Mount St. Mary High School

Counselor's Corner

December 2007

Events (Seniors – Remember to take the ACT & SAT for graduation.)

December 1 – SAT Test

December 8 – ACT Test

- OSU Open House

December 26 – SAT Registration Deadline

January 4 – ACT Registration Deadline

January 11 – Deadline for Juniors to apply for a 3 Day High School Leadership Conference at OU February 15-17 ($80) Go online to www.ou.edu/hs/c

January 26 – ACT Test

January 29 – SAT Registration Deadline

February 1 – Deadline for most Oklahoma college scholarship applications

Scholarships/Opportunities

To learn more about the Air Force Academy, go to www.academyadmissions.com . Complete a pre-candidate questionnaire from the Admissions website after March of your junior year. The online application closes January 31 of the year you wish to enter. Apply as soon as possible, so your qualifications can be evaluated, you can schedule a physical exam and information can be provided to members of Congress on your potential as a nominee. If you need assistance, contact the nearest Air Force Admissions Liaison Officer.

If you enlist in the Air National Guard for 6 years, you are guaranteed free tuition at any state university.

All-Ink.com College Sponsorship Program offers $1,000 to students who have a 2.5 GPA and submit a 50-250 word essay on who has had the greatest impact in your life and a 50-200 word essay on what you hope to achieve in your personal and professional life after college. Deadline is December 31, 2007. Go to www.all-ink.com/scholarship.html

The 2008 All-USA High School Academic Team applications are available from December through late February. Go to http://allstars.usatoday.com, and go to the Academic Team program drop-down menu.

“An Artistic Discovery” Student Art Competition is sponsored by the Congressional Arts Caucus this year and the first place entry will be displayed in the US Capitol Building. The winning artist will receive free airfare for 3 people to Washington, D.C., in June 2008. Artwork must be submitted by April 25, 2008.

To check out programs of study, scholarship opportunities, and locations of The Art Institutes, go on-line to www.aiadvantage.com

Asian American and Bruce Lee Scholarships are available online at www.uspaacc.com. The due date is Feb. 22, 2008. Requirements include

Must be 16 years old
Of Asian heritage
Minimum GPA of 3.3
Leadership, community and financial need
Must begin post-secondary education in the US in the fall of 2008
Bruce Lee’s also require strong character that prevails over adversity

The AXA Achievement Scholarship in association with U.S. News & World Report offer college scholarships of $10,000 and $25,000 to high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their activities in school, the community or the workplace. Applicants must be legal residents, enroll full-time in a 2 or 4 year college by fall 2008, demonstrate ambition and self-drive and be recommended by an unrelated adult. Deadline is December 16, 2007.

If you are an Ayn Rand fan and an avid reader and writer, you might be interested in essay contest for high school students. For 9^th & 10^th graders, the book is “Anthem” and the due date for the essay is March 20, 2008. For 11^th & 12^th graders, the book is “The Fountainhead” and the due date is April 25, 2008. To get more information, go to www.aynrand.org/contests or see your counselor.

Bank of America gives away from $500 to $5,000 Joe Martin Scholarships. Register at www.bankofamerica.com/foundation after December 3, 2007.

Bank of Oklahoma offers $1000 weekly. Register at www.collegeplanning,nelnet.net

The Being an American Essay Contest challenges grades 9-12 students to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Teachers/counselors must submit the work and not students themselves. Prizes range from $1,250 to $5,000. The deadline is December 3, 2007.

*Best Buy is offering scholarships for students who have made extraordinary volunteer contributions, excel in academics, and participate in extra-curricular activities. Go to www.bestbuy.com for an application after Jan. 1, 2008. Applications are due by Feb. 15, 2008.

Burger King is awarding $1000 scholarships to students who meet these requirements:

Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
Work an average of at least 15 hours per week, for 40 weeks per year. Employment at Burger King is NOT a requirement.
Actively involved in community service activities
Demonstrate financial need
Must obtain written recommendations/signatures from a school official and employer.
Plan to enroll in an accredited 2 or 4 year college, university, or vocational-technical school by Fall 2008

Guidelines and an easy online application form are at www.bk.com/scholars from October 15, 2007, to February 15, 2008.

