Class of 2015 R.B.H.S. Scholarships, Financial Aid, & Salute to Seniors Presentation

Scholarships  Many scholarships are posted on our Guidance website  Organized by due date  Updated regularly so keep checking!

Other helpful scholarship websites  Fastweb:  Cappex:  Scholarships.com:

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  Scholarships available specifically for Columbia and Rock Bridge students!  Smaller applicant pool = better odds of YOU getting a scholarship!  Over 30 scholarships just for Rock Bridge students!  One time scholarships ranging from $100 to $2,000+

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  Main application on the RB website (on the RB main page, Guidance main page, & scholarship page)  Some scholarships require additional application materials that you can pick up from Mrs. Hook in Guidance.  Deadline: Tuesday, Feb. 17 by 4:05 p.m. No exceptions! (Seriously. We will not accept applications submitted after this time and date as we immediately mail them out to community organizations. GET THEM IN ON TIME IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A SCHOLARSHIP!!) You are welcome to turn them in early!

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  The Salute to Seniors Community Scholarship booklet includes 4 parts: 1. Directions (make sure to read these carefully before you begin the actual application process.) 2. A list of available community scholarships and the criterion for each 3. Selection Form (where you mark what scholarships you are applying for) 4. Main Application (2 pages)…unless a scholarship specifies more

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  A few notes about the process:  PRINT the entire Salute to Seniors Community Scholarship Booklet & read the criterion for each scholarship, so you know which ones you will be applying for.  ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: note that some of the scholarships require more than just the 2 page scholarship application…some require an additional application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. YOU CAN PICK UP ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FROM MRS. HOOK IN THE GUIDANCE OFFICE! Staple these additional documents to the back of the 2 page application form.  Teachers, counselors, and those writing letters of recommendation need at least 2 weeks notice, so you need to begin the process NOW!!!

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  A few notes about the process continued:  ALL portions of the 2 page application must be TYPED. (You will need to make copies of this application for EACH scholarship you are applying for, as these are mailed out to community members. So, if you apply for 5 scholarships, you will need to turn in 5 separate applications.)  Your parent/guardian will need to sign the application form to verify the information.  You will only need to turn in ONE Scholarship Selection Page, which indicates ALL the scholarships you are applying for.  You will turn in the Scholarship Selection Page with ALL scholarship materials at the same time to Mrs. Hook in guidance by Tues., Feb. 17 at 4:05 p.m. (Late applications will NOT be accepted.)

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  The Salute to Seniors Application (only 2 pages!)  Includes basic demographic information: name, address, phone number, college choice, college major, GPA, test scores, family information, etc.  2 Essays (250 words): 1. The Scholarship Committee is interested in learning more about you. Please use this essay to relay information about you that cannot be found elsewhere on your application. 2. Describe a person or experience that has had a memorable impact on your life. Explain how your values and future have been impacted as a result.

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  Scholarships for ALL types of students. Here are a few examples:  Columbia Rotary Club Scholarship$1,000  Will attend a post-secondary institution  Outstanding citizenship and moral character  Helpful to others  Rock Bridge Lions Club L. Kim Graham Scholarships *$1,000  (separate application, transcript, resume, essay)  a. Demonstrates high moral character  b. Community Involvement  c. Financial Need  d. Personal drive  e. Scholarship is not weighted on GPA, as much as financial need and educational tenacity. In particular, students who attended Columbia Area Career Center classes are encouraged to apply.

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships PLEASE NOTE: YOU SHOULD CHECK THE GUIDANCE SCHOLARSHIP WEBPAGE OFTEN!  If community scholarships were communicated to the guidance office needing a different time line, those scholarships will be posted (in the order of the date they are due) on the R.B.H.S. guidance scholarship webpage.  Follow the instructions and due dates that are listed on the website for those scholarships. Make sure to be checking that webpage weekly as it is updated often!  For example, the Columbia African American Association Memorial $1,000 scholarship is on our website with a due date of Jan. 31 st !

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships TIMELINE FOR COMMUNITY SCHOLARHIPS: Mid-January:Scholarship booklet and information posted and presented to Senior Students. Tues., Feb. 17 by 4:05 p.m.:DEADLINE for students to submit Community Scholarship materials to the guidance office. (Late applications will not be accepted.) 1 st week of May:Letters of invite sent to Salute to Seniors awards ceremony. May 13, 6:30 p.m.: Scholarship recipients announced at the Salute to Seniors Ceremony (this will be a surprise to the recipients that night!)

Salute to Seniors Community Scholarships  READ THE DIRECTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS!  If you meet the criterion for a community scholarship, APPLY!!!!***  QUESTIONS?: See Mrs. Hook or Mrs. Kersha in guidance!  Get on the website tonight and START!*

Financial Aid and FAFSA  You & your parent/guardian must complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to receive many scholarships and grants- also required for student loans and the A+ Scholarship.  Apply for FAFSA online at  You will need your parents’ current tax information.  Priority financial aid deadlines are as early as March 1 st !  FAFSA PIN: Your PIN can be used each year to electronically apply for federal student aid and to access your Federal Student Aid records online. Your PIN serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records.

FAFSA Frenzy!  If you and your parent/guardian need help completing the FAFSA, you can come to FAFSA Frenzy and get help from financial aid experts!  Tuesday, Feb. 10th 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Battle High School  Sunday, Feb. 22nd 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Columbia Area Career Center  Tuesday, Feb. 24 th 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Hickman High School  Bring your most recent tax information with you!  Students who participate in the FAFSA Frenzy will be eligible for a scholarship! You can find out more information about the FAFSA Frenzy here:

Meet with your counselors to update post-secondary plans!!  All seniors need to meet with your counselors regarding your post-secondary plans BEFORE SPRING BREAK  Takes about 2 minutes  Let us know what your plans are for next year (college, gap year, military, straight to work, etc.)  Ask any questions you may have about applications, planning, FAFSA, Scholarships, etc.  If you have not applied to a college/post-secondary program already, you need to do so ASAP!