School Counseling Newsletter
March 2020
Scholarships- SENIORS ONLY
Kenneth R. Scott Aviation Scholarship- due 3/6/2020
Planning a career in aviation? Are you accepted to an aviation-related program? Apply for this scholarship worth $3,000. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5, unweighted. Applications are in the main office.
Tevin Jones Memorial Scholarship: LOCAL- due 3/6/2020
Torrey Smith from the Carolina Panthers and a former resident of Stafford County, Virginia, has partnered with the Beyond the Boroughs Scholarship Fund to create the Tevin Jones Memorial Award to honor his late brother. Torrey would like to award the scholarship to a graduating student from an area school. Any college bound high school senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who has unmet financial need is eligible to apply. College bound students can apply by clicking https://www.torreysmith.org/scholarship/
P.E.O. Foundation Rita Berkey Memorial Scholarship- LOCAL- due 3/12/2020
A scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to a female entering a full time course of study at an accredited college, university or career and tech school for the year of the scholarship award. Only graduating seniors from Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties or the city of Fredericksburg schools are eligible. Selection will be based on: community service, financial need, academic record, extracurricular activities, and character. Apply here.
The Greater Rappahannock (VA) Chapter of The Links: LOCAL- due 3/13/2020
Four scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each for local students. You must be an outstanding African-American senior. The Sandra Holland King Education Scholarship ($1500) will go to a senior majoring in the field of education AND a student attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). The application was sent as an attachment to all seniors emails and is available in the main office. Must be postmarked by March 13th. Applications are in the main office.
Willard G. Plentl Sr. Aviation Scholarship- due 3/13/2020
This scholarship is for students who are planning an aviation career in a non-engineering area. Must have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5. This scholarship is worth $1,000 and is due by March 13th. Applications are in the main office.
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International Scholarship- due 3/15/2020
Three scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each to full-time college students.
Applications and information may be found at http://cclvi.org
Welcome Lodge #125 Scholarship: LOCAL- due 3/15/2020
Welcome Lodge #125 F & AM and Welcome Chapter #129, Order of Eastern Star, PHA is offering scholarship assistance to worthy seniors in need of financial assistance to further their education. You must have a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA, demonstrate leadership skills, and have meaningful contributions to your community. This scholarship requires a short essay, resume, and transcript. Applications are in the main office.
Caroline High School Blood Drive 19-20: LOCAL- due 3/16/2020
Must be a senior and a member of National Honor Society and participate in the CHS Blood Drive. Applications are in the main office.
Virginia Mayflower Society- due 3/16/2020
This is a $1,620 scholarship for a high school senior. Must be a resident of Virginia and have a 3.0 or above. The application requires a brief resume, a recommendation letter from a current teacher or counselor, transcript, and an essay. Applications may be emailed or mailed. Find the application here: https://virginiamayflower.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mayflower-Scholarship-2020.pdf.
Caroline's Promise Scholarship: LOCAL- due 3/20/2020
Caroline’s Promise is offering two $500 scholarships to Caroline County graduating seniors. The recipients will be students who have made a difference in this community through their community service efforts and by fulfilling one or more of the Five Promises. Must submit two short essays and at least one letter of recommendation. Applications must be received by March 20th. Access the application at this link or pick up a paper copy in the main office.
Jermon Bushrod Visualize and Rize: LOCAL- due 3/24/2020
This is a $500 scholarship to two Caroline High School senior athletes who are furthering their education after graduation. To qualify for these scholarships the applicant must: Presently be a senior (in good standing) and participated in an athletic program while in high school; have been accepted at a trade school or college after graduation; and must turn in a completed scholarship application, along with a copy of a college acceptance letter to Mrs. Huntsinger no later than March 24, 2020. Applications can be found on paper in the main office.
Omicron Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. 2020 Scholarship: LOCAL- due 3/27/2020
$1000. Must be a senior male with academic excellence and contributions to our school and community. Application must be completed and submitted online at www.apaoal.com/scholarship.html.
Delta Sigma Theta: LOCAL- due 3/27/2020
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a service organization composed of predominantly black, college-educated women. A major focus of Delta Sigma Theta is centered on Educational Development. In keeping with this theme, the organization annually awards scholarships to seniors attending high schools in the service area. To apply, you must write a short essay, send an official transcript and an SAT/ACT report, and have two letters of recommendation. Qualified applicants must interview in person. Applications can be found on paper in the main office.