A Citizenship Essay Contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs for seniors asks the question “What US President has had the greatest impact on American culture? What were the actions that led to this?” The deadline for the 1000 – 1250 word essay is February 28, 2008.

The Cox Communications Student of the Year Award is for students who demonstrate not only extraordinary scholastic aptitude, but also great personal success, whether that means overcoming adversity, demonstrating initiative, or another attribute that fosters potential. The student of the year is nominated by the principal or another school official, one per school. Nominations must be made by February 29. The Sylvan Learning Center Honorable Mention and Wal-mart Supercenter and Neighborhood Markets Flex Award are also awarded from the pool of Student of the Year nominees. Francis Tuttle, Metro Tech and Moore Norman Technology Center are each awarding a tuition waiver to a deserving student, who wishes to pursue classes at the tech center and who is nominated by a South OKC Chamber member.

Create-a-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest is open to high school students who design a holiday card, birthday card or all-occasion card and submit work by January 15, 2008.

DePauw University invites students to submit papers on topics that include issues about human rights, environmental ethics, media ethics, ethics of international relations, science research ethics, personal ethics and ethics & religion. The maximum # of words is 3500, and should be submitted online to rainbolt@depauw.edu . Twenty winning students will receive free travel, lodging, and meals to DePauw to the Ethics Symposium in Indiana. The deadline for these works is February 1, 2008.

The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year nominations must be received by March 3, 2008. Mrs. Wedel has a copy of the nomination form.

The Elks National Foundation offers several scholarships including Most Valuable Student and Legacy Awards. These are based on grades, ACT/SAT scores, leadership, community service and financial need. Visit their website at www.elks.org/enf/scholars or see Mrs. Wedel. Due date is Jan. 11, 2008.

If you are interested in the 2008 Engineer For A Day program, please see Mr. Keilty or contact kelly@principaltechnologies.com .

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms for Pell Grants, Work Study and Loans are available after January 1, at www.fafsa.ed.gov . You can get your pin number and parents can get their pin number now at www.pin.ed.gov .

Foundation of Promise for Juniors who will be first generation college students. No parent or grandparent can have ever attended college before. Get an application online at www.occf.org or see Mrs. Wedel for one. These are due to Mrs. Wedel on February 28, 2008.

Future Master Chef Award offers $1,300 to students for the program “Master of Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary and Pastry Arts. Applicants must be 18 and seeking to enroll in a full-time culinary school anywhere in the USA. Deadline is December 30, 2007. Contact John Nocita at johnn@italianculinary.it

The Gates Millennium Scholars program was established to provide outstanding, low income students an opportunity to complete a college degree in any discipline they choose. This scholarship supports the costs of college attendance and graduate school. Students are eligible to apply if they:

Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American
Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or national of the U.S.
Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
Will be enrolling for the first-time at a U.S. accredited college or university as full time, degree-seeking first year student in the Fall of 2008
Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities
Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria. Must fill out FAFSA and submit by February 1, 2008, & send in SAR as early as possible.
Have all 3 required forms (Nominee Personal Information Form, Nominator Form, and Recommender Form) completed and submitted a paper application by December 31, 2007 or an online application by the January 11, 2008 deadline

Nomination forms are available for the Gates Millennium Scholarship at http://www.gmsp.org

The Greater Oklahoma City Alumnae Panhellenic Foundation is offering $1500 scholarships to Oklahoma City girls who will be attending a college or university in Oklahoma in the Fall of 2008. Requirements are:

Must be a graduating senior girl from a Greater OKC area high school
Must enter a University in the State of Oklahoma with National Panhellenic Conference affiliations in the Fall of 2008 (Cameron, ECU, NSU, OCU, OSU, OU, UCO and Tulsa U)
Have a GPA of 3.0 or greater and a minimum score of 22 on the ACT

Mrs. Wedel has the applications. Applications are due by February 11, 2008.

