Shirley Lindauer, Counselor   

Dates/Events

March 5          College Planning/ICAN –

Juniors - 8:45 & 9:55

            8          Kirkwood Community

College – 1:00

            10        Capri College – 10:00

            17        Upper Iowa University – 2:15

18        Hawkeye Community

College – 10:00

18        La´James International –

12:45

18        Incoming Freshman

Registration – 7:00 P.M.

19        How to Succeed in College –

Seniors – 8:45 & 9:55

24        University of Iowa  – 2:30

April    1          End of 3^rd Quarter

            6          University of Northern Iowa

– 1:15

            10        ACT Test Date

22        Real Life Academy – MV &

EC Seniors

            29        Sophomore Career Fair @

West Delaware High School

Scheduled test dates remaining for the ACT:

April 10, 2010            Late registration deadline – March 6 - 19, 2010

June 12, 2010             Registration deadline – May 7, 2010

Students may pick up registration materials in the counselor’s office or may register online at www.actstudent.org

Incoming Freshman Parent Night

High School Courses Overview

As a parent you have the opportunity to play a role in helping your child plan and prepare for the future. It is important to encourage your child to start career planning as early as possible. Students are more successful if they develop education plans beginning in junior high school by exploring career and educational opportunities, high school coursework needed to achieve goals, and education and training programs to fulfill their career dreams. During school, your child should be exploring interests, identifying career goals, and connecting those goals to the education and training needed to pursue future dreams. All eighth grade students will create a course plan for high school that supports their career options and education plans. On March 18 the 8^th grade parents/guardians will be invited to attend an information meeting on course registration for the 2010-11 school year. Each child, with input of parents/guardians, will work on a four-year plan. This year to help in this process, your child will use IHaveaPlanIowa (IHAPI), a web-based planning tool, to explore career options and then enter their course plan. As a parent/guardian, you will be asked to review the plan with your child and approve it with your signature. Each year, your child will complete the grade-specific Guideway in IHAPI. The Guideway leads the student through the necessary steps to fulfill the requirements and to build a solid plan for the future. To access the Guideway, go to www.ihaveaplaniowa.gov. Your child will continue to add activities, review, and revise their career and educational plan throughout their high school years.

……………..

Iowa College Access Network (ICAN)

Planning Makes College Possible

Expert Encourages Young Students to Start Now

With a state mandate for high schools to help incoming freshmen create four-year plans, more students are weighing the possibilities of college at a younger age.

“Eighth graders are being asked what they plan to do after high school and whether they’re going to college,” said Jessica Schultz, an outreach representative at the Iowa College Access Network^® (ICAN). “It’s intimidating, for many students, especially low-income students or those who would be the first in their families to attend college. We’d like them to know that college is definitely possible, and beneficial, for everyone.”

Schultz said a potential for earning a higher income is one of the major advantages of continuing education beyond high school. “Studies consistently show that students with a college degree earn substantially more than high school graduates over their lifetimes.” In addition, Schultz said, a college education opens up new life experiences, career possibilities and chances to expand knowledge.

ICAN encourages high school students, especially eighth and ninth graders, to follow KnowHow2GO's four steps to get to college. The national multimedia campaign encourages students to:

• Be a pain. Let everyone know you’re going to college and ask them for help. Besides parents, talk to coaches, teachers, family friends and others who have a college education and can tell you what to expect and help you gain experience.

• Push yourself. Take tougher classes in high school, even if you don’t expect to earn a top grade. Colleges are more impressed by students who try hard and challenge themselves than by those who go for an easy A. Find out what the minimum academic requirements are for the colleges you might attend and make sure you meet those in your high school classes. In addition, get involved in activities, volunteer opportunities and jobs that give you new skills.

• Find the right fit. Understand the different postsecondary education options and which ones are better for you and your career plans. Do you want to earn a two-year, a four-year or an advanced degree? How much of the curriculum is hands-on versus lectures? Are the right majors offered? How far from home do you want to be?

• Get your hands on some cash. Find out how much the college of your dreams really costs (remember that financial aid may reduce the total) and have a list of alternatives. Plan now how you’re going to pay for college — through earnings, savings, scholarships, grants and student loans — and begin to save.

“KnowHow2GO does a wonderful job of telling students what they need to do, beginning early in high school,” said Schultz. “The four steps really help kids realize that they can plan on college and consider it their goal when they develop their four-year plans for high school.”

About ICAN     ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, as designated by the National College Access Network (NCAN). The ICAN College Planning Centers in West Des Moines and Cedar Rapids provide free information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. All ICAN services are free. Major funding for ICAN is provided by Iowa Student Loan^®. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org.

Scholarships

Seniors should be checking the bulletin board outside the guidance office for new scholarships.

Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District

Applicants need to be pursuing programs of study in any field of agricultural or natural resources. One $300 scholarship will be given to the Delaware County winner. Criteria considered for the scholarship award will be leadership (60 points) and scholastic achievement (40 points). The scholarship application can be found and filled out online at www.cdiowa.org/award.html Application deadline: 3/3/10

Fourth District American Legion

2010 Auxiliary Merit Award

The applicant must be a veteran or the parent, spouse, widow, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great-grandson, great-granddaughter of a veteran and a resident of Iowa.

