
Blue Water College Access Network
St. Clair County's College Resource | January 2023
College Knowledge for EVERYONE
Welcome to your resource for planning, preparing, and going to college after high school. Blue Water College Access Network is here to provide information and opportunities that will ensure you graduate confidently prepared, with plans for career and college beyond high school. Whether you choose to go on to earn a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, or an industry credential, we can help you get there!
Each month, we will publish a newsletter to keep you on track, informed, and engaged in college activities provided by organizations across the county. To subscribe to the newsletter, submit your email address using this form. Past editions of the newsletter can be found at bwcan.org. Contact Nick Beaudry with any questions you might have at beaudry.nick@sccresa.org.
Your Future in Health Careers
Blue Water College Access Network is excited to be partnering with SC4 to host "Your Future in Health Careers" January 26 6 - 8 PM. The event will be held at SC4's Health Sciences Building.
This hands-on, interactive career exploration event is a great opportunity for 9 -12 grade students and families to explore career paths in the healthcare field, health sciences programs, and transfer pathways available at SC4. Groups will rotate through stations featuring hand-on activities specific to careers as well as an information panel featuring current SC4 students enrolled in various programs.
SAT Prep Workshops
TARGET AUDIENCE: 11th and 12th grade students
DATES: March 4 and March 11
TIME: 9AM-2PM
COST: FREE for St. Clair County member district students
LOCATION: St. Clair County RESA Administration Building 499 Range Road Marysville 48040
REGISTER ONLINE: There is no cost to attend these workshops, but registration is required.
FAFSA is Open
2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Michigan Priority Deadline: May 1
The 2023-24 FASA opened Oct. 1. Incoming and returning students can apply. The application will remain open until June 30, 2024, but Michigan students should complete the FAFSA before May 1, 2023, to get priority consideration for state-based scholarship programs. Financial aid deadlines at postsecondary institutions may be even earlier. Submitting the FAFSA is free and there is no income limit; please encourage all students to apply as soon as possible!
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is the newest State of Michigan scholarship program that has the potential to impact more students than any other State scholarship program!
High school students and parents interested in learning more are encouraged to register for an informational webinar provided by Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid team. Participants will be able to gather the following information:
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts
- Important action items for students and families
- Additional resources and program information
All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Please register for one session only, as space is limited.
michigan.gov/mistudentaid | mistudentaid@michigan.gov | 1-888-447-2687
St. Clair County Association of School Boards Scholarship
St. Clair County Association of School Boards (SCCASB) is once again offering four (4) $1000 Scholarships to four (4) deserving high school seniors. These are competitive scholarships that will be awarded countywide. Any graduating senior student attending a high school or alternative high school in any of the seven local districts is eligible to apply.
Application and information memo
For more information contact Kris Murphy at 810.455-4035 or murphy.kris@sccresa.org
How to College Crash Course Playlist: To College or Not To College?
In this month's video, Choosing a Specialization, Erica talks about declaring a minor to just taking electives that help you get an edge in the job market. And how do you find out what classes may help in the job market? Erica walks us through ways to find this out and how to think about specialization in your college journey! . Get a list of upcoming episodes for Fast Guides and How to College at https://gostudyhall.com/
Because there's a lot of information to keep track of when you're applying to college, Crash Course made an easy spreadsheet to help you compare schools, keep track of application requirements, and set your goals! Copy this free template and make it your own: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ycGCb-JeGpiu0LLJCUVvV_Zlm5W8u5eimgk3N3blmug/edit#gid=0
To preview upcoming topics, check out the episode guide.
From the Study Hall Program:
Dr. Erica Brozovsky (from PBS's Otherwords) hosts and breaks down how to apply for, succeed at, and graduate from college. We hope you'll join us for this journey and check out our all new Study Hall Channel where you can watch Fast Guides about college majors and even more series. Get a list of upcoming episodes for Fast Guides and How to College at https://gostudyhall.com/
Counselor Corner
Understanding the Modern Military
Students and families need guidance from school counselors on the full range of career and education choices available to them after high school, including options for joining the military. This resource-driven course will present you with information that will help in understanding an array of military career options and the education benefits that can support students in the pursuit of those careers. Throughout this course, you will explore various resources into military pathways and discover opportunities that are nearly as diverse in number and scope as those in the civilian sector.
In this course, you will:
- Use current military resources and hear from service members to gather facts and information about military career pathways,
- Understand and accurately present military career options and pathways to students,
- Integrate a Military Subject Matter Expert into college and career readiness initiatives in your school, and
- Support students and families as they explore military career options.
Michigan Virtual | Earn 5 SCECHs | MORE INFORMATION
SC4 Resource for Counselors and Advisers
SC4 has a handy webpage for those guiding students' college and career planning. Check it out here: https://sc4.edu/admissions/high-school-counselors/
MCAN Professional Development Opportunities
WEBINAR
School Counselors' Power to Impact Mental Health Challenges in Districts
Supporting the mental health of students and families is a challenge many schools face every day, and social and emotional learning support is available for your district. Join this engaging and practical webinar from Michigan Cares for resources on life skills and staff professional development, created in partnership with statewide leaders.
Date: Jan. 25
Time: 2:30-3 p.m.
SCECHs: This webinar was submitted for 0.5 General SCECH.
WEBINAR
Pathway Planning:
From Finding a Best Fit College to Securing Financial Aid
In this webinar from Xello, learn how to leverage the new Michigan Achievement Scholarship to help students expand their pathway options and encourage them to dream bigger. Hear from a Michigan school counselor on how she advises students who are disinterested in college, plus get a sneak peek at a new Xello module that lets students create authentic connections with colleges before they ever step foot on campus.
Date: Feb. 7
Time: 9-10 a.m.
SCECHs: This webinar was submitted for 1 SCECH in College Preparation & Selection.
COUNSELOR TRAINING
MCAN School Counselor Professional Development Winter/Spring Series
Registration remains open but is waitlist only for MCAN's 2023 winter/spring school counselor professional development mini-courses: College and Career Advising in the Middle Grades (registration closes Feb. 8), and Postsecondary Advising for Special Populations (registration closes March 12). SCECHs will be available! Those on the waitlist will be notified on a first-come, first-served basis if a spot opens.
College Bound Michigan Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2022-23 cycle of College Bound Michigan, MCAN's suite of initiatives designed to build and support college-going cultures in high schools and their surrounding communities. This program helps school counselors, college advisers, and other educators create systems and practices that connect all students with the opportunity for formal education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees.
CBMI brings together all of the statewide initiatives — Michigan College Month, College Cash Campaign, and College Decision Day — into one campaign to help bring Michigan closer to Sixty by 30. Click the register button below to learn more and sign up. Current CBMI sites, be sure to register to ensure you are included as a host site for next year! Registration will remain open through the fall, but signing up now ensures timely delivery of resources and takes something off your summer/fall to-do list.
Why should my school sign up?
As a CBMI Host Site, you will have access to:
- Exclusive grant opportunities
- Promotional materials
- Student-facing, grab-and-go resources
- Counselor/adviser-facing toolkits and implementation guides
- Professional development opportunities
Questions?
Contact Kiersten Nolan, MCAN’s strategy assistant for high school innovation, with any questions about CBMI eligibility or programming at 517-316-1713 or kiersten@micollegeaccess.org.
Contact Nick Beaudry, Supervisor of Career and College Programs, St. Clair County RESA
Email: beaudry.nick@sccresa.org
Website: bwcan.org
Location: 499 Range Road, Marysville, MI, USA
Phone: 810.455.4261
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueWaterCAN/
Twitter: @BlueWaterCAN