Athens High School
SENIOR NEWSLETTER
EAGLE EYE
Definition of eagle eye
1: the ability to see or observe keenly
2: one that sees or observes keenly
3: close watch
I have had the opportunity to speak with many of you recently. Like every senior class before, you are overwhelmed. Senior year does come with many decisions. The best way to make decisions is by arming yourself with the most current and pertinent information and to keep yourself from being distracted by false information. There is a balance between giving you every bit of knowledge you need to know all at once (which is quite overwhelming) and giving you information too slowly. I will do my best to balance that out for you so that you are well informed, but not "overlywhelmed" informed. I want to help you organize the information and keep a close eye out for what is next.
In each newsletter, I will break down 3 Eagle Eyes to focus on.
3 EAGLE EYES
1. College Search & Application Process videos
2. College Rep Zooms & Virtual College Fair
3. ACT Registration
EAGLE EYE ONE: College Informational Videos
Our career coach, Mrs. Castleberry, is putting together informational videos for you to be able to watch at your leisure. They will be covering an array of topics. Below are the first two covering The College Search Process & College Applications 101.
On Monday, September 21st, I will host a senior zoom meeting. This will be prerecorded and shown during Connect for our traditional students and will be emailed out to be viewed anytime for our remote students. There will also be a parent focused zoom meeting posted that same evening. The information covered will center around general college information and Athens High School specific information when it comes to applications, information and scholarships.
EAGLE EYE TWO: COLLEGE REP VISITS & VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS
Talking with college admission representatives is a key component and gathering the information you need about a school. Traditionally reps have come to AHS to answer questions face-to-face and we have taken seniors to the Limestone Area College Fair in September. Both of these options are taking on a different look this year. Find out more below.
COLLEGE & MILITARY RECRUITERS
College & Military visits will be set up digitally. Those will take place from 11:30-12:15 on Mondays & some Thursdays. Those visits dates are listed below. A link will be sent via email before each zoom. Traditional students will participate in the Zoom through their Connect teacher. Remote students can join the zoom individually.
SCHEDULE
- Monday, 9/14/2020, Samford University
- Monday, 9/28/2020, Vanderbilt University
- Friday, 10/2/2020, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Monday, 10/5/2020, The University of Alabama
- Friday, 10/9/2020, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Friday, 10/16/2020, Lipscomb University
- Monday, 10/19/2020, University of South Alabama
- Friday, 10/23/2020, Mississippi State University
- Monday, 10/26/2020, University of Alabama at Birmingham
VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS
In lieu of traditional college fairs not being held this year, the Alabama Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers (ALACROE) will be hosting 3 virtual college fairs for students across the state. I will be reminding you through the semester to register online to attend. Here is a little more information about the events.
Thursday, September 17th 9:00 AM-11:00 AM; 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Tuesday, October 20th 9:00 AM-1:00 PM; 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
Tuesday, November 17th 9:00 AM-11:00 AM; 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
5 Reasons to Register for the ALACRAO Virtual College Fair
Here are 5 great reasons why this event is a great fit for you:
- More convenient: no travel/no time limit. The virtual college fair will remain posted for you to explore at your own convenience.
- Expert presentations on the college search and college application process with time for your specific questions to be answered. Topics will include: College Search Process 101-Finding your Fit, Navigating the Financial Aid Process, Admissions During COVID-19. Watch live and come back to watch again on demand.
- Safer Way to Connect: Colleges will be available for one-on-one chat to help you learn more about their institution. Check out the college booth for an agenda of their own presentations on topics like the honors program or residence life.
- Great Search Tools: Search colleges specifically by name or search by attributes like campus size or majors offered.
- Choose Your Screen: Attend this virtual college fair from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
To register and for more information, follow the link below.
ALACRAO Virtual College Fair
Thursday, Sep 17, 2020, 06:00 PM
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CHRISTIAN VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR
Itinerary:
6-6:30: "The Value of a Christian Higher Education" Session
6:30-7: "Questions to Ask When You're Choosing a College" Session
7-10: Chat with college reps, watch presentations, schedule visits & more
10-10:30: "Financial Aid" Session
10:30-11: "Test Optional: What's Next?" Session
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2020, 05:00 PM
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EAGLE EYE THREE: ACT REGISTRATION
While many schools are waiving the need for an ACT score to apply, most are still using either the ACT or SAT to award merit based scholarships. Most regional 4-year universities have a deadline anywhere from December 1st to mid- February for merit scholarships. For some schools, the October ACT is the last chance to pull that ACT to where you want it to be. Don't forget to sign up ASAP. Information is below.
2020-2021 ACT TEST DATES
Want to take a college visit, but can't right now? Check out the website below
Need a Transcript?
Athens High School has now partnered with Parchment to order and send your transcripts securely. You should have received an email with a link and code to create an account. You can create an account with or without the code, but registering with the code is much quicker and easier.
You will be able to order a transcript and track the process of your order all online!