Application deadline: 3/15/10

Robert T. Hilton Memorial Scholarship

The family of Bob Hilton announces the scholarship to honor his life. The scholarship is to be awarded to one graduating high school senior female athlete who intends to participate in college athletic, preferably in Eastern Iowa. Mr. Hilton, a writer and local sports journalist, was well known as a life-long champion for the underdog. The scholarship is to be awarded to the applicant that exhibits the qualities of exceptional sportsmanship, dedication, hard work, and contribution to the team both in performance and leadership, and strong academic performance. The scholarship award is $1000.  Application deadline: 3/15/10

Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Auxiliary is offering a $300 scholarship to a senior from the Ed-Co School District. Applicant must be pursing a career in a health field.

Application deadline: 3/31/10

Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students who are diagnosed with a learning disability and is pursuing a post-secondary education at a two- or four-year college program or vocational training. Application deadline: 3/31/10

Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District Scholarship

When filling out this application, seniors are applying for twenty-six different scholarships. The scholarship application can be downloaded from the guidance website, and can also be accessed from the server's main public folder on computers on the high school local network. Application

Application deadline: 4/1/10

American Legion Auxiliary Unit #512

2010 Merit Award

This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating Ed-Co senior. Preference will be given to applicants who are members or have relation who are members of the American Legion Post or Auxiliary. Application deadline: 4/1/10

Class of 1981 Scholarships

These scholarships are in honor of Diane Fitzpatrick Clauson, Nancy Funk, and Charlie Pasker. The student must be a well-rounded individual as well as one who shows leadership and involvement in their school and community. The student must have a 2.0 grade point average /C or above. An application and essay must be submitted by 4/1/10.

Veryl F. & Genevience Sherman Scholarship

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate ambition, industry, moral character, and been accepted for enrollment in an institution of higher learning. Application deadline: 4/1/10

Delaware County Dairy Council Scholarship

Applicant must live on an operating dairy farm in Delaware County or live in Delaware County and be working on a dairy farm for a minimum of two years. Application deadline: 4/29/10

2010 Robert D. Blue Scholarship 

Applicants are expected to demonstrate literacy and scholastic ability; exhibit qualities of

truth, courage, and fellowship; and display moral force of character. Application available online at www.rdblue.org Application deadline: 5/10/10

Matt Sherman Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is offered in Matt Sherman’s name, who exemplified what a roadside manager is. He graduated from Hawkeye Community College in the Natural Resources Management program. Application deadline: 5/28/10

American Legion Auxiliary

2010 Iowa Department Merit Award

The applicant must be a veteran or the parent, spouse, widow, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great-grandson, great-granddaughter of a veteran and a resident of Iowa.

Application deadline: 6/10/10

Iowa College Access Network (ICAN)

Scholarship Application Tips

In the current economy, more students are looking for ways to pay for college while the cost of attendance continues to rise across the country. Students shouldn’t overlook scholarships as a valuable source of funding in this environment, according to the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN).

“Scholarships are an ideal source of college funds because they don’t need to repaid, unlike student loans,” says Juan Garcia, manager of ICAN. “The possible payoff is well worth the time to locate and research scholarship opportunities.”

ICAN recommends the following steps for scholarship applications.

•           Start early and don’t stop. If you’re in high school, begin searching for scholarships early in your junior year. Many opportunities exist for college students as well, so you should continue looking for them into your final year of college.

•           Look locally first. Ask your school counselor or college financial aid office about opportunities they’re aware of. Then contact community and religious organizations, your and your parents’ employers, professional organizations and area businesses.

•           Expand your search. Check with the college you plan to attend and any student organizations you are or plan to be involved with. Don’t pay for scholarship services; free online search services can match your unique background and qualifications against a database of scholarship opportunities.

•           Get organized. Keep applications, deadlines and requirements for each scholarship together, and make a plan for submitting everything on time. Remember to give people plenty of time to write letters of recommendation for you.

•           Understand the mission. Take the time to understand the goal of the organization awarding the scholarship. You can then demonstrate how your qualifications promote or meet that goal.

•           Complete the form neatly and accurately. If you’re submitting a paper application, make a copy of it first. You can use the copy as a rough draft and use the original for your final answers. Make sure you fill in every line legibly and accurately.

•           Show your best side. Remember that your scholarship application is likely the only impression the judges will have of you, so offer the best picture you can by being professional, using vivid examples and expressing your excitement about and gratitude for the opportunity.

•           Write a winning essay. Address the topic completely while including details should follow a logical order and conclude smoothly. Have others read it for errors and proofread it carefully.

•           Include a resume or profile. List your memberships, participation, honors and awards, employment, and future plans and goals.

•           Mind the little things. When you submit your application, pay attention to the details: Include materials in the order requested, don’t include extra materials and don’t use special packaging or folders unless you’re asked to do so.

College Orientation – Class of 2010

Orientation information will be sent to incoming college freshman once the student has been accepted to the institution. Orientation is a time for the college to welcome the new students, help them become familiar with the campus, and the services they offer, register for classes, and meet new friends. Selecting the earliest orientation date offered that works in the student’s schedule is recommended. The earlier the registration, the greater class offerings may be available.

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