College & Career Center Newsletter

Where do I start?

ALL seniors should fill out the FAFSA (federal financial aid) and the Oregon Promise (state financial aid for community colleges.) If you are planning to attend a 4-year college, we still urge you to complete the Oregon Promise as a back-up plan.

Step 1:

Create your FSA ID (A student creates one and a parent creates one, too.)

• The student and the parent cannot use the same email or phone number in the FAFSA.
• (Be sure to print your sign-in and passwords, for both accounts, and carefully save them since you will reapply every year you are in college.)

https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

Step 2:

Create your FAFSA or ORSAA (for Oregon students without a social security number)

If you are not sure which form to do, go to the FAFSA/ORSAA Filter Tool.

FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

ORSAA: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/fafsa-orsaa.aspx

• Both the student and the parent will complete a section and sign electronically with the FSA ID created above.
• More info to come for students whose parents do not have a social security number.
• Note: You will be completing the FAFSA 2025-26 form and use 2023 tax information.

Step 3:

Complete the Oregon Promise Application- It's short and easy- the information from your FAFSA or ORSAA is used. Students with a 2.0 GPA can receive about $8,000 for community college education (free.) Both applications (FAFSA or ORSAA and OP) must be completed for financial aid for Oregon community colleges. There is no second chance to apply for these free funds. DEADLINE: June 1, 2025.

OREGON PROMISE: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/oregon-promise.aspx

Where can students go if they have additional questions? Students can go to the official FAFSA® site to stay up to date on all things FAFSA®, get their FSA ID, and ultimately complete the FAFSA®. They can also check out Sallie Mae’s FAFSA® page, YouTube channel , and webinars page for helpful FAFSA® tips, tools, and resources.

We will be hosting a FAFSA and ORSAA completion workshop from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on January 9th at Barlow in the College and Career Center. We will have English and Spanish speaking financial aid specialists here that evening. If you need support in another language, please let me know before the event @ molony5@gresham.k12.or.us. Students and families are welcome.

You will need certain information to make this evening a successful event for you and your student. What do you need to apply? https://oregongoestocollege.org/pay/financial-aid

Sign-up here: https://forms.gle/iofZdmt7MQCjs9Pd6

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship (seniors) - Due Dec 19

Equitable Excellence Scholarship (seniors)-due Dec. 18

Home Depot Path to Pro Scholarship (seniors-trade programs)-Due Dec 31

Around the Corner Scholarship (grades 9, 10, 11, 12) due Dec. 31 and June 30

APIA Scholarship (seniors) Due January 15

Rose Festival Court (seniors) due Jan 17

Bezos Scholars (juniors) due Jan. 21

Alexander Hamilton Scholars (juniors) due TBD

Sister Adele / CASA Scholarship for Oregon Farmworker Families due TBD

Al Forthan Scholarship (seniors) due Feb 3

McDonalds Hacer Scholarship (Hispanic heritage/senior) due Feb. 6

Bruin Pride Scholarship (seniors) due Feb 7

Daniel Paul Memorial Scholarship (senior athletes)-due TBA

Ford Family Foundation Scholarship (seniors)-due March 3

PCC Future Connect-(seniors) due March 1

OSAC Scholarship (seniors)-due March 1 (Early bird deadline: Feb 15)

Gresham Rotary MHCC Scholarship-(seniors) due April 10

Diversity in Leadership in Oregon Scholarship (seniors) due March 3

Jiffy Lube What Drives You Scholarship (grades 9,10,11,12) due March 10

Horatio Alger Scholarship (juniors) due March 15

Don't forget to visit Oregon Goes To College's scholarship list .

Have you checked out GoingMerry.com for additional scholarship searches?

Keep track of your scholarships here.

Seniors,

Please report any scholarship offers to Tia Molony in the College and Career Center or by email @

molony5@gresham.k12.or.us. Thank you!

12-12 - Warner Pacific University @ 10:30am in the library

You will be excused from class for this visit but please check in with your teacher for any missed work.

Discover what it’s like to work in the essential and rewarding field of respiratory therapy. This three-hour hands-on experience gives you the chance to dive into the profession, explore what respiratory therapists do day-to-day, and see if this could be the right fit for your future.

