In this Edition

2. Register to Vote by October 10

3. Letters of Recommendation Requests

4. Senior Scholarship Opportunities

5. College Application Deadlines

Grace O'Malley

It’s easy to disregard local elections as being unimportant, but when it comes to opportunities to meaningfully influence the community around you, local elections are incredibly powerful tools to affect change.

Take Chester County for instance. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 516,312 people living in Chester County, and 23.2% of those people are under 18. That leaves a voting population of approximately 396,528 voters. In the Pennsylvania municipal primary elections last May, the average voter turnout was 14%, meaning approximately 55,514 Chester County voters came to the polls. 55,514 voters! That’s an incredibly small number when it comes to elections (for reference, 272,580 Chester County voters showed up at the polls in the 2016 presidential election). Because of the small scale of these elections, your vote has a huge amount of relative power.

While it’s true that municipal elections impact a smaller area than national elections do, this is your area, this is your community. The votes you cast in this election impact you directly. Local elections are one of the best platforms to affect change in your community, and it is your civic duty to exercise your power to vote in them.

You can register for the upcoming elections by visiting the Pennsylvania Voter Services website and selecting “Voter Registration” under the heading titled “Voter Services”.

If you have any questions about the voting process, you can access the Chester County or Delaware County Voter Services websites, contact one of the senior history teachers, or contact the Young Democrats club by emailing me at 18omalleyk@student.wcasd.net .

The Young Democrats club is working on a non-partisan effort to encourage the Rustin community to vote in the upcoming elections.

Anna Panczner

Letters of recommendation are an essential element of the college application process. A letter of recommendation illustrates your growth, dedication, resilience, and accomplishments in a class. However, letters may also come from coaches, guidance counselors, or other significant figures in your life. Asking for a letter of recommendation varies from teacher to teacher, so here are a few pointers:

Whom should I ask?

Most colleges require two letters from academic teachers; some offer an option to submit a third letter as supplementary material. You should ask the

teacher(s) who have observed your progress in their classes and who can write specifically about you. If you do not feel that you have demonstrated any interest, growth, or character in a class, or if you were on bad terms with a teacher, then you shouldn't ask that teacher for a letter.

When is the best time to ask?

Most teachers prefer to be asked at one of two main times during the year: at the end of the student’s junior year (end of fourth quarter) or during the first marking period of the student’s senior year. Because the best time for writing letters varies from teacher to teacher, it is best to directly ask said teacher when his or her best time is.

What does a teacher look for in a student?

Good grades are always a positive, but teachers also look for other characteristics in the prospective student. Such characteristics include integrity, engagement, growth, work ethic, creativity, respect for the subject and for the teacher and peers, and resilience. You should make sure the teacher really has something special to say about you.

What information should I give the teacher?

Each teacher requires different information; it is best to ask in person what the teacher requires.

One final tip: Ask nicely. It really goes a long way.

Good luck!

The following is a list of scholarships currently available on the Scholarships Schoology group page. The information is condensed so that students may quickly find a scholarship most relevant to their needs and interests. It is important to note that there are several different requirements to be eligible for each scholarship, but only the main one is listed. Links are provided to the official sites of the scholarships for further information.

Horatio Alger Scholarship

October 25, 2017

$6000-$25000

Should you apply? Are you a student who has significant financial need and has exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity?

Eligibility: Demonstrated critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income)

https://scholars.horatioalger.org/

Sixteenth Annual National Co-op Scholarship

February 15, 2018, but early applications are highly encouraged

160 merit co-op scholarships for a total value of $4,200,000

Should you apply? Are you applying to a WACE Partner Institution? (See link)

Eligibility: Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale and

apply for the 2018-2019 academic year at one of the WACE Partner Institutions

http://www.waceinc.org/

Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union John D. Unangst Scholarship

January 12, 2018

$1500 (11 awarded)

Should you apply? Will you be attending a full time course of study at an accredited two or four year college, university, trade, technical, or business school?

Eligibility: You or any member of your immediate family must be a member of Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union

fmfcu.org/scholarship

Aspiring Animation Professional Scholarship

June 1, 2018

$1000

Should you apply? Do you have a passion and drive for an animation related career?

Eligibility: Pursue an animation related degree program at an accredited post-secondary school or college (as a high school senior)

https://www.animationcareerreview.com/animationcareerreviewcom-aspiring-animation-professional-scholarship-program

Aspiring Fashion Professional Scholarship

June 1, 2018

$1000

Should you apply? Do you have a passion and drive for a fashion related career?

Eligibility: Pursue a fashion related degree program at an accredited post-secondary school or college (as a high school senior)

http://www.fashion-schools.org/aspiring-fashion-professional-scholarship-program

Aspiring Business Professional Scholarship

June 1, 2018

$1000

Should you apply? Do you have a passion and drive for a business related career?

Eligibility: Pursue a business related degree program at an accredited post-secondary school or college (as a high school senior)

https://www.onlinembareport.com/ombar-aspiring-business-professional-scholarship-program

Rolling Admissions

Albright College

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Cabrini College

Delaware County Community College

Duquesne University

Immaculata University

Neumann University

Rosemont College

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Temple University

University of Pittsburgh

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Widener University

October 15

University of North Carolina (Early Action)

University of South Carolina (Early Action)

November 1

Duquesne University (Early Decision)

Georgetown University (Early Action)

Harvard University (Early Action)

La Salle University

Lebanon Valley College (Early Decision)

Ohio State University (Early Action)

Susquehanna University (Early Action)

Temple University (Early Action)

University of Maryland (Priority)

University of Pennsylvania (Early Decision)

University of South Florida

University of Virginia (Early Action)

Ursinus College (Early Action)

Villanova University (Early Action)

November 3

The Art Institute of Philadelphia

November 15

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (Nursing School)

Bucknell University (Early Decision I)

Dickinson College

Lehigh University (Early Decision)

Susquehanna University (Early Decision)

University of Scranton (Early Action)

November 30

Penn State University

December 1

Duquesne University (Early Action)

Ursinus College (Early Decision)

University of South Carolina

January 1

Lehigh University

Harvard University

University of Virginia

January 5

University of Pennsylvania

January 10

Georgetown University

January 15

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University (Early Decision II and Regular Admission)

Lafayette College

Villanova University

University of Delaware

University of North Carolina

January 20

University of Maryland

January 25

Florida State University

February 1

Ohio State University

Susquehanna University

Ursinus College

February 15

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

February 28

West Point Academy

March 1

Lebanon Valley College

University of Scranton