REACH HIGHER: THE UMUB CLASS OF 2016

In today's economy, a high school diploma just isn't enough. Students have to reach higher, which is why the First Lady is working to rally the country around the President's "North Star" goal--that by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  Look at what University of Montevallo Upward Bound seniors are planning:

SENIOR SUCCESS SEMINAR APRIL 4

For tonight: 
Email me: buffmj@montevallo.edu 
CC.  buf2teach@gmail.com; mnixon@montevallo.edu
Subject:  <YOUR NAME> April 2016 Senior Success

Copy and paste these questions into the email:
1. What is your plan for Fall 2016?  Where do you plan to attend school? What will be your major?
2. List any scholarships (usually, these are local scholarships—check
3. with school—you are applying for that have an April or May due date. 
4. Have you received any scholarship offers?  Have you given it to us for a scan?
5. Have you printed your SAR report for your Senior files?  (If not, do it tonight). What is your EFC? (If you haven’t completed your FAFSA, why not?)
6. Are you participating in Bridge this summer? Attach your Bridge Summer Studies application to this email if you plan to attend this summer.
7. Have you met CE (Cultural Enrichment) requirements (due by April 15^th)?
8. Have you met CS (Community Service) requirements (due by April 15^th)?
9. What is the date for your Senior Awards at your school?  (You will earn $ for UB attendance, Super Saturday attendance, CE, CS, and Perfect Attendance for years)
10. Complete a 1-3 sentence statement about your involvement in UB (for the May UB Awards program).

APRIL AND MAY SCHOLARSHIPS 

Bridge Summer Studies—Application due tonight (you don’t have to be attending UM in the fall to participate and application is available on the Senior Blogspot)

Other Scholarships 

Ora Lee Jones Memorial Scholarship—(One time award of $1,000 to $5,000 to any school) Application (Deadline April 16^th) available online at http://www.orajonesfoundation.org/annual-scholarship/   Applicants must submit a 1,000 word typed essay and complete the application online.  The essay should depict the importance of the scholarship and describe how the applicant will use his/her education to give back to the community.

AAUW Senior Book Scholarship (One time award of $500 to a female attending UM).  Essays should be emailed to buffmj@montevallo.edu and have the subject heading <First Name Last Name>AAUW Senior Book Scholarship.  Female students plannint to attend UM should submit an essay detailing their involvement in TRIO Upward Bound, the importance of the scholarship and their goals for college, and detail how they will use this scholarship to further their education.

Local Scholarships (check with your school and/or church)

MY FAFSA--WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

If you successfully submitted your FAFSA last weekend, you should now have an email stating that your FAFSA submission has been submitted.

 

Now, you should: 
1) Log back into FAFSA using the FAFSA ID you created.
2) At the right top of the page. click VIEW PDF of FAFSA.  
3) Print out a copy.   One copy should go in your senior binder.  I will also need a copy if you can't email/save the PDF.  Also, if you can figure out to do it, save a copy of the PDF document (First Name Last Name FAFSA SAR).  
4) Put a copy of your SAR in your Senior Drive folder and email a copy of it to me.

If your SAR Report says your file submission has been selected for verification, you will need to have tax papers and/or other documents for Financial Aid.  They should send this information to you in mid to late March.

REGIONS RIDING FORWARD SCHOLARSHIP $5,000 DEADLINE APPROACHES!

The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship is available online. It is a $5,000 scholarship and will be awarded to 16 deserving students.  

To start your application, go to 
Regions Riding Forward Scholarship 

REGIONS RIDING FORWARD 

SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST

WHO INSPIRES YOU? 

Of all the African-Americans who have made significant achievements and innovations for our society, is there one in particular who inspires you? 

     Your essay should, in 500 words or less: 

          (a) address how an African-American has been an 

               inspiration in your life, and

          (b) discuss the contributions of the African-American 

               individual who has served to inspire and motivate you. 

You can also follow this link and then scroll to the bottom of the page to read essays from last year's winners by clicking on this link:  2015 Regions Winners

Create a document in your GOOGLE DRIVE SHARED FOLDER and then let me know when I need to edit it. 

African-American achievements have moved us all forward. To honor Black History Month, Regions offers the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest. Enter for an opportunity to win a $5,000 or $3,500 scholarship.


DEADLINE February 26, 2016

UMUB SUMMER SURVEY

If you are planning to attend the Upward Bound Summer 2016 component, please complete the summer survey form at this link, 2016 Summer Survey

Then, SAVE AS <First Name Last Name> Summer Survey and then EMAIL the attachment to me at buffmj@montevallo.edu.   If you are planning to do Bridge, this is one of the required documents.  

COLLEGE COUNTS

Have you maintained a 2.75 GPA or higher?

Have you taken Honors or AP classes? 

If you can say YES to both of these questions, follow this link to get started NOW on  COLLEGE COUNTS.  Read the eligibility requirements below and get started. 

 

To be eligible for a College Counts scholarship, you must meet ALL of these requirements:

• Be a high school senior or first-time college freshman beginning in fall 2016
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be an Alabama resident
• Planning to enroll in an Alabama eligible educational institution in fall 2016
• Demonstrate financial need
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75
• Have an ACT score of 26 or below

                                  

You will have to upload your 2015 tax records and your latest transcript to complete the application.  Even though the deadline listed is late April, you should try to get it done no later than March 31st for priority consideration.

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID 2016-2017

Seniors, here is the complete Powerpoint,

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID, Mrs. Kim Miller presented on January 19.  Take time to review it again and ask any questions as you begin this IMPORTANT process of completing your FAFSA forms.