CCR Update
St. Charles East-September 23, 2022
National Merit Recognition
High School students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) in October of their Junior year. In April, NMSC identified the 50,000 students with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores to qualify for recognition. Out of this group, approximately 16,000 students were named Semifinalists and now have the opportunity to advance and become finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The other 34,000 high performers have been recognized as Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise. Congratulation to the following Saints for achieving these distinctions:
National Merit Semifinalists: Matthew Hall & Nathan Throneburg
National Merit Commended Students: Clare Archbold, Christopher Barbera, Nathan Borgstrom, Rachel Cornille, Daniel Flores, Jack Griffin, Andrew Komerska, Abigail Kreeger, Peyton LaCroix, Emma Maxwell, Clara Owen, Dylan Platt, Maggie Rich, Jackson Sengenberger, Ryan Sponzilli, Amanda Stepien, Andrew Szuch, & Hannah Wojcik.
Fall Testing
10th & 11th-grade students will be taking College Board's PSAT/NMSQT exam in the traditional paper & pencil format.
12th-grade students will have a non-attendance day. More details about the fall testing will be shared as we approach test day.
Senior Meetings
Each senior will meet individually with their school counselor regarding their post-secondary plan during the months of September and October. Seniors can start booking appointments with their counselor using their You Can Book Me link found on the CCR homepage or the link below.
College Application/Post Secondary Workshops
The College & Career Readiness Team will be offering workshops in the LRC-East & West Labs to assist our seniors with their post-secondary planning for college, military, trades, etc. These workshops will run periods 1-8 every Wednesday from August 31 until October 26th. Seniors are reminded to attend during a free period in their schedule.
Did You Miss Financial Aid Night?
ECC's Financial Aid 101
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022 to Saturday, October 8, 2022
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: ECC Main Campus, Bldg. E, Rm. 125, Seigle Auditorium
All are welcome to attend this FREE and informative event. During the event, you can: Learn ways to pay for college at ECC. Explore the differences between grants, loans, scholarships, and student employment. Hear about how to apply for financial aid and scholarships at ECC. Speak with financial aid representatives about your Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Attendees will have the opportunity to start (and even complete) their 2023-2024 FAFSA at this event. Experts will be on hand throughout the event to answer questions.
CCR Events-Save the Date
- September 21: Financial Aid Night-St. Charles North Auditorium
- October 19: FAFSA Completion Workshop-Saints Lab-B200C
- October 25: 2 Year, Tech, Trades & Military Post-Secondary Options-Compass Academy (Haines Center)
- November 9: Future College Athlete Night-St. Charles North Auditorium
- November 30: Early College Credit Information Night-NCAC/East Auditorium
- March 1: Spring Into College-NCAC/East Auditorium
- March 15: Illinois Regional College Fair-Kane County Fairgrounds
More details will be shared as we get closer to each event date.
2023 AP Exams for Students NOT Enrolled in the Class
Important information for students who are interested in taking an AP exam but are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course:
Students wishing to take any AP exams for classes in which they are not enrolled must register and pay for the exam no later than Friday, November 11. The fee is $97 per exam and is non-refundable after November 11. Registration forms are available here or in the College & Career Office. Once payment is received, you will receive a join code from Mr. Gill to complete your order.
Job Shadow Program
The City of St. Charles is offering a career pathway job shadow program to St. Charles high school students interested in exploring a career in municipal government. You may schedule up to three different job shadow experiences per school year, during which you can explore work sites, ask questions, see demonstrations, and learn about education and certifications. Students will be responsible for transportation to and from the City. The date, time, and length of the job shadow will be scheduled outside of school hours directly with the City’s job shadow program coordinator. Please return your completed registration form to Mr. Matt Gill in the College & Career Office.
Northwestern Medical Discovery Program
The Discovery Program exposes students to a broad range of activities designed to encourage their interest in healthcare careers. Program activities include tours, guest speakers, group discussion, and hands-on projects. Meetings are held once a month, most often on Saturday mornings from 9:00am-12:00pm. The NM Discovery West Chapter and the Greater DeKalb Chapter collaborate a lot, so meetings will be held at Central DuPage Hospital, Delnor Hospital, Kishwaukee Hospital, and various off-site NM locations. Please note, meeting dates, times, and topics are subject to change. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.
For information about the Discovery Program and how to apply.
The application deadline is 5 pm on September 30, 2022.
For questions about the Discovery Program please email NMDiscoveryProgramWest@nm.org
NIU-STEM Fest
Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
STEM Fest is a celebration of all things science, technology, engineering and math. This free event is held each year in October on the campus of Northern Illinois University and features more than 100 exhibits, speakers, and demonstrations designed to inspire and engage guests of all ages with opportunities for STEM learning. It is one of the largest free family events in northern Illinois.