AOC Dahlgren Scholarship: LOCAL- due 3/31/2020
The Dahlgren Chapter of the Association of Old Crows is proud to sponsor a scholarship program to encourage students to pursue a career in areas related to electro-magnetic warfare. A current member of the AOC Dahlgren Chapter must sponsor the student. If the student is a current AOC Dahlgren Chapter member, they may sponsor themselves. Access the application here: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.crows.org/resource/group/ac9495a7-46ff-4e45-a100-83b2e2950770/scholarship/dahlgren__scholarship_2020.pdf
The Richmond Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction Annual Scholarship- due 4/1/2020
This scholarship is for local students (male and female) who are pursuing a career in a construction related engineering/architecture or trade related field. The following is required for your application to be considered:
1. Pursuit of a construction related construct related engineering/architecture or trade related field at a two, four or accredited school
2. Financial need
3. Complete Application
Only one application from each high school should be submitted. Submit your application by 4/01 to Mrs. Huntsinger for consideration by the CHS Scholarship Committee.
Delmarva Poultry Industry: LOCAL- due 4/3/2020
One or more undergraduate scholarships with a minimum value of $1,500 will be available to residents of the Delmarva Peninsula who will be undergraduate students at any accredited, degree-granting institution, with an academic major in a subject relevant to Delmarva’s chicken industry and who are pursuing a career path leading to employment in any segment of Delmarva’s chicken industry. Applications are in the main office.
Rho Zeta Sigma Scholarship: LOCAL- due 4/13/2020
Three $1,000 scholarships for graduating male students in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, and Stafford. Must have a 2.5 or above cumulative GPA, copy of an acceptance letter, two letters of recommendation, and written submission of several application questions. Applications must be received by the Rho Zeta Sigma chapter by April 13th. Applications are in the main office.
Caroline County Agriculture Fair Continued Education Scholarship: LOCAL- due 4/15/2020
$500. 00 Scholarship for a senior pursuing a career in the following areas: agriculture, automotive technology, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, nursing, or sports medicine.
A copy of the application can be found in Main office or on the CHS Counseling Website or go online to the fair website: carolinefair.com
Fredericksburg Area Building: Steigleder Scholarship: LOCAL- due 4/15/2020
Must plan to attend the University of Richmond. Apply online at https://www.fabava.com/steigleder-family-scholarship/
Raymond D Patterson and Cheryl Oliver- due 4/15/2020
Sports Backers scholarships: two scholarships awarded in the amount of $2,500. Must be a high school scholarly and athletic senior with financial need, must have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applications may be found here: https://www.sportsbackers.org/program/scholar-athlete-awards-program/cheryl-l-oliver-raymond-d-patterson-scholarships/
*There are also an additional 20 scholarships offered through the Richmond Times-Dispatch/Sports Backers Scholar-Athlete Awards Program. These scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $2,500 each.
Madison Ruritan Scholarship: LOCAL - due 4/17/2020
This is a local scholarship valued at $600. The recipient must have:
1. Community achievement/leadership/service
2. Financial need
3. Scholastic/academic achievement and extracurricular activities
4. 3 Letters of recommendation and an official transcript
Hard copies are available in the Main Office. The pdf was emailed to you and is also available on the counseling page under scholarships.
2020 Breathing Blessings Scholarship: LOCAL - due 05/01/2020
Breathing Blessings is offering you an opportunity to access funds that will assist you on your educational journey.
Scholarships are being offered to the following students:
⮚ High School Seniors who will graduate in the Spring of 2020, that will be attending a community college, technical school or a four year college/university.
⮚ Must meet income requirements. * See income requirements document (page 2 of the application)
⮚ Must reside in one of the following counties: Caroline County, City of Fredericksburg , Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Prince William County
⮚ Complete Breathing Blessings Scholarship application. * See application (page 3)
*All documents can be scanned and emailed to admin@breathingblessings.org or mailed to the address at the bottom of the application.
Deadline: Must be received by May 1st, 2020, Applications are in the Main Office, or your email as an attachment, or posted online at the counseling website.
Seniors: We need your help!
- Any acceptance letters- this includes colleges you do not plan to attend.
