12th Grade
FAFSA
What is the FAFSA?
Most Louisiana high school graduates are eligible for some form of merit- or need-based financial aid. Students can apply for state and federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be used at four-year universities, two-year community colleges, and technical training programs. The FAFSA is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a postsecondary institution, and the results of the FAFSA are used in determining student grants, work study, and educational loan amounts. In 2018, Louisiana became the first state to pass a law requiring students to complete the FAFSA as a prerequisite for graduating from high school.
What does this mean for me?
This means that high school seniors must either:Complete the FAFSA on or after October 1, 2021 and have it completed by December 15, 2021 (this applies to the majority of students), orComplete a waiver indicating that the student is not eligible for federal financial aid (this applies to very few students). See Mrs. Copes for information about the waiver.
Create an FSA ID
It is strongly recommend you create an FSA ID, a username and password combination, that allows you to sign your FAFSA form electronically. Your FSA ID also can be used to access the myStudentAid app, sign loan contracts, and access certain information online. While you can get your FSA ID as you’re completing the FAFSA form online, getting it ahead of time and using it to begin your FAFSA form on fafsa.gov or on the myStudentAid mobile app cuts down on errors and delays. Click here to learn how to create an FSA ID.
Please note: If you’re a dependent student (meaning the majority of high school seniors), one of your parents whose information is reported on the FAFSA form will also need an FSA ID so that he or she can sign your application electronically. If your parent doesn’t have a Social Security number (SSN), your parent won’t be able to create an FSA ID (which requires a SSN).
Documents Needed to Apply
To apply for the FAFSA, you will need the following documents readily available:Your Social Security Number (SSN) Your parents' SSNsYour driver's license number (if you have one)Your Alien Registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)Tax returns for you and your parents (tax year 2020 and 2019)Records of untaxed income that you or your parents receive (i.e., child support, etc.)Information on cash, checking and savings accounts, investment accounts, etc.Information for at least one college to receive your FAFSA information. Click here for the Federal School Code Search.
Deadline for Submitting FAFSA
The online form must be submitted and the confirmation page must be provided to Mrs. Copes by December 15, 2021 (this is a graduation requirement)
Below are helpful links regarding the FAFSA.
FAFSA Resources
Here are a few resources that may help in completing the FAFSA:
Why apply for FAFSA early??
If you’re thinking about when to start filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a good guideline to remember is that earlier is always better. Although you have until June 30, 2022 to submit your FAFSA for the 2021-2022 school year, it’s a good idea to complete the FAFSA as soon as you can. Here are 6 reasons why.
1. Financial Aid Can Run Out
File the FAFSA early because schools and states have limited amounts of student aid available, and some of it is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wait until the Spring to submit the FAFSA, your state or school could run out of money, and you may miss out on financial aid you otherwise could have received if you submitted your FAFSA earlier.
2. You’re More Likely to Qualify for Grants
You’re more likely to qualify for federal, state, and college-offered grants if you file the FAFSA early. In fact, Saving for College reported that students who fill out the FAFSA between October and December get twice as many grants, on average, as compared with students who file the FAFSA later.
3. Focus on Other Important Tasks for College
Your senior year of high school can be stressful. Filling out the FAFSA early removes a big item from your to-do list so you can focus on other tasks, like submitting college applications, finishing up the school year strong, or applying for scholarships.
4. Comparing Colleges Is Easier
If you complete the FAFSA earlier in the year, colleges will be able to use that information to come up with your financial aid award letter. That will make comparing colleges much easier, as you can quickly compare what each school’s cost will be after applying grants and scholarship awards.
5. Get a Head Start on Your Scholarship Search
Some scholarships offered by companies or organizations will request your FAFSA information, and they often have early deadlines. Completing the FAFSA early will help you as you begin searching for and applying for scholarships, reducing how much you need to take out in student loans.
6. Pursue Other Financial Aid with More Time
Once you complete the FAFSA and start receiving financial aid award letters, you can come up with a comprehensive plan to pay for college.
Your award letter may include a mix of scholarships, grants, and federal student loans. However, there is a chance that the awards may not be enough to cover the total cost of your attendance, including room and board or textbooks. If that’s the case, you’ll have to look into additional financing options, such as outside scholarships or private student loans.
By filing the FAFSA as early as possible, you give yourself more time to research options and create your college financing plan.
Reference:https://www.collegeavestudentloans.com/blog/early-fafsa-application-benefits/
Scholarship Basics
Scholarships are gifts to help pay for college tuition and fees and they do not need to be repaid. Many different organizations offer scholarships, such as schools, employers, individuals, private companies, non-profit organizations, community organizations, religious groups, social organizations, and so on.