The Gridiron Foundation Scholarship application for journalism students must be postmarked between January 1 and April 1, 2008. Mrs. Wedel has a copy of the application.

Check out the Hispanic College Fund at www.hispanicfund.org/scholarships.php . Applications will open December 15, 2007. Students must have a GPS of 3.0. Deadlines vary.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is offering awards from $1000 to $2000 to graduating seniors. Requirements are:

Be of Hispanic heritage
Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident
Be enrolled full time in a degree seeking program for the upcoming academic year
Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
Must apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA)

Applications are available on December 1. Deadlines vary. To find an application, you can go online to https://apply.hsf.net/applications

The Insulators and Asbestos Workers Joint Apprenticeship Committee is looking for applicants for apprenticeship training in the commercial and industrial insulation trade. Applications may be picked up at 5350 S. Western, Suite 217, OKC, OK, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday – Friday. Applications are due December 21, 2007.

The Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary and Pastry Arts, Italy, offers a $650 Future Chef Award. Applicants must be 18 and planning to enroll in a full-time culinary school anywhere in the USA. Scholarship is applicable toward any program at the Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary and Pastry Arts. Deadline is December 30, 2007. Go to www.italianculinary.it

Johnson & Wales University is again offering its National High School Chef of the Year. Prizes include more than $600,000 in scholarships to this year’s Chef of the Year winners and a personal meeting with Tyler Florence. The theme of this years contest is Healthy Heritage. Entry deadline is March 3, 2008.

KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program is looking for outstanding seniors with financial need and entrepreneurial spirit. To qualify, student must be graduating from high school this academic year, enrolling in a public college or university within your state, have a GPA of 2.75 and pursue a bachelor’s degree. Go online to www.kfcscholars.org. The application will be available from Jan. 1, 2008 to Feb. 16, 2008.

Kohl’s Kids Who Care is open to all children 6-18, who have not graduated from high school. You must be nominated by a Kohl’s consumer. Nomination forms are available in Kohl’s Department Stores on February 1 through March 15, 2008 or at the Kohl’s Kids Who Care webpage.

The McKelvey Foundation is offering 100 $40,000 scholarships to all high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by owning and operating their own business while in high school. To qualify you must: 1) own your own business for at least one year, 2) have at least 1 paid employee even if part time, 3) graduate high school in 2008, 4) go to any 4-year college or university within the 50 states, and complete the online application by January 15, 2008. Go to www.mckelveyfoundation.org .

Mercy Health Center is sponsoring its sixth annual Health Careers Exploration Day on Friday, February 1^s^t from 9 am to 3 pm. The goal of the fair is to introduce the many health care professions available to high school students. If you are interested, contact Mr. Cook, Mr. Cantrell, or Mrs. Wedel.

Military Children Scholarships are available for dependents of military personnel, who have commissary privileges at Tinker AFB, GPA 3.00+, and write an essay, can go on line to www.militaryscholar.org. The application is due at a commissary on Feb. 20, 2008.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) offers several scholarships to Italian American students. Scholarship applications are available in November 2007 and are due March 6, 2008.

To find National Society of Professional Engineers scholarships for minorities majoring in engineering, go to www.nspe.org/scholarships . Applications are due March 1, 2008.

Native American Student Scholarships vary by tribe affiliation. Most require parents to fill out the FAFSA form before applying. Contact Office of Indian Education.

In the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC), you choose the college or university and they pay the bill. You’ll be a student at a regular college and receive up to $180,000 toward tuition, fees and textbooks, plus a monthly spending allowance. The normal requirements are 22 math & English ACT or 520verbal and math SAT. To learn more, visit nrotc.navy.com or call 1-800-NAV-ROTC.

