John A. Ferguson Senior High
Scholarship Bulletin
May 2009
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
GRADUATING SENIORS!!!

SCHOLARSHIP NAME

/

AMOUNT

/

DEADLINE

/ CRITERIA
The Optimist Club of North Bay Village / $1,000 / Received 5/4/09 /
  • Senior
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcript
  • 3.0 unweighted GPA
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Community activities
  • List of goals and achievements
  • Materials should be mailed to 7601 Coquina Drive, North Bay Village, FL33141
For more information, please contact:
Al Blake
Senior Vice President
The Continental Group, Inc.
P: 954.378.2335

  • Application available at the CAP office

Florida JCI Senators Foundation Scholarship / $1,000 / 5/5/09 /
  • Students graduating from a FloridaHigh School and who are residents of the State of Florida.
  • Monies awarded by the JCI Senators of Florida Foundation Inc. must be used for educational expenses in the first year of full-time study
  • Checks awarded will be made out in the name recipient and the educational institution of their choice
  • Application available at

Miami-DadeCollege South Campus Early Start Summer Scholarship Program / Free tuition and books for up 2 college credit courses
in the summer / Not stated
(space is limited) /
  • Senior
  • Students attend classes during the Summer “B” session which runs from June 22-July 31, 2009
  • Meet graduation requirements for a standard high school diploma
  • Complete placement testing before acceptance into program (Students must take the CPT if ACT/SAT scores are not available or if ACT/SAT scores are below the designated minimums
  • See CAP Advisor for an application

Seitlin Franklin E. Wheeler Scholarship / Minimum of (2) $1,500 / 5/08/09 /
  • Senior
  • 3.0 GPA or higher
  • Must have an interest in pursuing a career in the field of business or insurance industry
  • Student must show high ethical standards
  • For an application go to:

2009 Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Scholarship / Not stated /
  • Seniors who are taking vocational courses may have the opportunity to spend a year in Germany pursuing their vocational interests

AICHE Minority
Scholarship Award / (10) $1,000 / 5/15/09 /
  • High school senior
  • Member of minority group underrepresented in chemical engineering (African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan Native)
  • Students encouraged to select classes leading to a degree in chemical engineering
  • 3.0+ GPA
  • Community and school activities
  • Letter or of recommendation
  • Student statement for choosing science/engineering
  • Financial need
  • Transcript
  • Application available at
contact the Awards Administrator at or 212-591-7107.
CAP, Inc. Fund / Varies / Postmarked by: 6/27/09 /
  • Senior who demonstrates financial need
  • Copy of award letter from attending institution
  • Copy of ALL pages of your SAR (Student Aid Report) for the year applied
  • Full-time attendance seeking a degree at an approved post-secondary institution
  • For application and more information go to: For application and more information go to:

Florida Chapter U.S. Harness Writers Association
Allen J. Finkelson Academic Scholarship / (2) $1,000 / Postmarked by 07/01/09 /
  • Senior
  • Resident of Florida
  • Accepted to an accredited college or university
  • Community service, leadership and financial need
  • Cumulative GPA 2.8
  • Majoring in Journalism, Communications or Equine-related studies
  • Transcript
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Application available in the CAP-Office

Army ROTC / Tuition / Not stated /
  • Senior
  • The high school Four-Year Scholarship is for high school students planning on attending a four-year college program.
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be between the ages of 17 and 26
  • Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50
  • Score minimum of 920 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the required writing test scores)
  • Meet physical standards
  • Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard)
Application available at: or you may contact at FIU
Jorge L. Rodriguez
Major, AV
305-348-1619

CarlosAlbizuUniversity / $1,000 / Not stated /
  • Senior planning to attend CarlosAlbizuUniversity
  • Some awards are based on academic merit, others on financial need
  • For more information please contact Mr. Carlos Alicea at (305) 593-1223 ext 259 or via e-mail at

Bridges to the Future (MiamiDadeCollege and The University of Miami) / Two years full tuition at Miami Dade Honors (separate application needed) and two years full tuition at UM if student meets the requirements to transfer / Not stated, but very competitive (space is limited) /
  • Senior from an underrepresented minority group (Hispanic, Black, Pacific Islander, and Native American) planning to continue studies in biomedical science
  • U.S. citizen or permanent residency status
  • Planning to attend Miami-DadeHonorsCollege the first two years (separate application needed), then planning to transfer to the University of Miami
  • For application and future information please visit

University of SouthFloridaHonorsCollege / $4000 / Not Stated /
  • Senior
  • 3.7 GPA or higher
  • Planning to attend the HonorsCollege at USF
  • 1250 (math/verbal) SAT/29 ACT or higher
  • Students who do not meet the requirements but have extraordinary life experiences might be admitted to the program at the discretion of the program director. You can contact the director to discuss options
  • For more information and application go to

