AHS Counseling Center News ­ The Week of November 21st – 27th, 2009 

New ~ New Counseling Center Website

We are proud to launch a new website to serve the needs of the students and parents of Algonac High
School students. Please give it a look!!! We think it is great and it will be updated daily!!

http://www.protopage.com/ahscounselingcenter

College Visits (on-campus at AHS Counseling Center)

Juniors and seniors are eligible to meet with colleges during the school day. Juniors are allowed two (2)
college visits and seniors are allowed four (4). Students must sign up in the counseling center if they wish
to attend.

Mrs. Blair Hosts Post-Secondary Planning Seminar!

Seniors, if you have questions about college applications and financial aid, Mrs. Blair is available
during seminar every Tuesday and Thursday to meet with you about post-secondary planning. Just stop
in and get answers to your questions!

A great resource, the St. Clair RESA higher education consultant has put together a great website of
resources to help students and parents with college and after high school planning. Check it out!!
http://www.sccresa.org/toolsforschools/knowhow2go/step3findtherightfit/collegesurvivalkit/
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News from St. Clair County Community College (SC4)

SC4 Winter Registration opens November 2, 2009!

SC4 will soon post the 2010 winter credit class schedule at www.sc4.edu/wave. Registration for the
winter semester begins Monday, Nov. 2nd 2009.

New Online Application!

SC4 now has an online application! Simply visit www.sc4.edu and click on “Apply Now”.
Community college applications are always free!
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College Events through SCC RESA

• Check out Know How 2 go… http://www.knowhow2go.com . This is a great resource for
students and parents about getting yourselves ready to go to college!!

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Scholarship Opportunities

• NEW (LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP) ~ The St. Clair Association of School Boards is pleased to
announce that they are accepting applications for the 2009/2010 Senior High School
Student Scholarship. This scholarship is for those students who are planning on continuing their
education in the post secondary institution and plan to pursue a career in the education field. The
deadline for this year’s applications are January 22, 2010. Applications can be picked up in the
counseling center and need to be turned into the counselors by that date.

• NEW ~ The AAA Michigan Safety Patrol Scholarship is currently accepting applications.
Scholarships of $1000 will beawarded to two graduation seniors attending Michigan public or
private high schools who can show proof of AAA Michgian Safety Patrol participation. Applications
can be picked up in the counseling center. Application deadline is April 1st, 2010. Applications
must be turned into the high school counseling office.

• NEW~ The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award grants a minimum of 150 scholarships with
amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. This award recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit of
 graduating high school seniors. For more information or to apply, go to www.NFIB.com/YEA.
Deadline to apply is December 31st, 2009.

• NEW~ Specs Howard will be hosting their 2010 high school scholarship competition on Saturday,
December 5th. For more information, visit www.specshoward.edu/scholarships.

• Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants are pleased to be able to continue with our scholarship
program for the 4th year. We will be awarding up to $1,000 to the winner(s) each year.
Scholarship Deadline - June 19, 2010. Application Process - Students will submit an essay
on the topic that appears on the scholarship page of our web site:
http://www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Full details are available on our site.

• Students Grades 9-12, if you've made a difference by volunteering in your community over the
past year, you could win $1,000 and a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C., by applying for a
Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more important, you could win recognition that might
inspire other young people to follow your example. These prestigious awards, sponsored by
Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, have honored tens
of thousands of middle level and high school students over the past 14 years solely for their
volunteer work. You have until November 2, 2009 to apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community
Award, one of the country’s largest and most prestigious recognition programs for students who
volunteer in their communities. Go online to http://spirit.prudential.com (access key: SPIRIT)
After submitting the application electronically, applicants must print them out, sign them and give
them to their school principal who selects the school’s top applicant(s) and then certifies that
student’s application. See Mrs. Blair if you have questions.

• Intertribal Timber Council Scholarship – For Native American/Alaskan Natural Resource Students –
Deadline January 29, 2010. Program is dedicated to the support of Native American students
pursuing a higher education in Natural Resources. Visit the AHS Counseling Center for the Required
Materials. Student must have evidence of validated enrollment in a federally recognized tribe or
Alaska Native Corporation. Must have enrollment card or certificate of Indian Blood (CIB).

• Information on the American Legion Auxiliary “Girls State” competition is available. This is a
program that is designed for girls who have completed their junior year of high school, who have
maintained an above average scholastic standing, have an interest in our government process and
wish to get involved in their community. It will be held at Michigan State University June 27-July 3,
2010. Visit www.michalaux.org and click on GIRLS STATE for application info.