All student athletes who are interested in playing college sports must register online at the NCAA Clearinghouse website, www.ncaaclearinghouse.net , and then click on “Prospective Student-Athletes”. ACT and SAT scores must be sent to NCAA directly

Newman University is offering ASC Community Leader Scholarships for students who wish to receive an education that comprises an outstanding academic experience as well as opportunities to grow in service as a community leader. Students that are selected to the program will receive $7,500 scholarships and participate in leadership/service classes throughout 4 years of college. A 3.0 GPA is required and applications are in the counselor’s office. The deadline for application is January 15, 2008.

The NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) offers scholarship to seniors who have an Italian heritage or those who plan to study Italian. Applications are due March 6, 2008. Go to www.niaf.org/scholarships/index.asp

The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Award is offered to seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit or initiative. To find out about, go to www.nfib.com/YEA . Applications are available online starting November 12, 2007, at www.goonline.cc with the access key of NFIB.

If you are interested in attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) in Miami, OK, and winning a $600 per year scholarship, see Mrs. Wedel.

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest winners earn from $100 - $1,000 for an essay of up to 1,000 words on the topic: The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why is it important to our Nation? Deadline is December 1, 2007. Go to www.nradefensefund.org/writingcontest.aspx

The 2007 NSPE Educational Foundation is offering scholarships to promote diversity in engineering. The application must be African American, Native American, or Hispanic American and planning to major in engineering. See Mrs. Wedel for app. Deadline is March 1, 2007.

OERB offers scholarships to petroleum related majors. An essay is required. Go to www.oerb.com.

The Oklahoma City Community College Lawyer’s Association is awarding a tuition waiver to a deserving student, nominated by a South OKC Chamber member, who is pursuing a law or business degree at OCCC.

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation offers numerous scholarships to students in the OKC area. To check some of these out, go on-line to www.occf.org . The H.W. Almen-West OKC Rotary scholarship winner will earn $4,000 and must have a 2.75 GPA and not exceed a $100,000 family income. The application must include an essay on “The Object of Rotary in My Community.” See Mrs. Wedel for an application. The deadline for Almen-Rotary scholarship is February 28, 2008.

The Oklahoma City University 2008 Clara Luper Scholarship is awarded to outstanding seniors who meet the requirements including a 22 ACT, 1020 SAT or 3.0 GPA and rank in the top 50% of their class, submit data forms, applications, & essays, and complete the FAFSA and an interview. Application deadline is February 25, 2008. The OCU 2008 American Indian Scholarship is also available. The requirements and deadline are the same.

The Oklahoma Engineering Foundation awards $500 to $1000 scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate a genuine interest in an engineering career each year. These scholarships must be used in an engineering curriculum at OCU, OSU, ORU, OU, or TU. Applicants must be Oklahoma residents and US citizens. Selection of award recipients will be based on points awarded for:

GPA (3.0 – 4.0) and ACT (composite 23-32)
Extra curricular activities
Essay and an interview
Courses taken and credits earned for grades 10 through 12
Technical and non-technical activities sponsored by the high school
Special recognition, academic honors and special achievements
Volunteer activities
Employment
Potential to complete the engineering curriculum offered by the university

Scholarships are due by January 31, 2008. Freshmen who are awarded a scholarship are eligible to apply for one as a Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. To apply, go online to www.ospe.org and click the yellow school bus, then click on Scholarships. A 7-semester transcript is required.

The Oklahoma Heritage Association is sponsoring several contests in celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial Celebration. The John W. & Mary D. Nichols offers a $10,000 scholarship based on a student’s demonstrated knowledge and appreciation of Oklahoma history and geography, as well as academic achievement, citizenship, and leadership. Applications are due March 7, 2008.

The Oklahoma Junior Chamber International Senate Club joins the US JCI in presenting scholarship opportunities to high school seniors. To find out more about this scholarship, go to www.usjcisenate.org/modules/scholarship/generated_forms/OK_Scholarship_App.doc or see Mrs. Wedel for an application. The application will be judged based on appearance, neatness, content, scholastic abilities, extra-curricular activities and financial need. The entire packet must be completed by January 1, 2008.

