GISH Senior Newsletter: September

• September 10 & 11: Senior Launch Sessions w/ Senior English Classes
• Personal Narrative Writing w/ Joaquin Zihuatanejo
• North Cafeteria
• September 12 & 13: Senior Launch Support Drop-Ins
• 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• West Commons Foyer
• September 25: Volunteer Fair
• 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
• West Commons Foyer

Sign up to take a Saturday ACT Exam at act.org. If you are qualified for Free/Reduced lunch, your test fee can be waived. Using this waiver also qualifies you to send scores up to 6 colleges for free before taking the test, and more colleges after you receive your score if needed. You also will have access to Official ACT prep. Please see your academy counselor for a waiver. Visit this LINK for free test prep. Check the image for exam dates and deadlines.

***Please note: GISH only does paper tests, not online tests. If you choose to do an online test, you will be sent to another test center.

If you are hoping to join the military you must take the ASVAB. The ASVAB is also a great option if you are in need of some guidance regarding what to do after high school. It does not obligate you to join the military. Rather, it gives you some great career guidance and advice on what to do next if you just can’t decide what to do. The ASVAB is offered at Success. Please contact Mr. Westerby (jwesterby@gips.org) to sign up.

GEAR UP is coordinating a College visit to UNL. We will be attending the College Success Showcase this fall therefore, if you are interested in applying to UNL this is a great opportunity for you to continue exploring your options. This event is all about helping you feel confident and excited about your journey to college. Check the flyer out for more information and register now here!

Welcome to your senior year! We are excited for you to have a great year and will be here to guide you through all the things that come up! Our first tip: USE THIS INFORMATION and share it with your parents. And if you have any questions along the way, please see your counselor. This newsletter will be updated monthly so make sure you are regularly checking your email for updates.

Because you probably have a million questions as well about senior year, check out the resource center below for Frequently Asked Questions. Hopefully, many of your questions will be answered ... for now.

APPLICATION DUE DECEMBER 1, 2024

Students accepted into Chadron, UNK, or Wayne can get free tuition for their undergraduate degree and provisional acceptance to UNL College of Law. Great opportunity for students interested in law! Check the image for more information and links.

APPLICATION DUE DECEMBER 1, 2024

Students accepted into Chadron, UNK, Peru, or Wayne can get free tuition for their undergraduate degree and guaranteed admission to UNMC. Great opportunity for students interested in health and attending medical school. Check the image for more information and links to the applications.

Students! Check out this flyer for an incredible scholarship & career opportunity through Wayne State College. This may be a great fit for you!! Visit the link through the flyer for more.

Provides scholarships to Peru State Criminal Justice students who are completing a degree while working at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI) during the school year and summer. Students accepted will receive $12,500 per academic year, plus an additional $2,500 for housing in addition to pay received for hours worked at TSCI ($16.74/hr). Deadline for scholarship is January 2025. Click this link for more information and the application.

We recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to strengthen and expand student-centered activities and infrastructure in STEM education. More than $540,000 of the funds have been earmarked for scholarships for students pursuing a career as a biologist, chemist, or mathematician and who intend to pursue careers in research and discovery.

Our goals for this grant include the following:

• Support low-income, academically talented students.

• Build a foundation for success through a week-long academic skills summer camp before the students first year

• Establish a residence hall community where scholars live for two years and support each other through learning activities and shared experiences

• Provide scholarships to meet student unmet need (averaging $7,500, up to $10,000 while in the program)

Your student/s must be admitted to apply for the Nebraska STEM Scholars opportunity and other scholarships at: wsc.edu/scholarships. The application deadline is December 1st, 2024!

A select number of students will be invited to interview for this fantastic opportunity in the Spring.

Once you have applied and been accepted to CCC, head to their website to learn more about the types of financial aid and scholarships available to their students. You can apply to their scholarship programs from this page.

Students should always head to educationquest.org to get started on their scholarship search. They have a link called ScholarshipQuest where you can fill out a profile. They in turn will send a list of scholarships right for you (from a database of 2,000 Nebraska scholarships!). They have been vetted so they will not send you things that will clog up your email. In addition, doing this puts you in the running for scholarship opportunities on the EducationQuest website! Click here for more.

