LANCERS
CLASS OF 2018
From The School Counseling Department: Vol. I
Ms. McCrea; A-Dh October 2017
Ms. Meade; Di-J
Ms. Clark; K-Q
Ms. Thomas; R-Z
Ms. Stanbery; AEC
Ms. Fluker; Career Coach
Ms. Sandidge; Secretary
FINALLY! Your senior year is well under way (and believe it or not, a quarter of the way through)! We hope that you have a fun, yet safe and productive year at ACHS. You how important it is that you come to school every day, get to class on time, and complete your school work in a thorough and timely fashion. Remember also, that newsletters, flyers, and announcements will be more important than ever now that you’re a senior. Information will be provided on scholarships, college visits, open houses, financial aid workshops, and much, much more. Please make sure that you read everything and that you share the information with your parents. We'll also be posting the newsletters and other items of interest on our school website, http://achs.amherst.k12.va.us for your convenience. Please remember, that we are here to assist you. Let us know if you need additional information, letters of reference, or help with applications. If we are not in the office or not immediately available, please put your name on the sign-in sheet at Ms. Sandidge’s desk and we will contact you as soon as possible.
FAFSA FILING NIGHT!
If you’re college-bound, mark your calendar for FAFSA Filing Night on Wednesday, October 25. Come to the library anytime from 5 to 6:30pm where college financial aid administrators will be on hand to help you and your parents submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a great way to get it done! Parents and students must have their social security numbers and 2016 income tax information. Apply for your FSA ID# at www.fsaid.ed.gov and bring that information with you too!
DÉJÀ VU
We have now visited all senior English classes to discuss plans for next year and what we can do to help you meet your goals. For those of you applying to two or four-year colleges, here’s a re-cap:
1. Keep it simple. The college application process requires you to be diligent, careful, thorough, and
organized, but it does not require you to be overwhelmed. Get familiar with just a few good
resources. One of our favorites is www.collegeboard.org, plus the individual college websites are excellent.
2. If you haven’t already, please visit the colleges to which you are planning to apply. Nothing can
substitute for spending time on campus. Most schools have fall open houses which are great times to visit. This information is readily available on the colleges’ websites.
3. Your goal should be to complete your applications before winter break. You will be so glad you did this! In most cases, all SAT and ACT testing should also be completed by December. Remember: you must contact the testing companies directly to send your scores to colleges. SAT and ACT scores will not be on your high school transcript!
4. Complete your senior information sheet and transcript release form and bring them to our office as soon as possible. We won’t send any transcripts until you tell us you’re ready, but we’ll have the form on file when that time comes. Remember, you’re going to keep us posted on your progress, so that we'll have all the supporting documents ready to go shortly after you send your applications. Two weeks, however, is the minimum amount of time you need to give us to pull all of that together for you. Don’t miss a deadline because you haven’t given us enough time to do what we have to do.
5. If you are applying Early Decision or Early Action and have not seen us to discuss this, you to get in touch with us immediately!!
6. Online applications are now the norm and are preferred by most institutions. Some colleges waive the application fee for students who apply on-line. Some even have different application deadlines for paper applications versus online applications. (Earlier deadlines for paper!) Go to the websites of the schools you are interested in and check things out. 731 colleges are members of the Common Application, which provides an online opportunity for students to complete one “common” application for a number of schools. (Individual schools may ask for additional information or essays.) If you do not have Internet access at home, let us know; you can use the computer in the Guidance Conference Room.
NOTEWORTHY CHANGES
1) The REGULAR decision application deadline for Virginia Tech is now December 1.
2) SAT and ACT scores are now optional for JMU.
COLLEGE VISITS
We’ve already had a number of colleges and universities that have visited ACHS to speak with interested students. The schools listed below have been scheduled thus far for the rest of October and November. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet face to face with admissions representatives. Sign-up sheets are on the door to the Guidance Conference Room. Come in, sign up, and we’ll send for you when the reps arrive. We’ll let you know when additional colleges are scheduled to be here.
Randolph College – Tuesday, October 17; 8:30am
Lynchburg College – Wednesday, October 18; 10am (Will be conducting both a general information session and on-site admission. If you provide a completed application, transcript, and SAT or ACT scores, you’ll receive a decision that day! See your counselor if interested.)
Longwood University – Thursday, October 26; 10am
Ferrum College – Monday, November 6; 1pm
Virginia Tech – Wednesday, November 8; 1pm
Emory and Henry College – Friday, November 10; 10am
OPEN HOUSES
Visiting a college during an open house is a great way to gather information, ask questions, meet current students, and tour the campus and its facilities. Here are some that are scheduled this fall. If you don't see the schools you're interested in, just give them a call or go online to their website; they've probably also got an open house or two planned. Also, please check the websites for any multi-cultural visitation programs that may be scheduled in addition to open houses and general tours.
Bridgewater College October 21; November 11
www.bridgewater.edu
Central Virginia Community College October 26
www.centralvirginia.edu
Ferrum College October 21; November 11; December 2
www.ferrum.edu
George Mason University See website for tour schedule
www.gmu.edu
James Madison University November 11
www.jmu.edu
Liberty University November 9-12
www.liberty.edu
Longwood University November 4
www.longwood.edu
Lynchburg College November 11
www.lynchburg.edu
Norfolk State University November 11
www.nsu.edu
Old Dominion University November 11
www.odu.edu
Radford University November 11
www.radford.edu
Randolph College October 21; November 11
www.randolphcollege.edu
Roanoke College November 18
www.roanoke.edu
Sweet Briar College November 12-13
www.sbc.edu
University of Mary Washington October 28; November 11
www.umw.edu
University of Virginia See website for tour schedule
www.virginia.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University October 28
www.vcu.edu
Virginia Military Institute November 3-4
www.vmi.edu
Virginia Tech November 12
www.vt.edu See website for tour schedule
NEWS FROM THE CLASS OF 2018
The next senior class breakfast will beThursday, November 9 at 8 am. Seniors that have not yet paid dues can see Mrs. Reed in Room 112A from7:30 - 7:40 amor after school to take care of that. Dues are $30 and help to pay for various senior activities associated with graduation, as well as the senior breakfasts and the senior picnic at the end of the year. On September 21, Jostens gave a presentation regarding cap and gown orders. Jostens will return to school on November 10 and December 8during all lunches to take orders. Order forms are available in the main office or in room 112A. You may also order your cap and gown online, but don’t forget to order beforeDecember 15to get the group rate. After that, the price nearly doubles! Jostens will distribute cap and gown orders at the schoolon March 9.
