Connections Newsletter

Scholarship reminder: Some colleges automatically give you merit scholarships based on your GPA/test scores. Some colleges have a scholarship application that sends your information to multiple scholarships. Some colleges provide links to outside scholarships. Even though you have been admitted (congrats!), there are still more steps to go. Apply for the money. You don’t know if you don’t apply! Read your emails.

Juniors are already looking ahead to next year! Today, we worked together on 4-year plans as scholars consider their best opportunities for their senior year. Our focus is not just meeting graduation requirements but choosing courses to best fit future goals! As a family, please discuss what next year might look like. Course Registration materials will be provided by Melinda Norman and our high school teachers on Feb. 14. We recommend watching the videos created by teachers about their courses.

Also, juniors should continue saving careers of interest and colleges they are thinking about in Naviance. AND…be sure to check out enrichment opportunities this summer as you refine your “What’s after TCA”! Those deadlines are fast approaching.

Post Chat: Four-Year Planning

During a recent Connections visit to English class, we worked with students to create a 4-year plan for their high school courses. Remember, this is a plan and plans can change. These 4-year plans will be helpful for students to reference during the course registration process February 14-27. Students and families will receive more information from Mrs. Norman on course registration. Students can access their 4-year plan by going to Naviance > Courses > Manage Course Plans. Students will then open their current plan. In Naviance, every course title in blue is a hyperlink to the course description and prerequisite/co-requisite requirements. We encouraged students to stop by Room 1104, as we are here to help answer any questions about course choice based on post-secondary plans and interests.

Last month a new Common App program launched called Direct Admissions; this is a proactive admissions process that offers college admission to qualified students before they apply. Offers are based on data – like GPA – that students have entered in their Common App. This is one of their efforts to simplify and streamline the admissions process. Students who receive direct admissions offers feel relieved and more confident because a college extended an offer based on their Common App responses. This offer lets students learn more about the college, decide if it’s a good fit, and then submit their Common App. Learn how it works here.

At TCA

Tuesday, February 11, 9:35: Grand Canyon University

Thursday, February 13, 9:35: Lincoln Tech

Thursday, February 20, 8:40: Career Talk – Dr. Scott Richins, Anesthesiologist

Monday, March 10, 10:30: Mini-College Fair

Tuesday, April 1, 10:30: Gap Year Fair

Application Deadlines

Application: 3/1/25; Connections Rec Ltr: 2/5; Teacher Rec Ltr: 2/12

In the Community

Saturday, March 8, 9:00-11:00: RMACAC Spring College Fair, Pine Creek HS

Saturday, March 9, 1:00-4:00: RMACAC Spring College Fair, Cherokee Trail HS

March 11, 13, 18, 21: Young Adult Job Fairs

Saturday, March 29, 10:00-12:00: SCAD Admissions Event, Denver

Virtual

Sunday, February 16, 1:00-6:00: NACAC Virtual College Fair

Thursday, February 20, 12:00-1:00: PPSC Virtual Behavioral Health Information Session

Thursday, February 20, 12:00-1:00: PPSC Virtual Physical Therapist Assistant Information Session

Scholarships play an important role in paying for college. There are many scholarships available for merit, leadership, community service, academics, athletics, many fields of study, and for students who demonstrate financial need. Here are some scholarship resources for juniors and seniors along with tips for winning college scholarships.

RMACAC’s 2025 Student Scholarship awards fifteen $1,000 scholarships to three students from each state in RMACAC's region: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Apply by March 7.

The CU Boulder Scholarship Application is open until March 15th! First-year applicants can apply for multiple scholarships with one general application. Students can access the scholarship application by clicking the blue 'Apply for Scholarships' button on their application status page. Students do not need to be admitted to apply for scholarships.

Adams State University The Adams Promise Scholarship for students with family-adjusted gross income of $70,000 or less. Covers tuition and fees (after all federal and state funds are applied) for freshman and transfer students from Colorado attending Adams State full time and living on campus.

Explore these links to learn more about each school’s summer programming. As a student, participating in a summer program is a great way to further explore your interests, get a taste of what it is like to be a college student, visit a college campus, and learn more about topics that interest you.

