning Class of 2020,College Board Opportunity Scholarships. https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/
10. For more information: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships#how-find
11. Remember it takes work to receive most scholarships! You won't know if you don't try!
$1,500 Scholarship Exclusively for WBHS Students!
BE LIKE BOB SCHOLARSHIP
West Bloomfield Optimist Club
Who was Bob?
This scholarship is in memory of Robert “Bob” Mellen, who was an active and longtime member of the West Bloomfield Optimist Club. Mr. Mellen was a founding partner in the accounting firm of Mellen, Smith & Pivoz. A dedicated member of WB Optimists since 1982, he lived its mission by his positive attitude, kind heart and generosity to others. Bob was a strong believer in public and higher education. He felt public education is the foundation of our democracy and the character of our youth determines the strength of our future. This scholarship is given in his memory.
Applicant Criteria:
• Have a 2.5 or higher GPA in high school and plan to attend a college in the state of Michigan.
• Must be a current West Bloomfield High School senior who will graduate this year.
• Must provide an official high school transcript.
• Must provide (2) letters of recommendation (No family members).
• Write an essay answering each of the essay prompts.
• Scholarship will be presented at a meeting of the West Bloomfield Optimist Club in April of 2020.
• Winner and family will be required to attend the Michigan Week Breakfast on May 8, 2020 at Wabeek Country Club as guests of the West Bloomfield Optimist Club.
Award Process:
• Applications must be submitted to the WBHS Counseling Office by April 6, 2020 at 2:10 p.m.
• The West Bloomfield Optimist Club will announce the winner of the scholarship via email after April 15, 2020.
• Scholarship will be presented at a meeting of the West Bloomfield Optimist Club in April of 2020.
• Winner and family will be required to attend the Michigan Week Breakfast on May 8 at Wabeek Country Club as guests of the West Bloomfield Optimist Club.
Selection:
• All applications become the property of the WB Optimist Club and will not be returned to the applicant.
• All decisions are final.
• Any questions should be directed to Ms. Joey Spano, joey.spano@wbsd.org or 248-865-6463.
B’nai B’rith Great Lakes Region College Scholarship Program
The B’nai B’rith Great Lakes Region is pleased to announce open enrollment for its College Scholarship Program for high school students who will be entering college in the fall of 2020. We anticipate awarding three or four scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year in the amount of $2,500 each. It is our goal that these scholarships will inspire the honorees to pay our gift forward after graduation by serving as leaders in their communities and as ambassadors for the B’nai B’rith Great Lake Region’s College Scholarship program.
Candidates will be judged by many factors including financial need, academic achievement, their record of community service, extra-curricular activities as well as other attributes. To be eligible candidates must:
- Reside in Michigan.
- Submit a completed B’nai B’rith Great Lakes Region (BBGLR) College Scholarship Application including the following required documents by the April 27, 2020 deadline. Please send in ALL of the required paper work to be fully considered for the scholarship:
- First two pages of the Parent’s/Guardian’s 2019 (2018 if they have not filed 2019 yet) Federal Income Tax Form 1040.
- Most current High School transcript.
- ACT and/or SAT transcript.
- The top five candidates must be available to attend a personal interview with the BBGLR’s College Scholarship Selection Committee during the beginning of May.
- The successful candidates are expected to attend the B’nai B’rith Great Lakes Region’s annual Golf Classic Dinner Banquet on Monday, June 1, 2020 at Tam O’Shanter Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where they will be honored.
B’nai B’rith Great Lakes Region
Attention: College Scholarship Selection Committee
P.O. Box 250696
West Bloomfield, MI 48325
If you have questions concerning the BBGLR’s new College Scholarship Program, please feel free to contact our office at 248-646-3100 or forward your question to us from our website. We encourage individuals or businesses who are interested in partnering with our College Scholarship Program to perhaps endow a special scholarship or to simply make a contribution to contact us at 248-646-3100 to discuss the vast array of possibilities.
Download the 2020/2021 College Scholarship Program Application
NOBLE Scholarship
REALTOR Scholarship Fund
The REALTOR® Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for high school seniors attending a Michigan School of Higher Learning. https://RealtorScholarshipFund.com The deadline Mar.16.
2019-2020 OCTEA Scholarship Application
Purpose:
To provide an Oakland County graduating senior who has participated in a State Approved Career and Technical Education Program an opportunity to obtain $500 of funding assistance for post-secondary educational costs. One Scholarship of $500 each will be awarded.
Eligibility:
Graduating high school senior
Participant in a State Approved Career and Technical Education program (CTE)
GPA 2.0 and higher, verified by submission of a copy of your official high school transcript
District has a registered OCTEA member
Essay Contest for 11th and 12th grade
The 100 Mensches, a program of Jewish Family Service, is once again offering college scholarships to Jewish juniors and seniors through an essay contest on the topic of healthy relationships and dating.
