WB Counselor Connection
News & Info for the WB Community Nov. 12, 2020
In this issue:
Final FAFSA Workshop for seniors and their parents - Thursday
FAFSA Myths & FAFSA Resource Guidebook
U of M - Ann Arbor - Early Action reminder for seniors
CSS Profile
Junior Parent Night - College 101 - Save the date!
OSTC Cosmetology Program
OSTC Informational Video & Brochure
OSTC Career Nights
Seniors - Dept of Treasury Senior Letter
Upcoming Virtual College Rep Visits
FAFSA Tutorials
Scholarships
MEA Scholarship
Gayle S. Joyner Scholarship
Elks Scholarship
Live Mas' Taco Bell Scholarship
Ron Brown Scholarship
Foot Locker Scholarship
Community Foundation Scholarships
U of M Greater Detroit Alum Scholarship
Northeastern University Torch Scholarship
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
Check Twitter Daily for Additional Scholarships @WBHSCounseling #WBHSScholarships2021
Junior Parent Night - College 101
Seniors - FINAL FAFSA WORKSHOP
Seniors and parents -
If you find that you need help and support filling out the FAFSA, the WB Counseling Department is sponsoring a final FAFSA Workshop. Click on the link here to sign up to meet virtually with a Financial Aid Officer from Oakland University who can assist all families with the FAFSA regardless of where your child plans to attend college.
FAFSA Workshop with Carrie Gilchrist
11/16/2020 (Mon.)
Through the link you will be able to reserve your spot, access the FSA ID instructions and the FAFSA Checklist, as well as receive an email reminder to attend three days before the event. The registration deadline is 24 hours in advance of the workshop so they can send the Zoom links to participants the morning of their workshop.
Want to learn more about the FAFSA? Check out these resources
The State of Michigan provides the Affording College in Michigan Guidebook to high school and college students as they prepare for their post-secondary education. With information from planning and applying to college to paying for college, this guidebook provides great information for seniors!
Help dispel fears around filling out the FAFSA with this FAFSA Myths fact sheet. Find answers and solutions to common questions and situations regarding FAFSA Completion.
Seniors - Applying to U of M Ann Arbor
Seniors - If you are applying to U of M Ann Arbor for Early Action the application and materials are due Nov. 15th. Make sure your transcripts have been sent via Parchment along with any test scores you would like them to consider. (You can send updated test scores, once you receive them).
Double-check that your counselor and teacher(s) have uploaded their letter of recommendation.... if it hasn't been done yet, be sure to follow up with a friendly email to them. If possible, I encourage you to submit your application at least a few days prior to the deadline in order to avoid any last-minute obstacles.
More information can be found here:
Seniors - CSS Profile - Do you need to fill it out?
The short answer is that most colleges DO NOT require the CSS Profile. However, if you are hoping to receive financial aid you need to check to see if it's required. U of M Ann Arbor is a college that requires this form if you are applying for financial aid.
Check your college's financial aid web page to see if it's required.
You can also check here: https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
Click here to see an informational video about the CSS Profile. Again, most colleges do not require this form, but it's important for you to check to see if it's required in order to be considered for financial aid at their college.
OSTC - Cosmetology Information
OSTC Informational Video
OSTC Virtual Career Nights
OSTC Information Brochure
Message from the Department of Treasury to the Class of 2021
Upcoming College Rep Virtual Visits
Check out the following College Rep Virtual Visits for next week.
Click on the link to sign up now.
Wed, Nov 18, 2020 at 12:00 PM Army - Active Duty and Army Reserves
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 #WBHSScholarships2021.
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. 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!
Foot Locker Scholarship
The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities.
Judges will evaluate each fully completed scholarship application on a points system based on, among other factors:
Embody good sportsmanship and strong moral character. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes are trusted and respected members of their schools and communities. Display academic excellence. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes are intellectually curious, set high academic goals for themselves, and excel in their studies. Are passionate and committed to empowering the community in which they live. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes have made a significant commitment to improving the lives of others. Are confident and enthusiastic about being a leader. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes aren’t reluctant role models. They are confident, honest, and passionate leaders who take on challenges for the greater good. Come from diverse backgrounds. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes have unique life stories, are from different places, have varied academic ambitions, and play a wide range of sports.
Phases of the Program
Applications - A panel of scholarship experts will review all applications based on the judging criteria.
Interviews - Interviews will be conducted via video in January/February, 2021 to gain additional insight on the applicants.
Announcement - Foot Locker scholarship committee will select and announce the final 20 Foot Locker Scholar Athletes in April / May 2021.
Important Dates
- Applications open on October 22, 2020 at 8:00AM EST
- Applications close on January 8, 2021 at 11:59PM EST
Apply here: https://www.footlockerscholarathletes.com/
MEA Scholarship
Does one of your parents/guardians belong to the Michigan Education Association (teachers union)? If yes, check out this awesome scholarship opportunity!