• Information is available in the Counseling Center on The American Legion Auxiliary Medical
Career Scholarship, Memorial Scholarship, and President’s Scholarship. Applicants must be
daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughters, son, grandsons, and great-grandsons of
honorably discharged or deceased men or women veterans of any war. Deadlines for all are early
March 2010.

• The Lions of Michigan Youth Exchange Program offers summer opportunities for youth to
travel and expand their knowledge of family and community life in other cultures. Each cultural
exchange is approximately three to five weeks long. Youth traveling on the program will stay with
Lions approved families. Applications are due by February 1st, 2010. For more information or
to obtain an application, please send an e-mail to dandjclark@sbcglobal.net.

• Interesting website to check out: http://www.how2winscholarships.com.

• NALS of Michigan is offering one annual scholarship of $1000 to an individual enrolled, or

planning to enroll in a school of advanced education pursuing a degree in the legal field.
Applications can be found in the scholarship file in the counseling center. Deadline is January
15th, 2010.

• KFC Colonel’s Scholarship is pleased to offer a $20,000 scholarship. To qualify, a student must
graduate from high school this academic year, have a minimum of a 2.75 GPA, enrolling in a
public, in-state college or university, pursuing a bachelors degree, and be a US citizen. The
 application will be available from December 1st, 2009 through February 10, 2010. To apply or for
more information, go to www.kfcscholars.org.

• The Michigan Education Scholarship Association is pleased to offer a scholarship for

graduating seniors in the class of 2010. Open to all seniors! For more information and to apply, go
to www.mea.org. Deadline is February 12, 2010.

• St. Clair County Farm Bureau is pleased to offer a $1000 scholarship to a student enrolled in
or entering an agricultural program. The primary qualification for eligibility is that the recipient
must be from a St. Clair County Farm Bureau family. Many families belong to the Farm Bureau
through their health, dental, or auto insurance policies. For more information, go to
http://stclair.michfb.com. Deadline is March 1st, 2010.

• The National Commission for Cooperative Education sponsors scholarships for students who attend
NCCE Partner colleges and universities. These universities include: Drexel University, Johnson and
Wales, Kettering University (here in Michigan) Pace University, Rochester Institute of Technology,
University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, and Wentworth Institute of Technology. For more
information and to fill out an application, go to www.co-op.edu. Deadline to apply is: February
15, 2010.

• The WMU Medallion Scholarship Competition will be held January 23, 2010 for outstanding
high school seniors planning on attending WMU. Must have applied to WMU by December 4,
2009. Applicants meeting the criteria, seniors entering WMU for the first time fall 2010 and have a
cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher, ACT composite of 26 or higher will be invited to attend by WMU
admissions office.

• Local Scholarship will be available beginning January 4, 2010 on the AHS Website. The deadline
will be February 5, 2010. Applications from the 2008/09 school year are still available to view at
the AHS Counseling Center website.

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Compass Pointe Learning Center is now taking registration for the Winter Night School Session. This
session runs from February 3rd to April 28th. Tuition is $120 per course. They will be offering English
11 -12, Algebra II, Algebra I, US History, English Lit 9-10, US Government, and Life Science. Classes
are on Monday and Wednesdays from 4:00 until 7:15 pm. For more information, go to
http://www.anchorbay.misd.net/schools/compass/ .
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The Publics! There are 15 Public Universities in Michigan
http://www.sccresa.org/downloads/khowhow2go/michigan_colleges_and_unis.pdf

Fall 2009 College Open House Dates

Visit the college website to arrange your visit! Your student will be marked school business off campus.

• Nov 7 – Northern Michigan University – www.nmu.edu

• Nov 7 – Wayne State university – www.wayne.edu
• Nov 13 – Western Michigan University – www.wmich.edu
• Dec 4 - Western Michigan University – www.wmich.edu

Check this out… Another great college open house resource!

http://www.sccresa.org/downloads/khowhow2go/campus_visit_open_house_dates.pdf

College Application Deadlines –

• Nearly all colleges and universities in Michigan have “rolling admissions”. That
means they take and process applications in an on-going manner. Students who
apply early, preferably before October 31, 2009, get responses much quicker
 than those who wait. Those who apply early also have a better chance of being
admitted than those who wait!
• U of M – Ann Arbor – “Early Response Deadline” is November 1, 2009. Response
will be release to student no later than December 24, 2009.
• MSU “Early Notification Program” deadline October 12, 2009! Admissions
response will be postmarked no later than November 16, 2009.
• Check your college’s website for deadline info!

