New Miami High School Senior Guidance Newsletter #6 February 2015

Dear Parents and Seniors, During this time of year many seniors are starting to think about graduation and making plans for life after high school. If you are still not sure about what you want to do after high school, it is important to start exploring opportunities and make an appointment to meet with your school counselor. Students who have been accepted to more than one college and have not made a decision should visit those schools. Every college has special campus programs for prospective students. Call the admission office to find out what visitation programs are available. When considering a college or university, campus visits are the best way to learn about the school’s unique qualities and to get a feel for what it would be like to live and study there. This issue contains more scholarships that seniors can apply for and valuable financial aid information. Read the information carefully and contact your counselor if you have any questions.

In the next few months pay close attention to scholarship and college application deadlines. In addition, in this newsletter you will find the dates that Graduate Services will be taking cap and gown orders. Graduation will be held on May 21st, 2015 in the High School Gymnasium. Sincerely, Mara Elam New Miami School Counselor melam@new-miami.k12.oh.us Follow me on twitter @nmhscounseling Visit my guidance webpage at : http://www.new-miami.k12.oh.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=1103 “Like” our Facebook page: “New Miami Middle and High School

College Planning

It is absolutely necessary that anyone who plans to go on to higher education realize there are time lines for the college admission process. All college and scholarship applications must be turned into the Guidance Office at least 1-2 weeks before the deadline date. There is no guarantee that applications can be processed and mailed in a timely manner if this request is not followed. Here is a list to help students and parents check progress and timelines: _____Have you met with your counselor to discuss career and college plans? _____Have you taken the either the ACT or SAT yet? _____Have you visited the colleges you are thinking of attending? _____Are you beginning to fill out the necessary admission applications so that you will be able to have the information to your counselor at least one week ahead of the deadline date? _____Do you have a personal data sheet or resume complete so teachers and counselors can use the information to write letters of recommendation? _____ If applicable, have you written your college essay? If you didn't answer "yes" to all of the above questions, you are running the risk of not getting information to colleges in a timely manner. Please keep in mind that involving parents in the college planning process is very important. And remember your counselor will be happy to assist you.

Mid-Year College Transcript Reports Some colleges and universities require that an official high school transcript be mailed to them at the end of the first semester. Usually the institution has a form students need to turn into the Guidance Office. Unless our office is officially notified by the student or institution we have no way of knowing that a mid-year transcript must be forwarded to a college/university. Transcript Request Forms are available in the Guidance Office.

Scholarship Corner

College/University-Based Scholarships Reminder: Almost every college/university sponsors scholarship programs for those students who make application to that specific institution. Students can come into the guidance office anytime to review available university-based scholarships.

General Scholarships

Miami University Regionals Scholarship- Awards vary from $100-$5,000. Applicants must be admitted Miami Hamilton or Middletown to be considered for these scholarships. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 gpa for renewable scholarships. The deadline is March 15, 2015. Apply online or come to the guidance office for a paper application. Cincinnati State Honors Program Scholarship-offers full scholarships tyo cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, and fees. To be eligible students have a high school GPA of 3.25 or higher, be in the 20% of their class, or have an ACT score of 26 or above. Students should also be admitted as degree-seeking students at Cincinnati State and take the COMPASS placement test. Find the application at www.cincinnatistate.edu/honors. Deadline is February 15, 2015 PFLAG 2015 Scholarship Award- Scholarships offered to recognize outstanding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex and straight supportive students in the local community. Applicants must be a resident of or attending a college in the Greater Cincinnati Area, and have a proven record of positive involvement with the LGBT community. Applications and all supporting materials must be postmarked by April 17, 2015. Obtain applications from your school counselor or go to www.pflagcinci.org Martha Rahfuse Scholarship- Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 eligible to students who rank in the top 25% of their graduating class, are in need of supplementary funds to finance their education, and demonstrate an adequacy for an institution of higher learning, good character and citizenship, seriousness of purpose, and participation in school activities. Applicantion and recommendation letters must be received no later than April 10, 2015. Pick up a copy of the application in the guidance office. Southwest Ohio Credit Union Outreach Alliance Scholarship- two $500 scholarships awarded to students in Southwest Ohio available to any high school senior pursuing a post-secondary education of any kind. Applications available in the guidance office. Deadline: February 28, 2015. Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars- The 2015 Summer Scholars Application is available. Spend the summer on a college campus with a scholarship from the Joyce Ivy Foundation. Deadline: March 1st, 2015 www.joyceivyfoundation.org Ohio Valley Associated Builders and Contractors Emerging Leaders Group

Description - The mission of the OVABC ELG scholarship fund is to support and encourage area youth to further their interest and education in construction related fields by offering a $1,000 scholarship.

Eligibility - To be eligible for the 2014-15 scholarship, candidates (as of October 2014) must be enrolled 10th-12th grade, at a high school within the following counties:

OH – Allen, Auglaize, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Darke, Greene, Hamilton, Scholarship applicants must plan on attending a post high school program in a construction related field. This scholarship can be used to fund programs at a trade school, technical school, community college, 2 or 4 year university. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to 2 students for 2014-2015.

Dates – Completed scholarship applications are due on February 1, 2015. They should be sent to OVABC ELG Scholarship, 33 Greenwood Lane Springboro, OH 45066. Scholarship finalists and a family representative will be invited to attend the April 2015 Excellence in Construction Awards Gala where Winners will be announced.