The 2021 MEA Scholarship application form is now available online at https://mea.org/mea-scholarship/.
Last year, 28 new winners and 22 returning college students were awarded scholarships totaling $49,000. The dollar amount for the 2021 scholarships and the number of scholarships to be awarded will be determined at the March 25, 2021 Scholarship Fund Trustee’s meeting.
Scholarships will be awarded to dependents of MEA members or MEA-Retired members in good standing only. If you need additional information, please contact Barb Hitchcock at bhitchcock@mea.org.
Gayle S. Joyner Scholarship
http://bethanywaterford.org/scholarships/
Eligibility Requirements & Criteria
• High school graduate, college or university undergraduate or graduate student who is a resident within the boundaries of Pontiac, Waterford or West Bloomfield school districts or any qualifying student from Oakland County, Michigan, who is recommended by a Bethany Church member
• Ambition to learn and advance as demonstrated and confirmed by academic achievement
• Character and concern for others as demonstrated by volunteer service to those outside one’s immediate family
• True financial need confirmed by an academic counselor, teacher and/or the careful interview of the applicant as conducted by the Bethany Scholarship Board
Northeastern University Torch Scholars Program
Northeastern University Torch Scholarship Program for First Generation College Students
We are currently accepting nominations for the Torch Scholars Program for first-generation college students.
The Torch Scholars Committee looks for bright, talented students who:
- Have succeeded against the odds, but have not reached their full academic potential due to difficult family situations, cultural barriers, financial challenges, or educational environments. • Have shown leadership through community, school, work, or service.
- Have enrolled in college prep classes and would be successful with the additional academic and personal support of the Torch Scholars Program.
- Are eligible for financial aid, and are from low-income households.
- Have parents/guardians without a four-year degree/Bachelor's degree.
In addition to academic and personalized support, the Torch Scholars Program covers all costs for tuition, room and board, and fees for eight semesters of undergraduate study, and includes all expenses for a six-week Summer Immersion Program prior to the start of the first year in college.
Nominations are due by January 1, 2021. Students are considered based on their college application, and must apply by the January 1 admissions deadline.
Since our first Torch cohort in 2006, the program has graduated 10 classes, with a five-year graduation rate of 86%. Torch alumni have entered masters and doctorate programs, created new ventures with start-up companies, and worked at established corporations across the country. Learn more at northeastern.edu/torch. We look forward to building our sixteenth Torch class with your help.
If you have questions about the nominating process or the Torch Program, please contact me at torch@northeastern.edu or call 617.373.7705.
Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan Scholarships
Scholarship Dates to Know
November 17: The registration portal and application forms go live! After registering, you can begin to draft your online application. February 15: Registration deadline! Registrations will not be accepted beyond February 15 at 5 p.m. EST.
March 16: Application deadline! Applications will not be accepted beyond March 16 at 5 p.m. EST.
Check here for many, many scholarships for students: https://cfsem.org/scholarships/
University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit Scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INCOMING FRESHMAN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
The University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit funds scholarships each year for both the general student body as well as for student athletes. Several of these scholarships are endowed. In addition to the scholarships that we sponsor, at times we have been asked by the University to help a student that needed financial assistance to continue their education. The University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit has always tried to meet each and every request from the University.
Eligibility Criteria
ACT: Minimum score of 31
OR
SAT: Minimum score of 1430
3.8 minimum GPA
Application Deadline
The entire online application must be completed and submitted no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 12, 2021. At this time all items must be marked complete for the application to be considered.
Apply here:
https://www.umclubgreaterdetroit.org/scholarships/scholarships.aspx
Ron Brown Scholarship
https://www.ronbrown.org/section/apply/program-description
About the Ron Brown Scholarship
The Ron Brown Scholarship honors the legacy of Ronald H. Brown through a selective scholarship program that advances higher education for community-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans. RBSP competitively awards Ron Brown Scholars four-year $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 each year) to the most talented and economically-challenged high school seniors who demonstrate a keen interest in public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship and global citizenship – the four pillars of the late Ronald H. Brown’s mission to uplift people of all races, cultures and ethnicities – especially our disadvantaged youth.
Recipients may use the renewable scholarships to attend an accredited four-year college or university of their choice within the United States. Ron Brown scholarships are not limited to any specific field or career objective and may be used to pursue any academic discipline. Since the Program’s inception in 1996, more than 300 students have been designated as Ron Brown Scholars.
Applicants for the Ron Brown Scholarship MUST be graduating high school seniors at the time of their application.
About the Guided Pathway Support (GPS) Program
The Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) helps African-American juniors and seniors navigate the path to top colleges by directing students to the most comprehensive and reliable resources available. GPS teaches students how to prepare for, apply to, pay for, persist in and graduate from college.