When applying for a scholarship, keep in mind that you NEVER have to pay for the application (including the FAFSA). Legit scholarship applications do not require a fee to apply. Most scholarships are merit-based, which means that you have to meet a certain set of criteria to be eligible for the scholarship.
Here are a few scholarship search resources that may be helpful:
Frequently Asked Questions
TOPS
TOPS = Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
TOPS is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, schools that are part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana-approved Proprietary and Cosmetology Schools, or institutions that are part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
There are four different award components of the TOPS program, each with their own eligibility requirements:
Click here to see how much money TOPS provides at each college in Louisiana
For detailed information about TOPS, please click here to visit the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) website.
Available Scholarships (New scholarships added frequently)
ELKS CLUB STUDENT OF THE MONTH SCHOLARSHIP
Student of the Month Scholarship is available to all area high school seniors who meet requirements on submitted application. Completed applications must be returned to Mrs. Copes by the 10th of each month beginning September and ending in April. Two $1000 scholarships are awarded each month to qualifying students (1 boy and 1 girl).
Contact person is Ruby Blackwell, duchessruby@aol.com, Scholarship Committee Chair.
All above scholarships are presented to students at the Elks Lodge Scholarship banquet in May 2022.
Scholarship applications can be printed in the Mrs. Copes office if you do not have access to a printer.
Students must only apply once to be considered each month. The ONLY way to possibly get a scholarship is to APPLY!!!!
Applications are available through the Class of 2022 Google classroom.
COLLEGE BOARD SCHOLARSHIPS
Who is Eligible?
The College Board Opportunity Scholarship program is open to all in the United States, Puerto Rico, and any other U.S. territories and U.S. citizens attending Department of Defense Education Activity schools. Students can opt into the program from December of their junior year until February of their senior year.
Are there family income requirements?
No. This program is open to students regardless of their family income. At least half of all the scholarships will be designated for students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year. Whenever students who meet that criteria complete a college planning step, they’ll get an extra entry in monthly drawings and have double the chances to earn scholarships.
A student may be automatically identified as eligible to earn extra entries if they received a fee waiver from College Board for one of our assessments or if they attend a high school where 75% or more of the student body qualifies for free- or reduced-priced lunch. If students have not been automatically identified as qualifying for extra scholarship entries but feel they qualify because their family earns less than $60,000 per year or they earned fee waivers, they will be able to indicate they meet these criteria (by selecting Yes in the upper right side of My Action Plan). Students who select this option may be asked to verify family income by using a secure document system if they earn a scholarship in a monthly drawing.
How do you apply?
Click the link below to get started.
Deadlines are listed on the website
FUJIFILM + URBAN OUTFITTERS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
Don’t just take, give (back)!
Fujifilm + Urban Outfitters are giving away $20,000 in college scholarships to students who want to give back and make an impact in their communities.
We’re looking for 3 winners! One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 and two second prize winners will receive $5,000 each for a total of $20,000 in scholarships! This contest is open only to legal residents of United States and the District of Columbia. Entrant must be sixteen (16) years of age or older at the time of application. Applicants must attend or plan to attend a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school.
Complete the application below, including essay questions by October 16th. You will be notified by November 8th if you are one of the one hundred (100) semi-finalists. Semi-finalists will be asked to create a 1 (one) minute video on a specific topic chosen by Urban Outfitters + Fujifilm. Videos must be submitted by November 24th. One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 and two second prize winners will receive $5,000 each. Winners will be notified on or around December 28th.
Fuji Film + Urban Outfitters Scholarship Application
High School Heisman Scholarship for Student Athletes
IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE 1.4 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT EXCELS IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD AND WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, APPLY NOW.
The Heisman High School Scholarship presented by Acceptance Insurance is looking for all types of high-achieving seniors from more than 29,000 public and private high schools within the U.S. We consider young men and women who participate in a wide range of sports as well as school and community activities.
TO ACHIEVE AWARD ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 2021 HEISMAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTED BY ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE, STUDENTS MUST BE SENIORS DURING THE 2021-2022 ACADEMIC YEAR, GRADUATING WITH THE CLASS OF 2022. APPLICANTS MUST:
LearnHave a cumulative weighted high school grade point average (GPA) of a B (3.0) or better.
PerformParticipate or have participated in grades 9, 10, or 11 in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games or the National Federation of State High School Association. The full list of qualified athletic events in alphabetical order includes:
LeadBe a leader in school and in the community and serve as a role model for underclassman.