Whether you’re just starting your career journey or looking to make a change, this event is open to all career seekers, including Providence caregivers. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet professionals, ask questions, and get a firsthand look at this vital healthcare role.

Use this experience to explore career options or even fulfill school requirements as an alternative to job shadowing. Don’t miss out on this chance to take the next step toward a future in healthcare!

Register: Respiratory Therapy Career Highlight

**You must provide your own transportation.

Students under the age of 18 must be registered by a parent/guardian.

Just a reminder...please try to give two weeks notice when asking a teacher, counselor, anyone for a letter of recommendation. You will also want to provide an activity chart or resume and transcript to help your recommender write the best letter possible for you. If you need a letter sooner, you should ask the teacher in person and explain your situation.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when requesting. Letter of Recommendation

The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship is OPEN (seniors)-due March 3

Due Date: March 3.

WHAT IS THE SCHOLARSHIP?

• Supports students who have significant financial barriers to college
• Award amount is calculated on college cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, personal costs, etc.), minus other grants and scholarships
• In addition to a generous financial award, Scholars receive academic guidance, leadership development, personal and professional support, and access to the Ford Family alumni network
• Renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study

Scholarship amount: Award covers up to $40,000 per year (tuition, fees, room and board, personal costs, etc.), minus other grants and scholarships.

The Daniel Paul Memorial Scholarship will award an annual scholarship to a Barlow High School student-athlete who will be attending college upon graduation. The scholarship is funded upon successfully graduating, is paid directly to the student’s college of choice and is a one-time only scholarship. The scholarship is funded at $5,000.

DUE DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2025 - Opening soon!

Applicants must meet the following requirements and provide the listed materials:

1. Graduate from Barlow High School and college-bound
2. 3.4 GPA or higher
3. Have participated in sports and athletics throughout their high school career
4. Be able to demonstrate active participation in student life and/or the community while in high school
5. Embody many of the traits and attributes of Daniel Paul, including but not limited to leadership, athleticism, inquisitiveness, inclusivity, relentlessness, kind, generous, adventurous, compassionate…

HOW TO APPLY

Submit completed packets including the following:

1. Application
2. Transcript
3. Resume
4. Letters of recommendation Submit 3 letters of reference selecting from: a SBHS coach; a SBHS teacher or administrator; an outside Community employer/faith leader/mentor/club sport coach

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

1. Bring your completed application to the SBHS College and Career Center in hard copy form.
2. Email your completed application (pdf) to: molony5@gresham.k12.or.us

The Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an Oregon high school senior from a family affected by alcohol or drug addiction. Affected by addiction means you have been raised by a parent or guardian who has experienced addiction or you have abused alcohol or drugs and are now pursuing recovery. One $10,000 scholarship will be awarded in 2024. It will be allocated in $2,500 installments over four years. To be eligible for the $10,000 scholarship you will need to include in your application a one page (maximum) letter of support from a teacher, coach, school counselor, adult mentor, pastor, etc. describing your character and why they recommend you for this scholarship.

Scholarship awards are based on the students’ response to each of six questions or statements.

Explore Every College in the USA

If you are in the midst of your college search journey, we can help you! Find out information about every college, including the 2,500 four year Universities and Colleges and 900 Community Colleges that span across all 50 states.

Check out the “featured” Colleges Tours to get a more in-depth video-based experience. Click on the image to find out more!

You can impact another students' life today, and inspire them to succeed.

Where: Hollydale Elementary School

Time: Tuesdays and Thursday from 3:15pm to 4:00pm

When: Winter term (beginning January 2025)

Contact: Tia Collins or Estevan Alvarado

**Use the QR code and login with your GBSD Gmail account to request more information and express interest.

The ASPIRE program helps educate Oregon students to become career and college ready. Here are a couple great resources!

24-25 Opportunities Booklet-English

24-25 Oportunidades Espanol

24-25 ASPIRE Calendar

Midge Collins (she/her) - Career Coordinator

collins53@gresham.k12.or.us 503-258-4885

Tia Molony (she/her) - College Coordinator

molony5@gresham.k12.or.us 503-258-4890