The Oklahoma Medical Research foundation is accepting applications for its 2008 Sir Alexander Fleming summer scholarship program. Application deadline is February 1, 2008. For more information and applications, go to www.omrf.org/fleming .

The OSSAA (Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association) and State Farm are offering student athlete awards of $750. The scholarship criteria include:

Must have a 6 or 7 semester minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher (Provide transcript)
Must have scored at least 24 or the ACT or at least 1090 on the SAT. (Must provide documentation)
Must be a senior student-athlete participating in at least one of the OSSAA sponsored athletic programs listed below each year of their high school career
Application must be submitted by the student’s high school principal
All applications must be fully complete including 2 letters of reference to be considered. One letter from high school principal or his/her designee, and one from a current or previous teacher of the applicant. Photograph required.
Deadline for application is printed on the application form

Boys’ Sports Girl’ Sports

Football-December 3 Volleyball-December 3

Basketball-February 15 Fast Pitch Softball-December 3

Wrestling-February 15 Basketball-February 15

Baseball-April 14 Slow Pitch Softball-April 14

Soccer-April 14 Soccer-April 14

Track & Field – April 14 Track & Field – April 14

Freshmen & Sophomores!!! With Oklahoma’s Promise, the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, 8^th, 9^th and 10^th grade students whose annual family income is $50,000 or less can earn FREE COLLEGE TUITION. The student must be an Oklahoma resident, apply during 8^th, 9^th or 10^th grade year, take 17 units of high school course and achieve at least a 2.5 GPA, attend school regularly, do homework, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and don’t commit criminal or delinquent acts. Apply online at www.okpromise.org . There are some new requirements that you can view online. Apply now!

The Principal’s Leadership Award recognized outstanding student leaders. Nominations must be made by December 7, 2007.

Regis University is awarding full-tuition awards for Science Scholarships for students who receive a distinguishing score on 2 examinations offered on February 1-2 and February 8-9, 2008.

The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship requires an ACT of 32+ or an SAT or 1420+. An application and essay are required.

Ronald McDonald House Scholars offers the African American Future Achievers Scholarship, Asia Scholarship, Hacer Scholarship, and scholars for any race. Go to www.rmhc.org/ These are due Feb. 15, 2008.

Sophomores! Rotary District 5750 has held the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) for the last 21 years. The camp is free and the Rotary Club is interested in helping to develop “The Leader Within” in sophomores who have leadership potential. Applications are in the counselor’s office, and are due to the local Rotary clubs November 30, 2007.

Saint Louis University Billiken, Ignatian, University, Deans’ and Provost Scholarships are due December 1, 2007.

The Sam Walton Community Scholarship will be available on-line from November 1, 2007, to January 14, 2008, at www.walmartfoundation.org. Apply at https://www.scholarshipadministrators.net/Login.asp The access code is (SWCS).

The South OKC Chamber of Commerce is offering several scholarship opportunities. The Cox Communications Student of the Year Award is for students who demonstrate not only extraordinary scholastic aptitude, but also great personal success, whether that means overcoming adversity, demonstrating initiative, or another attribute that fosters potential. The student of the year is nominated by the principal or another school official, one per school. Nominations must be made by February 29. The Sylvan Learning Center Honorable Mention and Wal-mart Supercenter and Neighborhood Markets Flex Award are also awarded from the pool of Student of the Year nominees. The Chamber Member Scholarships also include tuition waiver for deserving students for Francis Tuttle, Metro Tech, and Moore Norman Technology Centers, as well as a student who is pursuing a law or business degree at OCCC. A cash award is given to a deserving student who wishes to pursue any part-or full-time classes at any school.

SAE Engineering Scholarship program offers both undesignated and university scholarships to students majoring in engineering. Oklahoma State University is the only Oklahoma school offering the university scholarship of $1,000 which is renewable up to 4 years, but the undesignated scholarship can be used at any university. Go online to http://www.sae.org/students/scholarships for an application or see Mrs. Wedel. The new deadline is December 15, 2007.

