Guidance Matters at White Pass

Hands on filling out the FAFSA will be held on Tuesday, January 17th in the library computer lab for anyone still needing help filling out the FAFSA for financial aid.  The workshop begins at 5:30. Light snacks will be provided.

Resource for students with disabilities – Incight
Are you a college/university bound student with a documented disability? Are you looking for a scholarship? An internship? A mentorship? Incight’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to become contributing members of society, by leading them through several dynamic programs focused in the areas of education, employment.networking, and independence.
Incight offers its own scholarship opportunities (see previous LC2C Announcement and go to http://www.incighteducation.org/scholarship/ for more information).
In addition, the Incight provides other programs and helpful information and resources, http://www.incight.org/, including links to  other scholarship opportunities, http://www.incight.org/scholarship_links.  
If you have a disability or know someone who does, be sure to take a look at the Incight website. 

Reminder: Help with filing the FAFSA is available from Centralia College
When:  Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 3:30 pm – 6 pm
Where:  Centralia College, WAH 209
What you need to bring:  2011 tax return, if one was filed, and 2011 income info (W2’s or last pay stubs)
 
This is a free opportunity. 
 
For more information, contact:  Centralia College Financial Aid Office, phone:  360-736-9391, ext. 234, email:  financialaid@centralia.edu

TwinStar Credit Union – Scholarship Opportunity
Deadline:  March 31, 2012
 
Amount:  $1,000 (18 to be awarded)
 
Eligibility: Applicant must be a high school senior and a member in good standing with TwinStar Credit Union. Also, the high school you attend must be in the Credit Union’s approved service area.
 
For more information, go to https://www.twinstarcu.com/news/2012-01/high-school-scholarships, or check with your counseling office.  (Adna students, a paper copy of the application can be found in the file cabinet of the college corner.)
 

Public School Employees of Washington /SEIU Local 1948 (PSE) Dependent Scholarship
Deadline:  March 1, 2012
Award: $500 (six to be awarded)
Eligibility: Must  be an IRS-dependent of a PSE member in good standing; a high school senior or equivalent (i.e., private school, privately tutored, G.E.D., or accredited correspondence school), who plans to enroll, by the fall term following the granting of the scholarship, as a full-time student in an accredited institution (including universities, community colleges, trade and vocational schools); or currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate institution (includes university, community college, trade or vocational school).
Selection criteria, in priority order: financial need, letters of recommendation, essay, activities, honors and awards, grammar and language, general appearance of material, GPA and transcripts. 
For more information, go to http://pseclassified.org/scholarships/. 
Another option for PSE/SEIU 1948 members is to apply for SEIU International Scholarships. SEIU offers 52 scholarships, some for as much as $5,000, many of which are renewable for up to 4 years.  Follow link above for more information.  The deadline for SEIU International Scholarships is also March 1st.

UFCW 21 Scholarship
Deadline:  February 15, 2012
Eligibility:  Must be a UFCW member, spouse, domestic partner, or dependent. 
Awards:  six full-time student scholarships ($2,000); four part-time student scholarships ($1,000); two first in family scholarships ($2,000); two social justice scholarships ($3,000); and one 4-year scholarship of $4,000 per year for 4 years.
For more information, go to http://ufcw21.org/member/education-program.

The Centralia-Chehalis Emblem Club awards scholarships each year to worthy graduates. Interested seniors must submit a completed application no later than April 1, 2012.

Please see the scholarship notebook in the guidance office for an application.

Parents and students wondering how to pay for college are invited to a financial aid night at the school. This is open to all parents interested in financial aid options available for post-secondary education. This will be held on Monday, December 12 @ 5:30 in the high school commons.  Mary Meyer from Centralia College will be the speaker.

We will also host a FAFSA Night on Tuesday, January 12 for anyone who wants to come to school and get on the computers and get help filing their FAFSA. Please mark your calendar for these dates!

This parent night will explain to parents just what the GEAR UP grant is and what benefits students gain from being a part of it. Letters inviting parents to this meeting will be sent out to qualifying families. Please watch for them in the mail.  The GEAR UP parent orientation meeting will be held November 22 at 6pm in the high school commons. The GEAR UP grant serves grades 7-12. Again, qualifying families will get a letter in the mail.

Even though not all students in grades 7-12 qualify for GEAR UP, all students in the junior/senior high school receive benefits from White Pass School District being selected as one of only 40 GEAR UP schools in the state.

Applications for the Ewing C. Kelly Scholarship are available in the guidance office.  Last year 52 scholarships of $2500 were awarded to students in Washington. Applications are due by March 12.

Thursday, November 17 students can attend a college/career fair at WF West High School in Chehalis. The bus will leave here at 11:30 and return by 3pm.  Over thirty colleges, apprenticeships, and the military will be represented. Students can pick up a permission slip from Debbie Layman or Shane Loucks.

 There will be a meeting for parents of seniors on Tuesday, November 15th at 6:30 pm  in the commons. We will go over a timeline of senior activities and deadlines, assessments, and 13 year  options and how to prepare for them.  All parents are encouraged to attend or send a representative.

In early December or late November we will have a senior parent meeting specific to the FAFSA/and financial aid, be watching for more information.

If you are the parent of a junior, please feel free to attend and get a leg up on next year!  Everyone is welcome!

Register to take the ACT here at White Pass by November 4th. The ACT is one of two college admissions exams used by colleges and universities throughout the United States. Seniors are strongly urged to take the ACT  in the fall of their senior year. Juniors are encouraged to take it for the first time in the spring of their junior year (I will be giving it again May 4, 2012).

To register, visit www.actstudent.org.  Students on free/reduced lunch are eligible for a fee waiver. Please see me for a fee waiver.

   The PSAT will be given on Wednesday, October 12th at 8am here at the school. It is recommended for sophomores and juniors who are thinking about attending a four year college or university. Test booklets are limited. Interested sophomores and juniors should bring $14 to Shana Colson in the office by Wednesday.  If a student wants to take the PSAT but money is an issue, please see me.

Even if a 4 year college or university is not currently in your plans, taking the PSAT is a great step to check your college readiness. Also, by taking the PSAT, you will have an opportunity to explore other features of the College Board planning website.