Galen College of Nursing- 2015 Nursing Scholarship Application Scholarship awards up to $3,000 will be paid directly towards total tuition cost of the recipient’s selected nursing program at Galen College of Nursing. Applications are located in the guidance office. Miami University Electronics and Computing Service Scholarship- Public spirited students are eligible for a $4500 scholarship provided by the National Science Foundation to jump start their careers in service through Miami’s computing and electrical engineering degrees. Learn more at MiamiOH.edu/EaCSS The Delta Kappa Gamma Society Scholarship Application-Offering a $1,000 scholarship to a Butler County High School student entering the field of education. All applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2015. Pick up an application in the guidance office. Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation- Go to www.cincinnatischolarshipfoundation.org to fill out the electronic application. Applications must be submitted by April 30th, 2015. “If I Were Principal for a Day” Creative Writing Contest- application can be picked up in the guidance office. Deadline is March 2, 2015. Snyder Career Development Scholarship- Eligibility for the Snyder Career Development Scholarship: Must be enrolled in a school district within the Butler Tech Career Technical Planning District Must be a graduating senior Must have taken at least two Family and Consumer Sciences classes (one of which may be a middle school class) Must demonstrate plans for pursuing post-secondary education in the upcoming school year Application process: Submit Portfolio and Application to the Career Initiatives office at Butler Tech. The Portfolio must include all of the following required components: Resume

One scholarship to be awarded annually. 2014-2015 Applications and Portfolios are due FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015. See Mrs. Elam for an application and more information.

Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools Scholarship

Deadline: April 10, 2015

Application and more information @ www.ohiocareercolleges.org or in the Guidance Office.

This scholarship program is open to Ohio high school graduates of the 2015 academic year. Multiple scholarships are available. More information and applications can be found in the New Miami Guidance Office, or at www.ohiocareercolleges.org, under "Scholarships”.

Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Foundation Scholarship-$1,000 annual scholarship, must have a career goal in the crude oil and natural gas industry or a related field. Must maintain a 2.5 GPA. Recommendation letter and essay are required. Pick up an application in the guidance office. Application must be returned no later than March 31, 2015. The William D. Squires Scholarship – Criteria – only students from Ohio can apply, primarily need-based, have a specific career goal, highly motivated, good character and show academic promise; (minimum 3.2 GPA). Application deadline: April 6, 2015. A copy of the scholarship application and detailed information are available for free from: www.wmdsquiresfoundation.org. Buick Achievers Scholarship Program - Criteria: enrolling for full-time study as first time freshman at a 4 yr. college, plan to major in one of the following: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, or Design, are interested in a career in the automotive or related industries. Amount: 100 scholarships for up to $25,000/yr., 1,000 scholarships at $2,000/yr., renewable for up to 4 years. Application: WWW.BUICKACHIEVERS.COM. Application Deadline: February 27, 2015.

Other Upcoming College and Career Events and Information Apprenticeship Training Opportunity Notice American Line Builders Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee is accepting applications for their apprenticeship programs including outside lineman, substation technician, cable splicer technician, traffic control signal technician, underground residential distribution technician, and transmission technician. Interested persons may obtain an application online at www.albat.org. Cincinnati State has announced a new Welding Program that will build the skills or add to the welding skills of any student. Apply online at www.cincinnatistate.edu or call (513)569-1753 for more information.

Completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on line...

The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the fundamental qualifying form used for all federal and government-guaranteed commercial lenders’ programs-- as well as for many state, regional and institutional student aid programs. Pay attention to the priority filing date for each of the colleges you are applying to. There are two ways to complete the FAFSA.

a.) The older method is the paper application. Copies are available in the Guidance Office. This method takes longer for information to be processed.

b.) The recommended method to file the FAFSA is the online format over the internet. This is the fastest way to apply and has built in edits to help prevent errors. To submit your application using FAFSA on the Web (FOTW), go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is the appropriate tool to assist students and parents completing the FAFSA online. Over 90% of FAFSA applications will be submitted on the Web, and the Worksheet provides students and parents the opportunity to gather the information needed before sitting down at the computer. The Worksheet follows the flow and logic of the online application and is therefore the appropriate tool for those filing on the Web. In order to complete the FAFSA online you must have a PIN number. First time FAFSA filers and parents(s) of a dependent student can each go to the PIN web site and register for a PIN. The PIN serves as the electronic signature for the FAFSA and gives the student the ability to gain access to other Department of Education systems. The PIN can be applied for at any time. Having the PIN in advance will mean quicker processing for students and parents who file FAFSA on the Web (FOTW. Applying for a PIN: 1. Go to: www.pin.ed.gov 2. Enter personal information: name, social security number, Date of Birth (DOB) 3. Provide address: street, city, state, zip code, e-mail 4. Both student and parent need to have own PIN number to complete the FAFSA The federal government calculates an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based mainly on the prior year’s income. The EFC takes into consideration the following: income, assets, family size and number of family members in college. After filing the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). This is a summary of your FAFSA answers and a way to make corrections. Keep the SAR for your records. If you need to make corrections go to www.fafsa.ed.gov .

Graduate Services will be coming to New Miami and Butler Tech to take care of all your senior ordering needs!

Graduate Servies (513)272-5890

Website: www.graduateserviceinc.com