The Summer Science Program offers high school juniors not-for-credit collaborative, rigorous research tracks in Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Genomics, and Synthetic Chemistry which are hosted on college campuses throughout the country. 100% of the demonstrated financial need (as determined by our financial aid application) is available for every admitted student including need-based aid for flights and lodging. Students can apply here through February 21.

Colorado School of Mines - Summer Multicultural Engineering Training (SUMMET), one-week, residential STEM experience for rising seniors from underrepresented populations and those with financial need. Apply by February 28.

Champlain College - Game Academy, Indie Game Studio, Cybersecurity, Filmmaking Attendees qualify for the Visit Scholarship (valued at $4,000).

Kansas State University - Summer Health Professions Exploration Program

Other Opportunities

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the program, students work with supervisors from top start-ups to work on real-world projects in a real start-up environment. Apply by February 9.

At the CSU Spur for Colorado GROW Youth Institute Day on April 8 students can connect with peers and leaders across the state to explore, research, and propose solutions to solve food insecurity and hunger at home and around the world. Register by March 4.

The Broadband Workforce initiative will bring thousands of high-quality jobs and careers in telecom for Colorado residents over the next few years. The jobs needed are in telecommunications, construction, engineering, and technicians. For more information, watch Advance Colorado’s Broadband Workforce video.

Tuition can include military dependents as specified in the state legislature documentation. My recommendation is to check the VA services department at your colleges of interest.

One example:

Free tuition in North Dakota institutions of higher education. A dependent, as defined in section 15-10-18.2, upon being duly accepted for enrollment into an undergraduate degree or certificate program of a North Dakota state institution of higher education, must be allowed to obtain a bachelor's degree or certificate of completion, for so long as the dependent is eligible, free of any tuition and fee charges if tuition and fee charges do not include costs for aviation flight charges or expenses.

More Resources

VA Education And Training Benefits | Veterans Affairs

GI Bill, Montgomery and Post 9/11 GI Bills | Military.com

Education Scholarships for U.S. Army Special Forces Families

15 Scholarships for Military Children, Spouses, & Veterans In 2023

Over 100 Scholarships for Military Kids · Military With Kids

This HBCU Resource Guide is a resource that provides information on scholarships, college-planning databases and key facts about HBCUs.

Seton Hall's 3+3 Dual Degree Physician Assistant program allows students to complete a Bachelor of Science in Biology in four years of study, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant after the sixth year.

Illinois Tech offers Game Design and Experiential Media Bachelor's of Science. Additionally, the Inclusion in Games Scholarship offers a $5,000 stackable award at the time of admission.

Montana State University is now the first university in the country to have an on-campus beacon park where students can hone their avalanche response skills before heading out for backcountry skiing.

What is an apprenticeship and do you have any examples? Are there scholarships? Yes and Yes!! Read here for more resources. Colorado offers a Registered Apprenticeship Program Directory to help you find apprenticeship opportunities.

Casa Bay Photography, a professional photography studio located in Colorado Springs is launching a High School Internship Program designed to offer hands-on experience in photography, social media management, studio operations, and customer service.

More apprenticeship opportunities here.

Logisticians also known as Client Services Administrator, Logistician, Production Planner, Supply Management Specialist analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.

If you missed Jennifer Bixler’s career talk about careers in Biotech, Pharma, and Biopharma, view her presentation here.

SAT fee waivers are available to low-income 11th- and 12th-grade students in the United States. A student is eligible if they enroll in or are eligible to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or their family's annual income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. Be sure to look at the current year's guidelines to verify.

The next SAT testing date is March 8, 2025. Register by February 21, 2025.

Additional test dates: May 3, 2025

Schoolhouse offers freeSAT Tutoring Bootcamp

March2Success offers free online SAT, ACT and ASVAB test prep

More test prep resources available on our Connections page

The next ACT testing date is April 13, 2025. Register by March 8, 2025.

Additional test dates: March 8, May 3, and June 7, 2025

Find out what is changing on the ACT in 2025 here.

Katina Dahl, Advisor - Freshmen, Sophomore, AP, PSAT/NMSQT

Jodi Hoffman, Office Manager - College & Career Visits, Community Service

Email: tcavisits@asd20.org
Website: tcatitans.org/Connections
Location: 975 Stout Road, Colorado Springs, CO
Phone: 719-484-0091 1104