Some things you should know:
- For current students, the first 5 orders are free
- After the first five orders, there will be a fee of $5 for each transcript ordered
- Your FINAL transcript upon graduation will be free if ordered by June 30th of your graduation year
- Paper Transcript Requests for current and former students will no longer be accepted
The link to order a transcript is available at the link below or on the school's main webpage as well as under the Guidance Page> Senior Resources
Senior Portrait Info
Seniors, you should have received a postcard in the mail over the summer with information for taking their senior portraits. If you have not received this information, then you may have to contact the studio for yourself. Our school uses Prestige Portrait Studios through LifeTouch. Their physical studios are located in Huntsville. You may call and schedule an appointment with them at (256) 382-2798 and/or you may visit their studio located at 5650 Sanderson, Huntsville St. NW Suite G, Huntsville, AL 35805. They also have a website https://local.prestigeportraits.com/al/huntsville/5650-sanderson-street-nw.html; however, you may not find the information you need to schedule an appointment, if you do not have the information from the postcard.
Prestige is scheduled to come to campus in November for students who have not made it to their Huntsville studio. Specifics for those make up portraits will be made available closer to the date they come to the school.
**IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES**
SENIOR/JUNIOR ZOOM MEETING
Monday, Sep 21, 2020, 11:15 AM
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Junior/Senior Parent Meeting
Monday, Sep 21, 2020, 06:00 PM
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HOMECOMING DANCE
Friday, Sep 25, 2020, 10:00 PM
100 U.S. Highway 31, Athens, AL, USA
FAFSA Opens
Monday, Oct 1, 2018, 12:15 AM
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It's FAFSA time!
Ready or not, the FAFSA will open on October 1, 2020.
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, is the most important step you can take to get money to help pay for college. All federal financial aid programs, many state aid programs, and some programs offered by individual colleges require students to complete the FAFSA. Because the FAFSA unlocks so many types of financial aid, students from families of all incomes should complete the FAFSA.
The FAFSA opens to seniors for the 2021-2022 academic year on October 1st and remains open through June 20, 2022, but the sooner you fill out the FAFSA the better so that you don’t miss out on qualifying for aid you are eligible for. Many schools have priority FAFSA filing deadlines in early 2021 so make sure you know the deadlines for your the schools you are interested in applying to.
More information will be coming out closer to October 1st.
Need a Recommendation?
- Look at the recommendation criteria. It will be specific in who the recommendation can come from.
- Don't assume they will write one for you- ask.
- Choose someone with whom you've had a positive relationship.
- Provide them with a resume, what or who the recommendation is for, and when you need it completed.
- Let them know if it is to be returned to you or if they are to mail it. If they are to mail it, please provide them with a stamped, addressed envelope.
- Don't rush in the day before the deadline. Give them ample time to write the recommendation. A month before the deadline is preferable. The more time allow, the more thoughtful your recommendation will be.
**FEATURED WEBSITES**
SCHOLARSHIPS
All scholarships and special opportunities will be listed here in chronological order. This section will continue to grow throughout the year. Keep an eye out as new information is listed. If you see a scholarship that you are interested in and need an application, those are available in the scholarship box in the Guidance Office.
- Army ROTC provides full tuition and fees (or $10K for room and board) scholarships to over 2000 high school students each year. Find out more information, eligibility requirements, deadlines, how to apply and more HERE.
- Epic Aviation's Scholarship Program offers a full scholarship to earn a Private Pilot’s License (up to $20,000 in flight training). They also award a Partial Scholarship of $5,000 toward flight training. Scholarships are open to all U.S. high school juniors and seniors. Finally, they award a full scholarship to a graduating senior to attend their Aircraft Mechanic Program ($19,500 value) this year. To learn more and access an application, visit HERE. Deadline is October 1, 2020.
- The Horatio Alger Scholarship will award multiple awards for National, State and Targeted scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Only one application is needed to apply. Applicants must meet the following criteria: critical financial need ($55,000 or less adjusted gross income per family), integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, participation in community service and United States citizenship. To apply, visit HERE. Deadline is October 25, 2020.
- The Athena League recognizes the importance of academic achievement, need, extracurricular activities and community involvement, thus establishing the Athena League Trent-Crutcher Scholarship. The award is a one-time $2,000 scholarship. Senior girls planning on starting college in the fall of 2021 are eligible (except daughters of Athena League members past and present). Applications are available HERE. Deadline is March 19, 2021.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR 9-12
The PSAT (which stands for Preliminary SAT) won’t count towards your college admissions applications, but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship (for 11th grade students). This means that some of the highest scoring students may win scholarship money. If you have't heard, we had TWO STUDENTS qualify this year after taking the test last fall- Caroline Chesnut & Connor Higgins. While you shouldn’t stress out about the PSAT, you certainly shouldn’t ignore it either. Instead, use the PSAT as practice for the SAT and ACT and one of the starting points on your college admissions journey. For those 10th & 11th grade students interested in taking the PSAT, you can sign up now. The test will take place on Thursday, October 29th. The cost is $17 and must be paid to the guidance department by Friday, October 16th.
- Students interested in the U.S. Service Academy's may attend an informational meeting on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. More information can be found below.
- The 2021 Prudential Spirit of Community Award sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through community service. Students in grades 5-12 who have participated in a volunteer activity after September 1, 2019 can apply. Honorees selected will have the opportunity to earn a $5,000 scholarship. Applications are available at www.spirit.prudential.com and are due by November 10, 2020.
Mrs. Laura Lou Smith
Athens High School
Email: LauraLou.Smith@acs-k12.org
Website: www.athenhighschool.org
Phone: 256-233-6613