The John S. Martinez “Closing the Achievement Gap” NHCSL-Comcast Scholarship Fund / 3 students in Florida
$1,500 plus stipend to cover local travel cost to and from internship assignment / 5/11/09
postmarked /
  • Juniors or Seniors
  • Graduation GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Student must be Hispanic or of Hispanic descent
  • Student must be a US citizen or Legal Resident (proof required)
  • Student must be enrolled at a public high school in the District of a Hispanic Legislator
  • Student must be nominated by their school principal, teacher, guidance counselor or Hispanic state legislator.
  • Current high school transcript
  • Copy of current valid school picture ID
  • Two letters of recommendation (principal, teacher, guidance counselor, Hispanic state legislator)
  • Written Personal Statement (500 words) about “What Public Service Means To Me”
  • Only completed applications will be reviewed
  • No fax or emailed applications will be accepted
  • No phone calls will be answered
  • Application packets available from the CAP office
  • All applications and accompanying documents must be sent to NHCSL at the following address:
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators
ATTN: John S. Martinez Scholarship Applications
444 North Capitol Street NW
Suite 404
Washington, DC20001

Seniors:

Bring allaward lettersto college/university

And scholarships offered to

Ms. Medina, CAP Advisor in room 23

Florida Bright Futures Scholarships

ALL SENIOR STUDENTS NEED TO COMPLETE THE

BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

BEFORE THE END OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR. THE JUNE

ACT AND SAT SCORES WILL COUNT TOWARDS ELIGIBILITY

The 2009-10 Florida Student Financial Aid application is available at and provides access to the Bright Futures scholarship and other grants and scholarships such as:

If you havea concern or problem with Bright Futures you can see Ms. Medina in room 23.

Financial Aid

Seniors: You should have filed your FAFSA by now. If you haven’t, here’s the info.

AttendingCollege / Use FAFSA Form / Use IRS Income Tax From
Beginning Summer 2009
Then Fall 2009 / 2008– 2009 FAFSA
2009 – 2010 FAFSA / 2007
2008
Beginning Fall 2009 / 2008 – 2009 FAFSA / 2008

How to Complete the FAFSA

The FAFSA Process

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is the financial aid application form you will need to apply for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans. While the FAFSA may seem lengthy and complex, there are many free resources, online and offline, to help you navigate the application process.

Where to Find the FAFSA

The FAFSA comes in two versions -- paper and electronic. The paper version can be downloaded from the website

FAFSA on the Web

You can complete, submit, and track your application using FAFSA on the Web This is the easiest way to apply for federal aid. Most importantly, your data is checked before it is transmitted to the processing center, so there's less chance of making an error. What's more, filing the FAFSA online can reduce processing time by 1-2 weeks

Before Your Apply

Complete Your Income Tax Return

Filing the FAFSA online can reduce processing time by 1-2 weeks. We recommend that you complete income tax returns before filling out the FAFSA -- much of the information requested is the same. Please note that you do not have to file your income tax return with the IRS before you fill out the FAFSA.

Get a PIN

If you plan to complete and submit your FAFSA through FAFSA on the Web, we recommend obtaining a U.S. Department of Education PIN. The PIN will serve as your electronic signature, and gives you the fastest way to submit your application. To get your PIN, you should simply fill out the brief application at Your PIN will be mailed to you in 7-10 days. You can still use FAFSA on Web without a PIN, you'll just have to print out and mail in a signature page.

Completing the Application

Here are some reminders and resources to help you complete the FAFSA.

  • January 1 is the first day that you are eligible to file the FAFSA. You should try to file as close to this date as possible, as school, state, and private aid deadlines may be much earlier than federal deadlines. You should pay attention to your colleges' priority financial aid deadlines.
  • If you have questions about any part of the FAFSA application, go to - Completing the FAFSA, a government Web site with a detailed, question-by-question guide to filling out the FAFSA. Your CAP Advisor can also be of great source.
  • Don't forget that many schools will also require you to submit additional financial aid forms such as the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® or institutional financial aid forms.

What Happens After You Apply

January 1 is the first day that you are eligible to file the FAFSA. Once you submit the FAFSA, it goes to a large processing center that handles about 9 million forms each year. This is where your family financial information is passed through the federal need formula.

The Student Aid Report (SAR)

You will receive either an email or a paper form from the Department of Education's Central Process System within a few days to four weeks after submitting the FAFSA. The form is called the Student Aid Report, or SAR, and contains the data you entered on the FAFSA. Review the SAR carefully for errors (the form will highlight items that didn't pass the edit) and follow directions for making and submitting corrections. Submit corrections promptly to avoid long delays in processing your application. Make sure to keep a copy of the SAR for your records.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

At the upper right of the front page of the SAR, you'll find a figure called the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. The EFC is a preliminary estimate of the amount your family can contribute to college costs. The EFC is sent electronically to your state scholarship agency as well as the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. State agencies and colleges will use the EFC to determine the size of your aid award.

