Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Jody HansenFebruary 6th, 2018

(763) 569-7665 or (763) 569-7627

The CCRC newsletter is provided on a monthly or semi-monthly basis to provide information on activities and events that are helpful to Park Center students and their parents. This publication is also on Park Center’s website (under Academics or under Quick Links at right of home page).

IMPORTANT!!! Attention seniors: When you are asked to indicate your school counselor on college applications note Diane Ahlberg, , as your counselor. She is the counselor for senior students who need a recommendation letter, Secondary School Report or any other college reference.

Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are also entitled to other free things, such as participating in activities and sports or taking the ACT for free twice. Free & Reduced Lunch Applications are available in the Student Support Office, Attendance Office, Counseling Office, and in the Kitchen. Families may apply online as well at:

Attention Advanced Placement Students! AP exam registration is open throughFebruary 27, 2018. English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, U.S. History,Studio Art,Calculus AB or BC,Statistics, and Human Geography exams will be available at Park Center. Register at use the AP exam link on the Park Center home page.

The cost to take an AP test is $60 and must be paid by bringing a check or cash to the CCRC.A test will not be ordered for you until payment is received.Students who are on free or reduced lunch should indicate that onthe registration form; pending verification, the exam fee/s will be waived.

Minnesota State University – MankatoThursday, February 8th8:45AM

North Hennepin Community CollegeTuesday, February 27th8:30AM

Dunwoody College of Technology offers two great scholarship programs for new students. The Women In Technical Careers Program is designed to help female students succeed in a technical degree program. Scholarships are awarded up to $10,000 per year for women enrolled in automotive, construction, computer technology, or robotics and manufacturing, and who demonstrate financial need. Advising, mentoring and a cohort experience are included.

They also offer the Youth Career Awareness Program - a six week paid summer camp filled with career exploration, field trips, and college-readiness courses. A $20,000 scholarship plus additional financial support are offered to students who complete the camp and attend Dunwoody in the fall. Come to the CCRC on Tuesday, February 20th at 10:00AM to hear more. Sign up for a pass.

A Brooklynk representative will be in the CCRC on Wednesday, February 21st at 9:10 assist students with their applications for summer work ready training and paid internships. Sign up to hear more about Brooklynk and to complete your application. (See Brooklynk information on page 3.)

First Step Summer Institute at St. Catherine University - Preparing young women of color and/or Indigenous women for higher education, the First Step Summer Institute is a free and unique college immersion experience on the St. Paul campus. In this four day residential program, students gain a deeper sense of commitment to pursue higher education, a strong network of diverse, college-bound friends, a sense of support and encouragement from St. Kate’s staff, faculty and students, more perspective on college living, and ultimately, increased self-esteem about their capacity to apply to and thrive in college. Qualified alumnae of First Step who apply and are accepted to St. Kate’s will be considered for scholarships. First Step session dates: June 18th – 21st, and June 25th – 28th. Apply online at or pick up an application in the CCRC. The application deadline is April 14th.

Have you heard of GenesysWorks? This is a program for juniors to gain real world experience and get paid!

Through GenesysWorks you get professional training, strengthen your communication skills, and learn responsibility and accountability. From there you get to work at a major corporation, gain real world experience and earn a real wage. You will get ahead because you are building a strong resume, pursuing a professional career along with applying to college.

Theywill begin accepting applications forthe next class of Genesys Works young professionals from the current high school juniors (Class of 2019) starting Wednesday, January 3th, 2018. Go to apply.

Application Process:

  1. Verify you meet eligibility requirements.
  2. Complete online application.
  3. Interview in our office in March or April.

If you are accepted, training generally begins mid-June and runs through early August. Once you have completed training, internships begin late August or early September, and typically run for one year.

Eligibility Requirements - To be eligible for the Genesys Works program, you must be:

  • A high school junior who is on track to graduate.
  • Legally able to work in the U.S. and have valid documentation allowing you to do so.
  • At least 16 years of age by August 1 of your training year.
  • Able to work in the afternoons during your senior year in high school. Since this can conflict with other activities, you will have to make the choice before signing up with Genesys Works.
  • Recommended by your school counselor, principal or specialty teacher.
  • Willing to invest your entire summer, completing their intensive training program.
  • Willing to commit to regular attendance. Your participation in Genesys Works has to be top priority.
  • Able to provide your own transportation to and from Genesys Works and your worksite. Many students use public transportation.
  • Able to meet the Genesys Works dress code and the dress requirements for corporate clients.
  • Aware that Genesys Works is something you do in addition to your schoolwork. You must maintain good standing in school and at Genesys Works.