SCHOLARSHIP LEVELS
1STATE WINNERS: $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPA $1,000 college scholarship will be awarded to one senior male and one senior female from each state. The 88 State Winners who do not move on to the National Finalist round will receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
2NATIONAL FINALISTS: $2,000 SCHOLARSHIPThe 12 National Finalists are selected from 100 State Winners, made up of six senior males and six senior females from each of the six geographic regions below. The 10 National Finalists who are not named a National Winner will receive a $2,000 college scholarship.
3NATIONAL WINNERS: $10,000 SCHOLARSHIPA judging panel will select one senior male and one senior female from the 12 National Finalists as National Winners. The two National Award Winners will receive a $10,000 college scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP REGIONS
The Heisman High School Scholarship presented by Acceptance Insurance uses six geographic regions.
DON’T MISS OUT!
APPLICATION CLOSES 10.19.2021
Students must submit their application by 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET in order to be considered. It’s best to complete your application as early as possible to give your reviewer adequate time to submit their review.
To get started, click the link below!
Heisman Scholarship Application
High School Heisman Scholarship for Student Athletes
IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE 1.4 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT EXCELS IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD AND WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, APPLY NOW.
The Heisman High School Scholarship presented by Acceptance Insurance is looking for all types of high-achieving seniors from more than 29,000 public and private high schools within the U.S. We consider young men and women who participate in a wide range of sports as well as school and community activities.
TO ACHIEVE AWARD ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 2021 HEISMAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTED BY ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE, STUDENTS MUST BE SENIORS DURING THE 2021-2022 ACADEMIC YEAR, GRADUATING WITH THE CLASS OF 2022. APPLICANTS MUST:
LearnHave a cumulative weighted high school grade point average (GPA) of a B (3.0) or better.
PerformParticipate or have participated in grades 9, 10, or 11 in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games or the National Federation of State High School Association. The full list of qualified athletic events in alphabetical order includes:
LeadBe a leader in school and in the community and serve as a role model for underclassman.
SCHOLARSHIP LEVELS
1STATE WINNERS: $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPA $1,000 college scholarship will be awarded to one senior male and one senior female from each state. The 88 State Winners who do not move on to the National Finalist round will receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
2NATIONAL FINALISTS: $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP The 12 National Finalists are selected from 100 State Winners, made up of six senior males and six senior females from each of the six geographic regions below. The 10 National Finalists who are not named a National Winner will receive a $2,000 college scholarship.
3NATIONAL WINNERS: $10,000 SCHOLARSHIPA judging panel will select one senior male and one senior female from the 12 National Finalists as National Winners. The two National Award Winners will receive a $10,000 college scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP REGIONS
The Heisman High School Scholarship presented by Acceptance Insurance uses six geographic regions.
DON’T MISS OUT!
APPLICATION CLOSES 10.19.2021
Students must submit their application by 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET in order to be considered. It’s best to complete your application as early as possible to give your reviewer adequate time to submit their review.
To get started, click the link below!
Heisman Scholarship Application
AFCEA Scholarship Information
Introduction
Every year, the ArkLaTex Chapter of AFCEA International awards scholarships to a number of High
School Seniors who are about to pursue a college education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math (STEM). 2022 will mark the 16th year our Chapter has awarded these scholarships, which are worth
up to $2,000 per student. Our Chapter takes great pride in recognizing hard-working students that have the
potential to influence their selected STEM-related careers, and we dedicate our Annual Banquet to provide
the accolades these students deserve. We congratulate you and wish you luck with your application.
General Information
• The ArkLaTex Chapter of AFCEA Executive Council determines the number of scholarships awarded
and the amount of each scholarship, based on funds available and the number of eligible applicants.
The number of and amount of each scholarship will be announced at the scholarship awards ceremony.
• Applicants must be planning on pursuing a STEM degree related to the fields of Electronics, Electrical
Engineering, Communications, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science,
Information Technology, or a closely related field. Examples include: Biomedical Engineering or
Criminal Law/Cyber Forensics.
NOTE: AFCEA Executive Council members reserve the right to determine if any selected degree
program is eligible according to the above criteria
• Scholarships are awarded for tuition and fees at an accredited college or university (books are
excluded). Each awarded scholarship is paid directly to the institution named by the student.
Eligibility Requirements
• Applicants must be attending a High School in counties/parishes along the I-20 Corridor from East
Texas (in vicinity of Marshall, TX) east-bound along I-20 through Northern Louisiana up to and including
schools in Ruston and Monroe, LA. We will also consider high schools in Southern Arkansas (in
vicinity of Texarkana, AR) and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches, LA.