It takes place in the heart of NIU’s DeKalb central campus in the Holmes Student Center, MLK Commons and Founders Memorial Library. Download our STEM Fest activities and exhibits map to bring along on Saturday, October 15, 2022.
Parking is available for free in any lot on campus on the day of STEM Fest. (Do not park in any space marked “Reserved.”) A parking map is available here.
College & Career Events
Upcoming Events:
Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 to Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Do you know what your plans are after high school? Do you know the options available? This workshop will cover the following opportunities after high school: college, university, apprenticeship, job training, gap/service, military, entrepreneurship. Registration Required
College Visits-In Person & Virtual
Virtual campus visits are an excellent way to learn more about prospective colleges and universities. These visits can be a precursor to an in-person visit over the summer or in the fall. Virtual campus tour websites are listed below:
All virtual and in-person meetings will be in the LRC (unless otherwise noted) and students must obtain a pass from the Office of College and Career Readiness at least one day prior to attending. This pass then should be signed by the teacher of the class for that period. While we encourage students to attend these meetings, please note that what is happening in the classroom is more important. Teachers may deny the request to miss class if they feel it is in the student’s best interest to be in attendance.
If you have a conflict with a college visit, please email Patty.Hofer@d303.org for the college rep's contact information.
For Scheduled Virtual Visits: Click the link to enter the live virtual conference with a college rep. For the full listing go to the College Visit page on the CCR Website.
Upcoming Visits:
Sept 27th @ 9:09/3rd period - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (MN)
Sept 27th @ 11:48/6th period - DePauw University (IN)
Sept 28th @ 8:54/3rd period - Seton Hall (NJ) EARLY RELEASE DAY
Sept 28th @ 9:41/4th period - Texas Christian University (TX) EARLY RELEASE DAY
Sept 28th @ 10:28/5th period - Western Illinois University (IL) EARLY RELEASE DAY
Sept 28th @ 12:02/7th period - University of South Carolina-Columbia (SC) EARLY RELEASE DAY
Sept 28th @ 12:49/8th period - Eastern Illinois University (IL) EARLY RELEASE DAY
Sept 29th @ 9:09/3rd period - University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (IL)
Sept 29th @ 10:02/4th period - Grinnell College (IA)
Sept 29th @ 10:55/5th period - Illinois State University (IL)
Sept 29th @ 11:48/6th period: Carthage College (WI)
Sept 29th @ 12:41/7th period - Michigan Technological University (MI)
Sept 30th @ 7:20/1st period - Merrimack College (MA)
Sept 30th @ 8:13/2nd period - Holy Cross College (IN)
Sept 30th @ 9:09/3rd period - Butler University (IN)
Sept 30th @ 10:55/5th period - Clemson University (SC)
Sept 30th @ 12:41/7th period - University of Michigan-Ann Harbor (MI)
Sept 30th @ 1:34/8th period - Valparaiso University (IN)
The College Tour
Hosted by Alex Boylan, each episode of The College Tour tells the story of a single college through the lens of its students.
Join us for a truly one-of-a-kind series featuring colleges and universities in a way they have never been seen before!
7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits
A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, four years of your life will be spent at the college you decide to select. This is particularly important for high school students searching for numerous universities and colleges. Admission advisors encourage the students to have scheduled campus visits to get a general outlook for the schools.
If you're an incoming college freshman or transferee, here are some specific pointers about how to get the most out of your college visits: Read Full Article here.
Scholarships
Information for local scholarships and select national scholarships is available in the College and Career Office and through the scholarship listing on the CCR website. This list will continue to grow throughout the school year.
PEO Star Scholarship-OB Chapter of St. Charles
Heisman High School Scholarship Program
Heisman High School Scholarship Program
The Heisman High School Scholarship program honors hundreds of the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes each year. This year, the college scholarship amounts have been doubled, increasing support for each student-athlete’s education. The program will recognize a winner from each high school that has student participation. The top male and female applicants from each state will be awarded $1,000. State winners will move on for the chance to become a national finalist and win at least $2,000. Of the national finalists, a male and a female will be selected as the winner of the $10,000 National Heisman High School Scholarship. Community-minded scholar-athletes can learn more and apply at https://heismanscholarship.com. the application deadline is October 18, 2022.VFW-Voice of Democracy
The Voice of Democracy is the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ premier scholarship program. Each year nearly 40,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives, with a top prize of $30,000. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. The 2022-2023 audio-essay competition topic is: Why is the Veteran Important? The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12. The VFW Post 5036 will award a $1,000 renewable scholarship for the local winner. Please contact Richard Zawislak (richard.zawislak@yahoo.com) for details on how to submit your entry. All entries should be submitted to the local St. Charles VFW Post 5036 by October 21, 2022 in order to meet the national deadline. Rules and criteria for submitting your application are attached here.
College & Career Readiness Team
Website: https://sites.google.com/d303.org/stcharleseast--collegecareer/home
Location: 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-5538
Twitter: @STCECCR