You will gain real world experience at major corporations like3M, Bremer Financial, Medtronic, Travelers Insurance, Best Buy, Ecolab, Thrivent Financial, Xcel Energy, Target, and Optum.

BROOKLYNK: Get Work Ready Training! Paid Summer Internships! Work Ready Training: Learn real skills for a real summer job! The trainings will be fun, led by local professionals, and focus on topics such as: Networking, Resume Building and Professionalism. Youth between the ages of 14-21 are eligible to apply. The mission of BrookLynk is to prepare youth with essential job skills, experiential employment opportunities, and professional social networks to develop personal pathways to college and career.

Summer Internships: Youth aged 16-19 who have completed BrookLynk Get Work Ready Training can apply for paid summer internships. Internships are coordinated with local employers and provide opportunities for young people to explore career fields, regardless of previous work experience. During their internship, interns will be coached and mentored by staff on-site while receiving further support from BrookLynk Staff.

Get more information and apply online at

Kansas University - KU - has the following out-of-state scholarships:

KU ExcellenceKU DistinctionKU Achievement
30 ACT and a +3.75 GPA28 ACT and a +3.5 GPA24 ACT and a +3.25 GPA
$64,336 ($16,084/yr)$54,320 ($13,850/yr)$44,308 ($11,077/yr)
Equivalent to paying in-state tuition 125% of in-state tuition150% of in-state tuition

For more information go to

The University of North Dakota Scholarship application deadline is March 1st! As the March1stscholarship deadline is approaching, you are reminded that paper scholarship applications will no longer be accepted. All students should complete a Scholarship Central application to be considered for 2018-19 scholarships. Scholarship Central is home to more than 800 scholarships, and these scholarships are in addition to any automatic academic scholarships students may receive. Students must be admitted to UND and have claimed their accounts before they're able to complete their Scholarship Central applications. If you have any questions about 2018-19 scholarships, contact the UND Student Financial Aid office at 701.777.3121 or .

Latest information from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Admission decision timeline
Students who submitted a complete application by November 15 (our grace period from the November 1 deadline) will receive their decisions by the end of January. Students who submitted a complete application by our second deadline by January 16 (our grace period from the January 1 deadline) will receive a decision by the end of March. See our admission decision FAQs for more information about admit, defer, waitlist, and deny decisions.
Admission decisions are released on a rolling basis so that students are able to consider their educational options as soon as we’ve made a decision on their application.

Defer decisions
We are now releasing decisions via Application Tracker to students who applied by November 1. Many of the decisions released this week and next will be “defer” decisions. A defer decision indicates that the admissions committee has completed a holistic review of the application but has not yet made a final decision. Deferred applications will be reviewed a second time, taking into consideration the number of spaces available in the freshman class and competitiveness of the entire pool of applicants who met the January 1 application deadline. If a student receives a defer decision, they will hear from us about a decision (admit, waitlist, or deny) by March 31.

Direct college admission
As a reminder, the University of Minnesota admits students directly to one of our seven freshman-admitting colleges. We consider students for admission to the college(s) of interest indicated on their applications and, when appropriate, other freshman-admitting colleges that may match their academic preparation and interests (even if the student did not indicate interest on the application for other colleges). In our review of application materials, we determine admissibility to an alternate college based on a student’s academic preparation and academic interests. However, all of our colleges have space constraints and admission is competitive to all University of Minnesota colleges. We must be mindful of each college’s space limitations that the students who enroll will have access to courses, advising, and other resources that will ensure their success.
Each application we receive is important to us and we are committed to ensuring that every student receives a thorough and fair review. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and all application materials are carefully considered. Decisions are based on an individual, holistic assessment of the information provided in each application; we do not use automatic criteria or minimum scores to make decisions.

Highly selective admission to engineering and nursing
Demand for the College of Science and Engineering and the Freshman Nursing Guarantee Program is especially high and space is very limited. In support of student success, retention, and graduation, we must limit our enrollment in these areas in particular to ensure that students have access to critical courses and lab space to ensure their academic success and degree progress. Both programs have expanded in recent years, but space remains limited and admission to these programs is highly selective. We know that interest in these fields has been high across the country, and we are very grateful that students have shown interest in the University of Minnesota.

Still accepting applications to the College of Liberal Arts
Although our January 1 deadline has passed, we still are accepting applications from qualified students with a genuine interest in the College of Liberal Arts. Applications will be considered on a space-available basis, so we encourage students to apply as soon as possible. Students can visit z.umn.edu/apply and choose either the Common Application, Coalition Application, or our University of Minnesota application.