• Students must be candidates for graduation in the class of 2022.
• Applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA based on a 4.0 scale. Additionally,
applicants must have a combined 3.0 GPA for all Math and Science courses taken.
• Any applicant who accepts a full 4-year scholarship, an appointment to a service academy or a full
ROTC scholarship cannot be awarded an AFCEA Scholarship.
Application Requirements
• Completed application with all required attachments (biography, photo, transcripts, etc.).
• SAT and/or ACT scores must be included on the AFCEA Scholarship Application
• Three short letters of recommendation from adults (non-relatives) who have a firsthand knowledge of
the student. Letters should indicate the length of time the student has been known and the relationship
to the student (teacher, counselor. principle, pastor, employer, etc.). The letter should address the
knowledge of the moral character of the student, the student’s tenacity, and determination (needed to
complete a difficult four-year college curriculum), and overall justification as to why the student should
be provided the scholarship. Contact information for the person making the recommendation must be
included on the recommendation.
• One-page biography with Senior Picture. The digital image must NOT be smaller than 1200 x 1200
pixels in resolution and should include the student from the waist up (as a minimum). If chosen, this
image will be used in the banquet program and slideshow during the event.
• The high school counselor will confirm all student data and package completion.
AFCEA International, ArkLaTex Chapter
2022 Scholarship Application
Submission
• Applications should be filled using the enclosed digital form or typed (full scanned documents will also
be accepted).
• Email the completed application with all required attachments (letters of recommendation, biography,
photo, transcripts, etc.) to: david.richard@praeses.com, with the subject line: "AFCEA HS
Scholarship nominee - NAME OF NOMINEE"
• Completed applications must be received or postmarked no later than 1 February 2022. Award
selection will be completed by 1 April 2022. The 2022 AFCEA ArkLaTex Chapter Scholarship
Banquet will be held in May 2022.
Any questions, please call or email:
David Richard
(318) 841-3218
Email: david.richard@praeses.com
Postal Address:
David Richard
Praeses
RE: 2022 Scholarship Application
330 Marshall St, Ste. 800
Shreveport, LA 71101
Things to Consider When Selecting a College
Deciding where to apply to college can seem overwhelming given that there are over 3000 colleges and universities in the United States. The first step, with some thought, you can probably narrow your selection by deciding which characteristics of colleges are of importance to you. When considering whether a college would be a good place for you, consider the following criteria. You might want to print this page out and cut up the list, making three columns. The first column should be a list of criteria that would be CRITICAL as a fit college, the second list would be criteria that you would prefer but don't HAVE TO HAVE, the third list would be those criteria that are NOT IMPORTANT to you. These lists might change as you begin visiting schools and doing more research.
ACADEMIC CONSIDERATIONS
Academic offerings/requirements/forming your own major, double degrees, 3+3 accelerated programs (undergraduate + graduate combined degrees)
Specific majors offered
Prestige/reputation
Cost
Library facilities
Study abroad programs
Availability of classes
Support for student government
Research opportunities
Honors program
Quality of student newspaper
Internships
Hands on learning, lecture, discussion
Quality of laboratory facilities
Availability of majors and double majors
Academic rigor
Atmosphere-laid-back, intellectural, social, politically active, compact, architectural style, residential
Accessibility of professors
Tutoring
Academic support for earning disabilities
Availability of academic scholarships
Small discussion groups, class size
Flexible curriculum pre-professional programs
ROTC
Radio station on campus
Sports level- Div 1, 2 or 3
Safety
PERSONALITY CONSIDERATIONS
Being with intellectually vibrant people, more laid back
Being one of the smartest in the class
Teaching style-lecture, discussions, hands on
Being a prominent figure on campus
Resident/Commuter ratio
On campus entertainment options
LGBT supportive environment
Friendly students
Party atmosphere
Size of student body
School spirit
Spectator sports
Predominately religious student body
Fraternities and sororities
Socially or politically conscious people
Free thinkers and non-conformists
Fashion conscious student body
Single sex or coed campus
Relative close by
Diverse student body
PHYSICAL CAMPUS/LOCATION
Being in California
Staying on the West Coast
Art/Music studios
Intermural sports
Campus beauty, architecture on campus
Freshmen allowed to have cars
Outdoor recreation
City life
Ability to get home for the weekend
Weather
Dorm proximity to campus
Guaranteed housing for four years
Substance free housing
Bustling student center/quad
Urban / Suburban / Rural setting
Mountains/beach proximity
Athletic facility
Safety
Compact or large campus