Homestead's Guidance Department

School Counselors at Homestead High School strive to provide our students with numerous opportunities for academic, personal, career and post-secondary counseling. Students are invited to visit the Guidance office regularly. 

• Students of Integrity 2026 Scholarships: Several $2,000 Students of Integrity scholarships are available for students pursuing a wide variety of post-secondary plans. Deadline: 3/8/26.
  
  

• Build a Better Future Scholarship: Five $10,000 scholarships will be awarded to selected students who design and work on a community improvement project. Deadline: 3/9/26.
  
  

• Hagan Scholarship: A four-year, need-based merit scholarship of up to $7,500 will be awarded to goal-driven students in the 2026 graduating class. Adjusted Gross Household Income must not have exceeded $125,000. Deadline: 3/15/26.
  
  

• Edgar H. Kilbourne Scholarship Fund: Scholarship for seniors who are affiliated with or a member of a church or religious organization. Must be resident of Allen County, Indiana, for at least one year prior to March 2026. Deadline: 3/23/26.
  
  

• Tri-State Desk and Derrick Technical or Trade School Scholarship: A scholarship of up to $3,000 will be offered to a high school graduate that plans to attend a trade school in 2026. Deadline: 4/1/26.
  
  

• Indiana Sheriffs' Association Scholarship: The association will award forty $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing an education and career in the criminal justice field. Deadline: 4/1/26.
  
  

• Watercolor Society of Indiana James L. Lentz Memorial Scholarship and WSI Scholarship: A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to an Indiana high school senior planning to pursue a degree in visual arts beginning fall of 2026. Deadline: 4/1/26.
  
  

• Stephen Bufton Memorial Impact Scholarship: A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a female student who will be attending an accredited college, university, or community/vocational school. Deadline: 4/15/26.
  
  

• Allen County Extension Homemakers Scholastic Award: One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to an Allen County high school senior planning to attend Purdue University West Lafayette or Purdue Fort Wayne in the fall of 2026. Must be a full-time student in the College of Health & Human Sciences. Deadline: 5/1/26.

• Questa Scholarships: Scholarships and forgivable loans offered to students in Northeast Indiana region. Deadlines vary.
  
  

• Army ROTC Scholarships: Full-tuition scholarships for 2-4 years available. Includes room and board with an additional stipend for books and fees. Deadlines vary.

• Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne: All scholarships listed (with the exception of a few) require students to be residents of Allen County, Indiana. Scholarship deadlines will vary by institution.

• MadeByMe Scholarship: $1,000 award for residents from Allen County pursuing a certificate or degree in a skilled manufacturing or trade program.

• The Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant offers free job training from Ivy Tech or Vincennes for Hoosiers in high-demand sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing, Building & Construction, Health & Life Science, IT & Business Services, and Transportation & Logistics.

• BigFuture Scholarship Search: Students in the class of 2026 who use BigFuture Scholarship Search and save 3 scholarships to their list will earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships. Deadlines vary.

FAFSA

It’s never too early to start financial planning for college. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1st, 2025 for students attending college for the 2026-2027 school year. A few things to note:

1. It’s recommended that you file a FAFSA at your earliest convenience. Some types of aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. 

2. To qualify for Indiana state aid, a FAFSA must be completed by April 15th each year.

3. Be sure to check your college’s deadlines. Many colleges have deadlines as early as February.

To file your FAFSA, you will need the following:

• Student’s and parents’ Social Security numbers

• Student’s driver’s license number

• Parents’ 2024 federal taxes and taxes for student if filed

• Information on untaxed income for student and parents

• Information on cash, savings and checking account balances, and investments for student and parents

Want to know more? Join us for one of our Financial Aid Nights to learn more about the FAFSA, scholarships, and other ways to pay for college on February 10th, 2026 at 6pm in the HHS Gray Box.

Common Applications

Why Common App?

The Common App makes college applications stress-free as everything is all in the same place. This application is used broadly by 950 universities and colleges and has helped many students accomplish the first steps needed to begin the process of the next step of pursuing their education.

Not only can the common app be used for applying to schools across the country, but it can be used to find scholarships and financial aid opportunities!

What are the Application Requirements?

Many universities and colleges will have the same requirements, which entails filling out the information that provides details about your background, extracurriculars, and just essential information about you. Some schools will require that the student provides an essay that is a minimum of 250 words with a maximum of 650 words. 

Many students are intimidated by the essay requirement, but do not stress! Start off with one of the seven prompts below:

1.  Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to our success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

If you are unsure of your essay's quality or what college admissions look for in the requirement essay, ask for a teacher, family member, or counselor to help review and provide feedback on your essay before submitting your final application!

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are an essential aspect of applying to colleges and universities. Some schools require recommendation letters, and some do not. It is always beneficial to include one to polish up your application.