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Scholarship & Financial Aid Info

Merit Based Scholarships – are based on your student’s GPA and ACT score. Colleges
& universities determine merit based scholarships at the time that the student applies to
the college or university.
Need Based Scholarships – based on your family’s financial status. This is determined
by filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Scholarships, Grants and
Loan information will be determined by filing a FAFSA. You may begin filing a 2010/11
FAFSA beginning January 1, 2010. File online at www.fafsa.ed.gov . You may visit the
site now to familiarize yourself with the process and what documents you will need. You
may also apply for your PIN numbers now.
Private Scholarships – you will find info on them at the website of the college or
university that your student plans to attend under that school’s FINANCIAL AID link, by
using scholarship search engines like FAST WEB at www.fastweb.com. There are
thousands of other scholarship search websites; many links are listed at the AHS
Counseling Center Website.
Local Scholarships – available to AHS Class of 2010 members only, will be available
January 4, 2010. The deadline will be February 5, 2010. There is no longer a scholarship
packet. All of the applications must be downloaded for the AHS CC Website. DO NOT
complete the applications that are there now. Those are from last year! The new ones
will be uploaded in the near future!
EFC = Expected family contribution. Based on your family’s financial situation, the
government determines your expected family contribution (EFC). They subtract that
from the amount of your student’s yearly college tuition and that is the amount that
your student will qualify for financial aid. That might be “free money” (scholarships &
grants) and/or student loans. Yes, student loans are a form of financial aid.

If the student doesn’t qualify for the “free money”, a college loan is a good
investment! According to U.S. Census data, the average college graduate earns about
$1 million more over his lifetime than the average high school graduate. That's a
pretty good payoff for the investment in tuition.

TIP – Tuition Incentive Program – to be eligible, if your student must have (or have had)
Medicaid Coverage for 24 months within a 36 consecutive month period. Students are
identified as TIP eligible as early as sixth grade, typically age 12 or after. If your student
has been determined as TIP eligible you will (or would have) received a letter from the
Michigan Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG). If you have questions, call 1-888-
447-2687.

State of Michigan Financial Aid

For a comprehensive list of state of Michigan scholarships and grants, visit
www.michigan.gov/osg -- “Quick Links” on the right hand side has
program descriptions for all!

Federal Financial Aid

For a comprehensive list of federal financial aid programs visit
http://studentaid.ed.gov
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ACT Dates 2009/10

Test Date Registration Deadline Late Fee required

Sept 12, 2009 August 7, 2009 Aug 8 – 21, 2009

October 24, 2009 September 18, 2009 September 19 – Oct 2, 2009

December 12, 2009 November 6, 2009 November 7 – 20, 2009

February 6, 2010 January 5, 2010 January 6 – 15, 2010

April 10, 2010 March 5, 2010 March 6 – 19, 2010

June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010 May 8 – 21, 2010

Register at www.actstudent.org

AHS School Code 230 045

Fees
$32.00 ACT (No Writing)
$47.00 ACT Plus Writing
$9.00 each 5th & 6th college choice & to have scores sent
$21.00 Late Fee

Letters of Recommendation – some college applications require them, some do not. All of the
Local Scholarships require two (2). Students should ask teachers, principals, counselors,
coaches, employers now for a letter of recommendation. Student should provide those
individuals with information that they wish to be included in the letter. Students requesting a
letter of recommendation from Mrs. Blair should email her their request and information at
kblair@algonac.k12.mi.us

Student Edge is a free online college and career planning resource center. It offers tools to help all high
school students take ownership of the college planning process by letting them find scholarship money,
prepare for exams, search for colleges, and explore career interests. Check out this new website for help
with Homework, Careers, Test Prep, School Search, Scholarships, Admissions, Advice, Contests by visiting
http://www.mystudentedge.com enter this access code when you set up your account – QCSGQHMD.
Charter One offers free tools to help assist students with making the smartest and most financially sound
decisions possible. Visit these websites for more information –
www.charterone.com/edu/scholarshipsearch , www.charterone.com/tips for students and
www.charterone.com/trufitstudentloan
Resources in the Counseling Center – please stop by for free resources in the Counseling Center.
There are all sorts of handouts and booklets that can make the “going to College” process much easier!
Student and Parent Connect – Parents and students should be using these resources to remain
informed about grades, progress, etc … students may get their Student Connect Log In Information from
Mrs. Blair. Parents must get their Parent Connect Info from the AHS Main Office.
Credit Recovery – any student that is behind in credits must meet with Mrs. Blair to get enrolled in credit
recovery! Credit recovery classes are through Education 20/20. Cost is $150.00 per ½ credit.

Anything else you would like to see in the Weekly Counseling Center News … email your
suggestions or ideas to Mrs. Coss at ncoss@algonac.k12.mi.us or Mrs. Blair at
kblair@algonac.k12.mi.us

Go Muskrats!!