Officers for the class of 2018 are:
President – Ben Gries Secretary – Marie Granger
Vice President – Carlos Hutcherson Treasurer – Tyler Sangston
SCHOLARSHIPS
Information on the following scholarships is currently available:
1. Our school has an opportunity to nominate one senior to be considered for the Harry F. Byrd Leadership Award. One student from each congressional district will be chosen to receive a $10,000 scholarship. Our nominee will have to submit six essays by November 6, so if you are interested in competing for this award, please see Mrs. McCrea in the school counseling office right away. The deadline is fast approaching!
2. ACHS can nominate one senior to be in the running for the Comcast Leader and Achiever Scholarship. Students who wish to be considered must have at least a 2.8 grade point average, demonstrate leadership abilities in school activities or through work experiences, and have a strong commitment to community service involvement. Interested students must submit a resume detailing their leadership roles and community service to Mrs. Clark in the school counseling office by Tuesday, November 14.
3. WDBJ in Roanoke is accepting applications for the Noel C. Taylor Scholar Athlete Award (a $1,000 scholarship). An applicant for the award must be a participant in high school athletics who has made a significant contribution as a player or manager. This application requires two recommendations, brief essay, and statement of financial need. Please see Mrs. Clark in guidance right away! The application is due to her on October 31.
4. Each year, Central Virginia Federal Credit Union offers the Joseph P. Crouch Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. If you have an interest in applying, you must be a member of Central Virginia Federal Credit Union by December 1. More information about the scholarship application will follow at a later date.
5. Horatio Alger Association seeks to assist students who have demonstrated integrity, perseverance in overcoming adversity, strength of character, financial need, a good academic record, commitment to pursue a college education, and a desire to contribute to society. If this describes you, you should consider applying for the Horatio Alger Scholarship Program. The application may be found at www.scholars.horatioalger.org. All parts of the application must be completed by October 25.
6. The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide, need-based, merit scholarship for high achieving students who will require financial assistance in order to attend college. These students will graduate from a public high school located in a county in the U.S. having fewer than 50,000 residents. Eligible students must have achieved a 3.5 grade point average or higher, a minimum of 23 on the ACT, or 1200 on the SAT. These awards can be up to $40,000! For more information, including the scholarship application, go to www.hsfmo.org. The deadline to apply is November 17.
7. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers many scholarship opportunities both at the state level and the national level for continuing education in a variety of fields. For national scholarships, go to www.dar.org and click scholarship opportunities; for state awards, go to www.vadar.org and click on scholarships. You will find information about deadlines and application procedures.
8. If you are interested in attending James Madison University, you should check out several of their merit-based scholarships, including the Dingledine and Madison Award for Academic Excellence. Applications for the Dingledine Scholarship are due November 1. Students must apply early action to be considered for this particular scholarship. The deadline for the Madison Achievement Scholarship is January 15, which is the deadline for applying to the university. No additional application is required for this particular award. Go to www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/scholarships.shtml for more information.
9. Jack Kent Cook Foundation College Scholarship Program is for students with significant financial need and who have excelled academically. Students must have a cumulative, unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or above and have SAT or ACT scores in the top 15%. The application deadline is November 14 and can be accessed at http://hubs.ly/y06n4H0.
10. The Outreach Office at the University of Virginia was created to support the University’s commitment to diversity. As a part of that mission, the Office coordinates several scholarships specifically for students from underrepresented minority or ethnic groups. Check out the following websites: www.aig.alumni.virginia.edu/ridley/ridley-scholarships; www.hsf.net; and for information about the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship; the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the Oliver Lindwood Perry Scholarship.
11. ACHS has the opportunity to nominate one senior to be considered for the A.C.E. Award given by the Lynchburg Exchange Club. This particular $1,500 scholarship is for a student who has overcome obstacles and made a dramatic change in their attitude and academic performance at some point during high school. If you feel that is true for you, please see your counselor.
12. The Nancy Necessary Pridemore Scholarship ($3,000 per year) and the GeorgAnne Voland Buck Scholarship ($1,400 first year only) are available to entering Radford University students who have demonstrated an outstanding level of achievement in theatre through the presentation of an audition or portfolio and an interview. Students must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 and combined SAT’s of 1100 or higher or ACT of 24 or higher. Students must provide a completed application for admission to Radford University by January 23, 2018 to be considered.
13. Gloria Wille Bell and Carlos R. Bell Charitable Trust will provide up to $80,000 over four years of undergraduate study to students who attend the University of Michigan. Students must be pursuing degrees in engineering or science. The scholarship is based on academic achievement. The scholarship application and details are available online at www.bellscholarship.org. The application deadline is February 1, 2018.
14. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative offers the opportunity for seniors whose parents or guardians are consumer-members of the Cooperative to apply for $1,000 scholarships. The application must be completed by February 6, 2018 and can be accessed online at http://www.mycvec.com/scholarships.htm, www.vmdaec.com, or www.co-opliving.com/community/scholarship.htm.