- Any award letters- Again, this includes ALL awards, not just for the college you plan to attend. Keep in mind that an award letter is different from merit money you are offered on your acceptance letter.
Documents can be sent in two ways: 1) Email (dhuntsinger@ccps.us and kataylor@ccps.us), 2) hard copy - Ms. Taylor and Mrs. Huntsinger can scan/make copies if necessary. Your total award money offered (again, this is for all colleges!) will be recognized at Senior Awards on May 6th. We cannot recognize your awards total if we do not have the documentation! Thus far, the Class of 2020 has earned over $5 million in financial aid offers. If we keep this going, we will surpass the Class of 2019's $7 million!
* This is different than the Google Form for recognition on the announcements/Cavalier Contact.
HELP! I still haven't done my FAFSA!
- Parent's 2018 tax returns (if parent worked)
- 2018 W-2 forms
- Records of parent's non-taxable income
- Your 2018 tax returns (if you filed)- if you did not file but you did work, please have a total of your earnings for 2018
- FSA ID: This is a username/password. Both the student and one parent need to make FSA ID accounts. This can be done on fsaid.ed.gov.
- Social security numbers (or alien registration numbers) for yourself and parents
For more info, visit this page: https://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/fafsa-checklist
If you would like individual assistance with the FAFSA, please contact Ms. Taylor at kataylor@ccps.us or 804-633-9886 x5026. Help can be given during or afterschool.
What is an award letter and what do I do with it?
- Was your FAFSA submitted to the college?
- Did you check all ways your award letter may have been sent? This can be by mail, email, or on your student portal.
- Did the college contact you about being selected for FAFSA verification? If so, turn in any required forms.
What does it mean to be wait listed?
- You will need to accept/deny your spot on the list. Directions for this should be in the letter you were given.
- In many cases, waitlist candidates will not be offered admission until the summer months. There are several things to consider here: 1) You will be unable to commit to other four-year schools with a May 1 deadline, 2) Finding housing may be more challenging when summer comes, unless the college guarantees housing.
What does it mean to be deferred?
How do I make a decision?
- Are you certain about your choice of major? If you think you might want to switch majors, it may be better to attend a college that offers a wide selection.
- How much will the college cost after financial aid? This is why going to Ms. Taylor for award letter interpretation is important! It is critical to have a clear view of what you will owe. The average college debt is around $30,000, which is about $6,250 for each year. If you are significantly above that, you may need to make some extra considerations. Will your potential job after you graduate provide enough income to pay rent, food costs, utilities, as well as your monthly loan payment? What will rent/mortgage prices look like in the area you would like to live after you graduate? These are all big questions that are daunting to think about right now, but making a careful decision could pay off in a big way. If you think your four-year options are out of your price range, think about doing the following: 1) Apply to as many local scholarships as possible. Keep in mind that many of these are not renewable for another year. 2) Consider doing a year or two at community college!
Germanna News
Changes for Fall 2020
Direct Enrollment is coming to Germanna Community College this fall. It will mean many changes in how students are placed into classes. In math, students will be placed into one of three classes based upon their high school GPA, performance on past aptitude tests, and will also, in some cases, allow students to self-place into their courses. English class placement is similar. This affects students entering Germanna in Fall 2020. Degrees have also changed with reduced requirements. Summer classes are open for registration now. Fall classes registration opens April 1. See your Career Coach to see where you fit. Sign up here to see the Career Coach.
Workforce Development
Did you know that Workforce offers online courses that students can take at their convenience and many lead to career advancing credentials? These courses are instructor-led by experts in their fields and provide high quality, in-demand training and credentialing in Business, IT, Health Care, Industry, Construction and more. Popular examples of our online offerings include Basic CompTiA A + Certification Prep, Certificate in Project Management, Business Management and Organizational Leadership with CAPM, Medical Billing and Coding Career Prep and the Basics of Bookkeeping. To explore our many online offerings, visit https://germanna.augusoft.net/ and click on “Online Classes” in the menu. Your Career Coach can assist you in registering for these classes. Sign up here to see the Career Coach.
Honor Society for the Nursing Program
Germanna Community College is known for its excellent degree and workforce programs. Students in the Nursing program have established themselves as some of the best in the state. The program has an enviable first- time pass rate for licensure, is proactive in developing evidence- based practice, and has research- based projects throughout the program. The nursing students take pride in their program and requested the creation of a nursing honor society at Germanna.
