Senior news

Mrs. Debbie Pigg, Counselor Monterey High School

Newsletter #2 September 11, 2007

2nd Period Teachers of Seniors: Please read aloud, then post in your room.

Seniors, the first newsletter of the year was mailed to your home a weeks ago. Please refer to that newsletter throughout the school year. The rest of the senior newsletters will be sent to your 2^nd period class to be shared during that period. Extras can be picked up in the Counselors’ Office, where newsletters are also posted on the Bulletin Board. Check out the Monterey website at www.lubbockisd.org/mhs, click on the word “Counselors,” and then click on my name. All of the senior newsletters this year will be posted there, along with other important senior information. Best idea: send me your email address, and I will send you the newsletter. And I promise: no chain emails that promise bad luck if you don’t forward it to 10 friends.

I. Take note:

A. GOALS Night on Monday, Sept. 17. Remember to write down your schedule, give it to your parents, and remind them about the PTA Meeting and GOALS Night. This is a chance for your parents to meet your teachers and find out about your classes. Let them experience the kind of stress you face every day! Seriously, this is a great time to get the parent/teacher team working together to help make senior year a great one. A brief PTA meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.

B. College and Career Night at the Civic Center on Monday, Sept. 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Representatives from over 100 colleges and universities, technical schools, and all branches of the military will be present to provide information to you and your parents. There are two financial aid sessions in the Banquet Hall of the Civic Center from 6 to 7 and 7 to 8 p.m. Topics covered will be grants, loans, and academic scholarships. This is a night you won’t want to miss.

C. Next test deadlines: for SAT, Tuesday, Oct. 2 for Nov. 3 test; for ACT Friday, Sept. 21 for Oct. 27 test; for THEA, Sept. 14 for the Oct. 13 test. Check with me to see if you are exempt from THEA before taking that test. High TAKS, SAT or ACT scores will exempt you from the THEA test for Texas public colleges and universities.

D. Class ranks and current GPA’s are in my office. Put your name on a sheet of paper, leave it with Mrs. Brazell, counselors’ secretary, with the words GPA/Rank, and I will return your ranking to you. Or…email me.

E. January Grads. If you are planning on finishing all graduation requirements this semester and graduating on January 10, 2008, see me as soon as possible! We need to know your intent so we may order your diploma. Caps & gowns must also be ordered by November 1.

II. Matthews Evening High School. This is for students trying to finish early or make up a class needed to graduate. Evening High School started Tuesday, Sept. 11, but they are willing to take some late registrations. Classes are Monday and Tuesday evenings from 4:45 until 6:45 p.m. on the Matthews campus. Classes are $85 for one half-credit class. Classes include: English, math, social studies, and science. Contact Matthews at 766-1533.

III. “Junior/Senior Handbook 2007-2008.” This handbook contains excellent information for senior and junior students. This book is full of everything you need to know this year

regarding SAT/ACT/THEA test dates, senior activity dates, scholarship and financial aid

information, as well as career and military information. We will be sending handbooks to senior English classes. If you don’t have a senior English class, come by the Counselors

Office and pick up a copy.

IV. College Application Process. To apply to Texas four-year universities, there is a Common Application to simplify the application process. Tech, Texas A&M, UT, and other public institutions use the same applications. If you wish to apply to several schools, you can copy your application and submit it to all the schools to which you wish to apply. Apply online at www.applytexas.org.

V. Lubbock ISD’s Online School. If you need to pick up a class you do not have room for in your schedule or you are trying to graduate in January 2008, you may still apply for online courses. Offerings include: health, BCIS A&B, Keyboarding, Communication Applications (speech), Accounting I A&B, Webmastering, Government, Economics, and English IV A&B. Registration closes on Sept. 14. Classes begin Sept. 24 and end for the semester on Dec. 3. Courses cost $100 per ½ credit course. There are fee waivers available for students on free or reduced lunch. Students must register online at www.lubbockisd.org . We have brochures for you in the Counselors’ Office.

VI. College Board

College Board Online provides great information on: searching for colleges, scholarships, and career opportunities; getting ready for the SAT; registering online for the SAT; SAT II subject tests; financial aid worksheets; and applying to college. Find College Board online at: www.collegeboard.com .