Using our “high tech and high touch” approach, GPS narrows the college access gap using tele-mentoring through our exclusive GPS Workplace by Facebook community, direct interactions with admissions professionals and exposure to successful peer role models. GPS empowers high school juniors, seniors, their parents and their guidance counselors throughout the college application process.
With GPS, the messengers complement the message. GPS students are mentored and guided by Ron Brown Scholars and Captains. As opposed to traditional mentoring programs, Ron Brown Scholars and Captains are similar in racial identity, age, income, and life experiences to meaningfully engage GPS students. They have already successfully navigated college journeys from hardship into America’s top colleges and universities, graduate schools and corporations and are eager to guide others.
For more information about the Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS), please contact Kiya Jones at (434) 964-1588 or by email at kjones@ronbrown.org.
RON BROWN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for the Ron Brown Scholar Program provided you meet the following requirements:
- Must be Black/African American.
- Must excel academically.
- Must exhibit exceptional leadership potential.
- Must participate in community service activities.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Be a US citizen or hold a permanent resident visa card.
- Be a current high school senior at the time of your application. NOTE: Current college students are not eligible to apply.
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
High school seniors nationwide who demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship are invited to apply for the 2021 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program. This program annually provides college-bound students with $10,000 renewable scholarships – up to $40,000 total per recipient – and supports them as they lead and serve in college and beyond.
Applications for the 2021 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program are accepted until Jan. 5, 2021.
Additional information, eligibility requirements, and a link to the application are available online.
You may also follow us on Facebook and learn more about the Foundation’s other programs for students and educators.
We look forward to honoring these deserving student leaders next spring.
Candidates who have questions about the application process may contact the program’s administrator, Scholarship America, at ge-reagan@scholarshipamerica.org.
https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarship-programs/ge-reagan-foundation scholarship-program/
Taco Bell Live Mas' Scholarship
INSPIRE US WITH YOUR APPLICATION, AND WE’LL HELP YOU INSPIRE THE WORLD.
There’s a special kind of person out there whose passion and pioneering spirit burn so brightly, they don’t just influence their peers—they inspire them. Not to follow trends, but to passionately blaze their own paths. We call them “Passioneers,” and we’re here to feed their passion to inspire others.
And this program is more than just a traditional scholarship. We’re not merely a one-off check writer – we’re a continued partner and collaborator who’ll be there with connections and opportunities throughout your journey to help your passion ring so loudly, it inspires the world.
If all of that looks inspiring on your screen, then please pull forward…
HOW TO ENTER
Submit a video that addresses these questions:
- What post-secondary education program, college or certificate/degree program are you attending?
- What impact will following your passion have on your local community or the world?
- How do you plan to achieve your passion through your educational goals?
- What is your dream college, school or next step in your education?
Your submission video must be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes in length. Think about filming this video on your phone, computer, tablet, school or library’s computer lab, or any other MP4 video-enabled camera to which you have access. It could be a short film, animation, or a simple testimonial. This isn’t about how well you can make a film—we want to learn more about you and your passion.
HELPFUL LINKS
ELIGIBILITY & FAQS (Links to an external site.)
MORE ABOUT HOW TO ENTER (Links to an external site.)
(Links to an external site.)LIVE MÁS SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL PROGRAM
In 2018, the Taco Bell Foundation introduced a Live Más Scholarship Renewal Program to continue supporting our previous recipients along their educational journeys. Scholarships are awarded to previous Live Más Scholarship recipients who clearly explain through a 2-minute video how they have furthered the pursuit of their passion since winning a Live Más Scholarship.
ELIGIBILITY & FAQS (Links to an external site.)
LIVE MÁS SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOPS
Our commitment to our Live Más Scholarship recipients goes beyond educational funding; our passion is nurturing our scholars’ holistic development as a student, young professional, and community member.
To do this, we host immersive leadership workshops across the nation to connect our Live Más Scholars with industry professionals and leaders in their local communities. At each workshop, scholars gain direct feedback on their professional portfolio, create authentic mentoring connections, and explore their impact on the world.
Elks Scholarship
Awards:
- The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2021 competition.
- Male and female students compete separately.
Ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university.
The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners in late April 2021. (Many local Lodges, districts, and state Elks associations award their own scholarships through this program. These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.)
The 20 Top Finalists traditionally participate in an all-expenses-paid Leadership Weekend in Chicago during which they’ll interview with the national judges. These 20 Finalists will be vying for two first-place awards of $50,000; two second-place awards of $40,000; and two third-place awards of $30,000. The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards of $20,000. The 480 runners-up will receive fifth-place scholarships of $4,000.
Eligibility:
- Current high school seniors or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.
- Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks.
- High school graduates are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.
Scholarships with November deadlines
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. Eric Pace, Principal
Ashleigh Larkin, Assistant Principal
Eric Pierce, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Jamie Glinz, Assistant Principal
Dr. Stephanie Griffin, Assistant Principal
Email: noelle.essig@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/west-bloomfield-high-school/counseling-office
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