North Hennepin Community College Scholarships: NHCC offers scholarships for new and returning students based on program of study, academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need. Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $1000. Please apply between February 1st and April 30th at

IF YOU MIGHT WANT TO PLAY SPORTS DURING COLLEGE, THE NCAA HAS MADE IT EASY AND FREE TO SET UP A PROFILE ACCOUNT. CHECK IT OUT!

Student-Athlete Profile Account: When the NCAA Eligibility Center redesigned its registration website at, one of the most significant enhancements was the creation of the profile account. The profile account gives college-bound student-athletes the opportunity to make the best decision about their college choices earlier in their high school careers. Students may now choose from the traditional certification account for those wanting to attend and compete at Division I and II schools, or a free profile account for those attending Division III schools and students who are not yet sure at what school they want to attend and compete.
Registration for a profile account is free and easy. Students should expect 10 to 20 minutes to complete a profile account. Also, if a student with a profile account decides to compete at the Division I or II level, they can easily transition their profile account to a certification account. A registration fee of $80 is required to begin the certification process.

A copy of the most recent College Bound Student Athlete Guide can be found at f

NCAA Eligibility Center's Updated Academic Fact Sheets for DI & DII can be found at

Do you want to be a police officer? Do you have exceptional diversity skills, knowledge, and connections to help serve our growing and diverse community? Brooklyn Park may be able to help you start your police career.This is a perfect position for a high school senior to apply for. The graduation requirement is purposely set for mid-June to make sure all current seniors are eligible to apply.They will pay 100% of your 2-year degree for Law Enforcement!

Police Cadets: The Cadet program is hiring. The objective of the Police Cadet Program is to facilitate the entry of qualified candidates for police officer positions into the Police Department and to provide the best possible police service to our very diverse community through the recruitment of persons with exceptional diversity skills, knowledge, and connections. Police cadets are individuals the Police Department has conditionally committed to employ as peace officers as soon as they become qualified for such a position and the Department has an opening it is authorized to fill. The Department assists the cadet in preparing for the pending police officer position by providing a full school scholarship for the required pre-service education and by a part time, uniformed, paraprofessional position to orient the cadet to the Department’s mission, policies, procedures, equipment, and methods of providing law enforcement services. Cadets work a flexible, part-time schedule to allow them to complete their college courses in law enforcement.

What do cadets receive?

College Scholarship: Cadets receive a scholarship to obtain the college courses necessary to qualify for a peace officer position, including books, fees, uniforms and equipment. They expect cadets to attend school full-time.

Compensation: Cadets receive $20.72 per hour, plus part-time benefit package. They provide uniforms and equipment

Mentoring: Cadets have a working peace officer advisor.

Practice: Cadets have opportunities to ride along with officers and practice skills needed to graduate from school, including firearms training on the range.

Promotional offer: Cadets receive an immediate conditional promotion offer to become a police officer with the Brooklyn Park Police Department as soon as the cadet becomes eligible for police licensure, the cadet meets of all normal hiring standards for a peace officer position and the Department has an opening.

Applying to Become a Cadet: You must complete a City of Brooklyn Park Cadet application online. Candidates must be 18 or older. If you are under the age of 18, please look into the Explorer program.

SENIORS,if you choose to take the ACT again you will need to know what your ACT ID number is...this information can be found on the top center of your April score report.

Test Date:Registration Deadline:(Late Fee Required):

April 14, 2018March 9, 2018March 10-23, 2018

June 9, 2018May 4, 2018May 5-18, 2018

July 14, 2018June 15, 2018June 16-22, 2018

TEST FEE PER TEST OPTION:

  • ACT (No Writing)$46.00
  • Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).
  • ACT Plus Writing$62.50
  • Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request.
  • 5th & 6th college choice fee is $12 for each school.
  • Late registration fee is $27.50.
  • Standby testing is $51 in addition to the basic fee, if you missed registration.
  • Test date change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.
  • Test center change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.
  • Test information release service is $20.
  • International testing is $33.

Students need to register on-line at

Students receiving free/reduced lunch can have their test fees waived TWICE by bringing a copy of the letter they received from Food Service to the CCRC to receive a waiver. Fee waivers do not include late fees.

Students can register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests at Preparing for the SAT Test booklets that include a full length practice test, including the writing test, strategies to prepare for the test and what to expect on test day are available in the CCRC.

You can take free ACT or SAT practice tests online at: and at Contact the CCRC staff for login information for MnCIS.

Check out theLearning Express Library.There is atest prep resourcethat is a free resource for Park Center students available through ELM (Electronic Libraries for Minnesota). Here, you can access practice ACT, SAT, AP, TOEFLtests, as well as others.