VII. Transcripts

Where do you get one? Mrs. Alicia Trubisky, Monterey registrar, in the Main Office. Request your transcript in the morning, and Mrs. Trubisky can probably have it ready for you that afternoon. The first one is free; each additional copy is $1. If you need a transcript sent to a college, just write your name and the college name on the list provided on the counter in the Monterey Main Office. Your transcript will be sent directly to the college for you. .

VIII. Monterey Campus Visits

Representatives from various colleges will be visiting Monterey throughout the fall, beginning on Sept. 24. Reps from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Austin College in Sherman, and Baylor University in Waco will be on campus to visit with interested students. There are sign-up lists on my door in the Counselors’ Office if you are interested in visiting with one or all of these college representatives. Listen to the morning announcements each day for future campus visits.

VIII. SCHOLARSHIPS, SO FAR

A. Have you tried the free scholarship search on the Internet yet? www.fastweb.com

B. An opportunity for one OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER: the National Secondary School Principals and Prudential has asked Monterey to provide one nominee for top youth volunteer in the 2008 Spirit of Community Awards. Top volunteers will be named for the state, earning $1,000 awards and a trip to Washington, D.C. next May. Ten national volunteers will be selected and awarded an additional $5,000. Have you built a strong record as a volunteer for our community? If you would like to be considered Monterey’s nominee, apply at www.prudential.com/spirit . Once you have completed the application, print it out, sign it, and have a parent sign it. Then bring your application to me. Monterey may submit one nominee. Our application deadline is Oct. 31, and we know there is a strong candidate here at Monterey. Submit your application to me if you have been an active volunteer.

C. Coca-Cola Scholars Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation recognizes outstanding seniors nationwide each year, awarding 250 merit-based scholarships. Fifty awards are for $20,000, payable over a four-year period. The remaining 200 awards are for $4,000, payable over four years. Scholarships can be used for any line of study at any accredited U.S. college or university. Who are they looking for? Students are evaluated on the following: demonstrated leadership, commitment to community, academic achievement, and employment. Each year 2,000 are named Semifinalists. The deadline for applying is October 31. Apply today at http://www.coca-colascholars.org/ .

D. TCU Neeley School of Business Texas Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. This program recognizes high school entrepreneurs for their success in business. The award is open to any Texas high school student who has started and managed a business that has currently been in operation for at least a year. Six scholarships will be awarded totaling up to $20,000. Student winners will receive scholarships to any school that they choose: one $5,000 scholarship and five $1,000 scholarships. If the student chooses to attend TCU, the scholarship will be doubled. If qualified and interested, apply online at www.tcuyeya.org.

E. Wendy’s High School Heisman. Wendy’s Restaurants have teamed up with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee to create the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, honoring both male and female high school students who excel in academics, athletics and student leadership. To be considered for this national honor, apply at www.wendysheisman.com. Eligible students must be seniors who have at least a “B” average and participate in at least one of the 33 sports officially sanctioned by the National Federation of State High Schools. Completed applications are due by October 1. That includes verification by a high school representative (that would be me) no later than midnight October 1. Apply as soon as possible so that we meet all of the deadlines.

F. Texas A&M University’s Department of Student Financial Aid and the Office of Honors Program and Academic Scholarships have announced that the Texas Common Application Scholarship Component will be used for the Incoming Freshman scholarship application for the 2008-2009 Academic Year. Information about incoming freshman scholarships and a link to the application is located at https://scholarships.tamu.edu/forms/TCAScholarshipTips.pdf . Incoming freshman scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 for up to four years. In addition, this one application will allow students to apply for scholarships awarded by the Department of Student Financial Aid, the Office of Honors Programs and Academic Scholarships, the Corps of Cadets, and colleges and departments within Texas A&M University. The deadline for the Incoming Freshman Scholarship is December 15, 2007.

G. 2008 SAE Engineering Scholarships. SAE International offers a number of scholarships to qualified students who are interested in the study of engineering and the related sciences. All applicants must: be a current high school senior, intend to earn a degree in engineering or related science (math, chemistry, physics, biology, technologies, computer science); be a U.S. citizen; meet minimum requirements with regard to GPA, SAT Reasoning and/or ACT scores as outlined in the individual requirements of each scholarship; and meet the deadline of December 1, 2007. Additional information can be found at www.sae.org/students/engschlr.htm. See me for applications.