St. Edward’s University guarantees $36,000 award to Fall 2008 freshman applicants in the top 20% of their class who have at least a 1200 combined CR & Math SAT or 27 ACT composite score. Go on-line to http://www.gotostedwards.com to find out more. Deadline is February 1, 2008. If you qualify, all you have to do is apply for admission.

St. Mary’s University is looking for seniors who might benefit from the Marianist Leadership Program, which encourages a commitment to academics, leadership, service, and faith development, all done in the Catholic Marianist tradition. A GPA of 2.6 is required, and an annual $3000 scholarship is attached. Applications are due by March 31, 2008. Applications are available at http://www.stmarytx.edu/marianist_leadership/ The application form is found under “How To Apply”.

The State Regents Academic Program awards scholarships to students whose score sums equal 133 on ACT or 1550 on SAT or who is a National Merit Finalist or Presidential Scholar. Applications can be gotten from aharris@osrhe.edu or see Mrs. Wedel.

Tinker Federal Credit Union gives a cash award to a deserving student, nominated by a South Oklahoma City Chamber member, who wishes to pursue any part- or full-time classes at any school.

Applications for the Tom Joyner Foundation 2008 Full Ride Scholarship are now online at www.blackamericaweb.com. This scholarship is awarded to a freshman entering a Historically Black College/University in the US. The deadline is January 18, 2008.

The Toyota Community Scholars program awards 100 renewable scholarships valued at $10,000 and $20,000 over 4 years to outstanding high school seniors throughout the U.S. for their scholastic achievements, leadership, and community service. Eligibility includes:

· Being a high school senior with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher

· Being actively involved in a service organization or project that has a positive impact on the school and/or community

· Being a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident

· Planning to pursue an undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S.

Nomination forms must be postmarked on or before January 4, 2008. MSM may only submit one name to be considered.

The Tylenol Scholarship is devoted to students who are pursuing careers in healthcare. Highlights of this year’s program are: 1) 150 $1000 and 20 $5000 scholarship’s will be available for undergraduate and post-graduate study, 2) Applicants will be judged on leadership qualities and academic performance and 3) applications must be received from January 1- April 30, 2008. Go to www.tylenol.com then click on “News & Offers”. Next click on “Tylenol Scholarship” and use TYLN as the Access Key.

The United Negro College Fund offers scholarships that pay for tuition, room and board, and any mandatory fees. Go online to www.uncf.org/scholarships/index.asp

The University of Oklahoma Conoco Phillips School of Geology and Geophysics is offering scholarships from $2000 to $5000 to 100% of freshmen that apply and are renewable for a total of four years based on progress towards a Geology or Geophysics degree. The application can be found at http://soonerspace.ou.edu or contact Gail Holloway at gholloway@ou.edu .

The University of Texas freshman scholarship applications are due December 1, 2007. Apply online at www.utexas.edu/student/finaid .

USHLI (United States Hispanic Leadership Institute) is offering the Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders. Deadline is December 14, 2007.

The Walton Family Foundation Scholarship will go to the son/daughter of a Wal-Mart Associate. Required ACT score is 22+ and SAT is 1030+. Go to www.walmartfoundation.org and access key is (WFFS). Apply at https://www.scholarshipadministrators.net/Login.asp Application is due Jan. 14, 2008.

Young Arts is open to high school senior artists in the performing, literary and visual arts. Individual cash awards are available and range from $100 - $10,000. More information is available at www.youngARTS.org

The Youth Leadership Oklahoma Class VIII is looking for a few good Juniors! Applications are in the counselor’s office, and must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than 5 p.m. Monday, December 3, 2007. Principals must sign the application form verifying the applicant’s GPA. And each student must be able to attend the entire program from June 8-13, 2008.

***ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE AT THESE WEBSITES!!!

www.scholarships.com

www.mapping-your-future.org

www.chase.com/educationfirst

www.scholarships101.com

www.absolutelyscholarships.com

www.estudentloan.com

www.ed.gov/finaid.html