New this year is the opportunity to apply for a position on the Haven Youth Advisory Board for the 20-21 school year.
Deadline for essay submissions is May 4. Details, including essay prompt, eligibility requirements and submission details can be found on the attached flyer.
David Barns Scholarship
MI Student Aid Scholarship Search Tool
Oakland Community College Scholarship Opportunity
Want Free College Tuition? Apply Now!
Oakland Community College is pleased to offer 100 non-competitive scholarships to Oakland County’s high school graduates that will pay for the first year of a student’s degree. At $3,500, the Chancellor’s Scholarship is OCC’s largest and will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis to all that qualify. To view details and important deadlines, please visit our webpage at https://oaklandcc.academicworks.com/opportunities/2053.
NPHC Scholarship Information
Vibe Credit Union - FU$E Scholarship Program
At Vibe Credit Union, we are pleased to announce that we are awarding ten deserving students $1,500 towards the school of their choice.
The FU$E Scholarship Program is designed for members graduating high school and pursuing an education at a university, college, or technical school.
The Scholarship entry deadline is April 1, 2020.
Scholarship requirements:
- Be a 2020 graduating high school senior
- Be a member in good standing (no required length of time)
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA
- Submit volunteer hours, most recent high school transcript, and proof of acceptance to a university, college, or technical school
- Submit a 250-word essay during the application process.
2020 Essay Question: "What do you expect to gain from earning a degree/certificate at a university, college or technical school?"
Please share with all graduating seniors and encourage them to apply.
Colleges That Change Lives Scholarship
CTCL Scholarship Application
If you are attending one of the CTCL colleges, check out this scholarship! (Ex. Wooster, Hillsdale, Hope, K-Zoo, Wheaton) #WBHSScholarships2020 https://ctcl.org/scholarship-application/
The Colleges That Change Lives Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of Loren Pope’s classic book and the 10th anniversary of the non-profit organization, Colleges That Change Lives.
Since first appearing in 1996, four versions of Colleges That Change Lives have been published, each update offering valuable insights about the college search, as well as profiles of 40 small, residential, liberal arts schools that deliver a quality education to thousands of students each year. The non-profit College That Change Lives organization is dedicated to preserving and promoting the book’s message, and this scholarship is yet another way to ensure that the CTCL experience becomes a reality for even more students. In 2020, CTCL Scholarships of $1,000/year (renewable for up to four years) will be awarded.
New first-year students, including international students and undocumented students, who intend to attend a CTCL-member college or university are eligible to apply for the CTCL scholarship. Recipients are selected by the CTCL Board of Directors based on the merits of the application; financial need may be taken into consideration.
To apply for the CTCL Scholarship, complete the following two parts of the application.
Part 1: Submit the online CTCL scholarship application before 11:59 p.m. (EDT), March 25, 2020.
Part 2: Email the following two items to scholarships@ctcl.org with your name in the subject line before 11:59 PM (EDT), April 7, 2020:
- at least one copy of an admission letter from a CTCL-member school
- a copy of Page 1 of your Student Aid Report from the FAFSA (see example)
All student applicants will be notified about the results by email on April 21. Read about the latest winners of the CTCL Scholarship.
Questions? Please contact Executive Director Maria Furtado with questions (727.465.8005).
Skilled Trade Scholarship Program
The SET SEG Foundation is excited to announce our new Skilled Trade Scholarship program. The scholarship opportunity is available to Michigan public high school seniors who have participated in a career and technical education program and are enrolled in, or planning to enroll in, an accredited two-year college, technical school or other accredited technical institute within the next 12 months.
Who is Eligible: High school seniors attending a Michigan public school, who are enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited two-year college, technical school or other accredited technical institute within the next 12 months. Scholarship Amount: Students will receive a $500 scholarship.
Application Deadline: March 29, 2020 How to Apply: Students must complete the application available here.
If you have any questions regarding the application process or the scholarship, please contact Lisa Truscott at (517) 816-1616 or via email at ltruscott@setseg.org.
AAA School Safety Patrol Scholarship Program
Scholarship links
Calendars/Schedules
Important Contacts
WBHS Counseling Department
A-CU Kelly Casinelli
CV-HA Joanne Wegrzynowicz
HB-LO Karen Brody
LP-PO Felicia Neumann
PR-TE Lisa Thompkins
TF-Z John Hepper
College & Career Counselor Noelle Essig
Administrative Staff
Mr. Pat Watson, Principal
Ashleigh Larkin, Assistant Principal
Eric Pace, Assistant Principal
Eric Pierce, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Jamie Glinz, Assistant Principal
Email: noelle.essig@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/Domain/8
Location: 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248)865-6768
Twitter: @WBHSCounseling
OK2SAY
1-855-565-2729
Text - 652729
https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Text - HELLO to 741741