There are also other resources available! We provide a list of additional local scholarships for students on the GISH website. If you click on the link that says “Current Scholarship Information“ at the top, it will take you to a page that is updated as we receive scholarship information. This is continuously updated, so it is up to you to check it.

It is really never too early to start getting ready for scholarship applications. Whether you are looking out of state, instate, two/four-year schooling, trade, or university, you can apply for scholarships.

***It is important to secure at least three positive recommendations for your applications. In fact, when preparing, ask the person, “Would you please be able to write me a positive letter of recommendation?” Doing this in person is always best.

***Give your recommender plenty of time to complete the letter. Allow 2-3 weeks for them to complete it, but check in to see if they need any more information from you before finishing.

***Look for a mixture of male and female recommenders. Work to have letters from both in-school (teacher, coach, counselor, administrator) and out-of-school (employer, pastor, neighbor, etc.). Be sure to provide a contact person and an envelope for your recommender so they can address and send it off if needed.

***DO NOT assume someone will be willing to write a recommendation letter. Ask first before adding their email to a recommendation form.

***Provide a resume for your recommendation writers. Include contact information in case they have questions while writing your letter. Your academy counselor will need one, too.

***Send a thank you note to your letter writer after he/she submits your recommendation. Give updates if you receive the scholarship, get accepted, etc.

Use this link to pay your $40 graduate fee. You may also pay in cash at the West office.

Mid-Term & May Grads: $40 graduate fee payment is due December 1.

Many of you are asking whether the class(es) you are taking will transfer to your college of choice. You can start asking your admissions representative but you can also search the college‘s website for “Course Equivalency Information.” You can generally find what you need on their website.

Hear us out on this: Just because a course you are taking for dual credit doesn’t apply directly to your program of study, doesn’t mean it’s not going to benefit you. Often you will need to take additional courses as electives in a certain area. These can apply to that, and it will still save you money. Check out Nebraska’s Transfer website for all the information you’ll need on course equivalency.

• AET: Mindy Ulmer - mulmer@gips.org
  
• ABC: Dave Woods - dwoods@gips.org
• ATS: Melissa Luthi-Placke - mluthi@gips.org
• AMS:
• Alex Niederklein - aniederklein@gips.org
• Julie Markvicka - jmarkvicka@gips.org
  
• Alternative Sites: Jeff Westerby - jwesterby@gips.org
• Alternative Programs: Kathleen Townsend - mtownsend@gips.org
• Gear Up College Advisors:
• Mayra Ramallo - mortizquintan@gips.org - Annex 385-5977 ext. 461008
• Joana Reyes - jreyes2@gips.org - Annex 385-5977 ext. 461003

• Senior need-to-knows (class rank, yearbook, cap & gown, etc.)
• Requesting GISH Transcripts:
• Students with last names A-L should email Mrs. Gentry at bgentry@gips.org
• Students with last names M-Z should email Ms. Perkins at cperkins@gips.org
• Counselors can provide an unofficial copy
• Requesting Wayne State College Transcripts and CCC Transcripts
• Check your email DAILY!
• Educationquest resources:
  
• Reality Check - How do you see your future?
• ScholarshipQuest - a free database of more than 2,000 Nebraska-based scholarships. Complete a profile to find awards that match your criteria
• Nuria Lemus (nurial@educationquest.org) can help with any FSA & FAFSA questions
• FAFSA Checklist
  
• Upcoming FAFSA webinars
• Apply for Scholarships NOW!
• FAFSA website:
• FAFSA can help you obtain funding for college through the Pell Grant, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
• Filling out the FAFSA give you access to more scholarships like the Buffet Scholarship
• Grand Island Community Foundation scholarship traditionally opens in December, watch your email for updates
• Grand Island Public School Scholarship page - click "Current Scholarship Information" for updated list
• Send your AP test scores by requesting them from the College Board
• PASS YOUR DUAL CREDIT COURSES!
• If you are college-bound, an "F" on a college transcript can affect the amount of scholarship money you are offered and it can start out in academic probation to start the year.

If you need support in passing your classes and earning the best grade you can - visit ASP for help. Click the image for a schedule on subjects & teachers available.

STUDENTS: Great selection of womens and mens business professional clothes for presentations, interviews, jobs, and more! All items are FREE! Click the flyer for more information and email gearup@gips.org to set up an appointment to visit.