If you see an asterisk next to your EFC figure, it means that your application has been randomly selected for a routine process called "verification." Your colleges will request copies of signed tax returns or other information to verify the information reported on the FAFSA. Be sure to furnish this information as soon as possible.

Help With the FAFSA

If you have questions about the application or about federal student financial aid in general, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (433-3243)/TTY 1-800-730-8913, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to midnight EST; Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. EST.

For questions about FAFSA on the Web, call 1-800-801-0576/TTY 1-800-511-5806, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to midnight EST; Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.

JUNIORS

The application process is now open for students interested in obtaining a Congressional nomination to one of the United States Service Academies for the class entering in the summer of 2010. The academies include the MilitaryAcademy at West Point, NY, the Air Force Academy at Colorado SpringsCO, the NavalAcademy at Annapolis, MD, the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. The Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Academy application packets from U.S. Senator Bill Nelson can be accessed online at now through September 20, 2009.

If you have any questions regarding the nomination or appointment process, please contact the Service Academy Coordinator at (407) 872-7161 or (888) 671-4091.

JUNIORS:

SAT (

2008-09
Test Dates / Test / U.S. Registration Deadlines
Regular / Late
(a fee applies)
June 6, 2009 / SAT &
Subject Tests / May 5, 2008 / May 15, 2008

As your SAT test day draws near, be sure to review these last-minute tips to help you do your best

Your SAT® Checklist
□Gather up everything you're going to need for the next morning. You don't want to be stuck frantically searching for your Admission Ticket just before you rush out the door. You'll need the following items:
  • Acceptable photo ID
  • Your SAT Admission Ticket
  • Two sharpened No. 2 pencils (pens and mechanical pencils are not allowed)
  • A calculator with fresh batteries
  • A hand-held CD player with fresh batteries, if you are taking a Language Test with Listening
□Write down the directions to the test center. Make sure you know how to get to your test center and how long it'll take you to get there.
□Check to see if your test center is open. Especially if there is bad weather in your area, tune into your local media (like you do for school closing announcements) or visit on the Friday before the test to make sure your test center is open.
□Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.
□Set two alarms—one in your room and one in someone else's room, in case you hit the snooze button one time to many.

The Morning of the Test

□Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for four hours and you're likely to get hungry.
□Bring snacks. During one of the breaks, you can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
□Arrive at your test center no later than 7:45 a.m. Don't risk getting locked out because you're 30 seconds late. Give yourself plenty of time to get to get there. Consider traffic, weather conditions, flat tires, and anything else that could slow you down.
□Leave your cell phone at home. Don't run the risk of having your phone ring or vibrate during testing. It could cost you your scores! If you are seen using a cell phone or any other prohibited electronic device while in the test center, or if the device makes noise or vibrates, you may be dismissed immediately, your scores may be canceled, and the device may be confiscated.This policy also applies to any other prohibited digital and/or electronic devices such as Blackberries, pagers, PDAs, cameras or other photographic equipment, or separate timers of any kind. We strongly advise you not to bring them.

During the Test

□Use breaks to eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you. You will have several breaks during the test. Use them to relax and eat a snack so you can stay focused.
□Work only on the section you are supposed to be working on. You're not allowed to go back to a section once that section has ended. You also can't start the next section if you finish a section early.
□Do easier questions first. You earn just as many points for easy questions as you do for hard ones.
□Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil on the answer sheet. It is very important that you fill in the entire circle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase it as completely as possible. It is very important that you follow these instructions when filling out your answer sheet.
□Use all of your time. Students around you may close up their test books and rest their heads on their desks, but you know better. Go back to review problems you weren't quite sure about the first time. Or, if you skipped any hard problems use the time to try to work them out.
□Stay positive and focused. Keep your mind on your work, not your score.
□Try not to worry about whether you "nailed it" or "blew it." Know you did your best—and celebrate. You deserve it.

ACT (

Test Date / RegistrationDeadline / (Late Fee Required)
June132009 / May 8, 2009 / May9–22, 2009

What should I take to the test center?

Be sure you take these items to the test center:

  • Your test center admission ticket.
  • Acceptable identification. (Your admission ticket is not identification.) You will not be admitted to test without

acceptable identification.

  • Sharpened soft lead No. 2 pencils with good erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens). Do not bring highlight pens or any other kinds of writing instruments; you will not be allowed to use them. If you have registered for the ACT Plus Writing, your essay must be completed in pencil.
  • A watch, to pace yourself. The supervisor in standard time rooms will announce when five minutes remain on each test.
  • A permitted calculator, if you wish to use one on the Mathematics Test. Not all models are permitted.

Pack your bag the night before and make sure everything is ready to go, especially your calculator if you intend to use one. You don't want to forget anything!

Do not bring food or drink (including water), books, dictionaries, notes, scratch paper or other aids, highlighters, colored pens or pencils, correction fluid, any electronic device other than permitted calculators (examples include timer, cell phone, media player, PDA, headphones, camera), reading material, tobacco in any form, or anything else not on the above list. For additional information, see prohibited behavior at the test center.