At the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester, the application for the Honor Society chapter was approved. The Honor Society is a chapter of the Alpha Delta Nu. The chapter name has been designated as the Eta Omicron chapter. The criteria for the chapter are listed below. Eligible students will:
- Attain a grade of B or better in all nursing classes.
- Demonstrate conduct on campus and in the clinical area that reflects the integrity and professionalism of the nurse
- Will not have withdrawn from a nursing course
- Will not have repeated a nursing course
UMW Partnership
Did you know Germanna and UMW have four unique agreements for our students above and beyond the Guaranteed Admission agreement? We offer a special Co-Enrollment agreement for students finishing an Associate of Arts and Science degree and planning to transfer to UMW for a bachelor’s degree. Qualifying students can participate in the co-enrollment program after their first semester at GCC, take up to 5 courses at UMW at our tuition rate, and participate in UMW clubs and events. The courses they take must transfer back to GCC to satisfy a requirement of their AA&S degree. If using Financial Aid, the student can sign a consortium agreement to use their GCC aid to cover these courses. The Concurrent Enrollment agreement is in place for students enrolled in our AAS in Nursing program. Over the summers, when they are not taking Nursing courses through GCC, they can get a jump start on their RN-BSN courses. The RN-BSN agreement with UMW allows students to take 90 credits at GCC, and 30 credits at UMW to earn the BSN. We also maintain direct transfer agreements with the School of Business at UMW and the Bachelor of Liberal Studies program for our adult student population.
VCU HIghlight
This fall, GCC and VCU launched a series of Transfer Maps for popular majors including Business, Biology, Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, History, English, and Mechanical Engineering. Plans for more transfer maps in other majors are in the works. VCU Transfer Maps can be found: https://majormaps.vcu.edu/transfer
Opportunities for Underclassmen
JA Future Laureate Scholarship- due 3/15/2020
The Junior Achievement of Central Virginia awards multiple $2,500 scholarships to deserving high school students. 10th and 11th grade students are eligible. Applicants must be a Sophomore or Junior (graduating class of 2021 or 2022) and must have participated in a Junior Achievement of Central Virginia high school program in the 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and/or 2019-2020 school years. (This includes JA Finance Park, JA Job Shadow, JA StartUp or any other high school-level JA program.)
How to Apply:
Visit www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-centralva/ja-scholarships to find rules and eligibility requirements. Applicants are required to submit an essay. This year's prompt is:
How has your participation in JA changed your views on what to expect as an adult? How do you think the lessons learned through JA will impact your future
Mary Washington Summer Enrichment Program- due 3/31/2020
The University of Mary Washington is excited to announce the return of our Summer Enrichment Program. The 2020 SEP will run from July 12 – 18, 2020. This unique one-week residential program is open to motivated students currently enrolled in 8th, 9th, or 10th grades. The advertised tuition for the program is $950, which covers all instructional costs, room and board, and activity fees.
The website for the program is live and will continue to evolve over the next few weeks. Information and the application can be found at: https://www.umw.edu/summer/sep/
Virginia Tech Summer Leadership Program- due 4/1/2020
THE BLACK COLLEGE INSTITUTE IS A 5-DAY ACADEMIC SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AT VIRGINIA TECH'S MAIN CAMPUS IN BLACKSBURG. THIS PROGRAM INVITES TALENTED, HIGH ACHIEVING AND INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS RISING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS FROM VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES.
BLACK COLLEGE INSTITUTE WILL OFFER TWO 5-DAY SESSIONS FOR SENIORS AND ONE 3-DAY SESSION FOR JUNIORS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020.
Apply at https://vt.edu/admissions/black-college-institute.html. Applications are due April 1.
Questbridge National College Match
Are you a low-income, rising high school senior who has excelled academically, but feels that the nation’s best colleges are financially out of reach? The QuestBridge National College Match can be your pathway to a top college. Through this college and scholarship application process, you can apply for free to the nation’s best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship from the college. Applications open Summer 2020. Competitive applicants will be/have: An SAT score greater than 1310, top 10% of class, and a family income less than $60,000. More info here: https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match
* Be aware that this is a complex application process. Please see the college adviser if you think you may be eligible.
College Night
This event will review the college application process, how to obtain financial aid, registering for the SAT and ACT, and more of the basics of the college admissions process.