Counselor's Corner

Seniors, the FAFSA is open! You and your parents can now complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is the application for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. For more FAFSA information and resources, see the FAFSA Update Newsletter.

Sign up using the form below if you are interested in attending this event.

As one of the nation’s largest college financial aid programs in the country, the Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is one of the major scholarship programs nationally that specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. The scholarships are funded by Horatio Alger Members who, like the Scholars, have experienced challenges but ultimately overcame them to become successful business and civic leaders. There is a national scholarship and a state level scholarship. The national scholarship is valued at $25,000. The state level scholarship is valued at $10,000.

To be eligible to apply for the Horatio Alger National Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
• Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
• Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
• Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
• Be a United States citizen

Scholarship Deadline: March 14th

This year, the Greater Omaha-Council Bluffs Area Council on Youth Leadership, will sponsor the annual “Youth Salute” in cooperation with the National Council on Youth Leadership. Close to 5 million dollars in scholarship opportunities were offered last year. The Purpose of this Program is to honor high school juniors in your community who maintain a high scholastic average and have demonstrated leadership ability.

To qualify students must:

• be a high school junior
• hold or have held at least two leadership positions
• have a minimum 3.0 GPA

Scholarship Deadline: December 15th

Visit the Youth Salute Website to learn more

The Susan T. Buffett Foundation has offered scholarships to college students in Nebraska for over 50 years. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to first-time freshman entering college who live in Nebraska, graduate from a Nebraska high school (or GED) with plans to attend a Nebraska public college, and demonstrate financial need.

The award amount varies based on the school in which you enroll. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see award amounts per term at various schools: Award Amounts

The application closes February 1st before 5:00pm

• Don’t ever pay for scholarship searches! Use free resources such as ScholarshipQuest at EducationQuest.org with over 2,000 Nebraska-based scholarships. You’ll also find a list of free national sites that we recommend such as College Board and Fastweb.
• Focus on local and college-based scholarships because you're more likely to earn them.
• Update your Activities Resume.
• Earn the best possible ACT scores by taking the exam(s) in the spring of your junior year and again in the fall of your senior year.
• Use quality references such as a teacher, coach, or counselor. Encourage them to write specific examples of your leadership skills. Give them a specific deadline, and a copy of your Activities Resume and Personal Profile.
• Tailor your essay to the scholarship. Ask an English teacher to read your essay and offer advice on making a big impact. Your essay will need to stand out from other applications.

On Friday, December 13th, the freshman class will be attending the 9th Grade Career Day at Northeast Community College. During this event, students will be attending several sessions about careers they are interested in. This is a great opportunity for freshmen to start exploring careers and to begin thinking about what they want to do after high school. We will leave school at 9:30 and return to school around 1:30. Lunch is provided at the college cafeteria. Students should wear comfortable shoes for walking around campus and dress appropriately for the weather.