Graduation Project Important Dates and Reminders

Mr. Logan is keeping the Class of 2026 Google classroom up to date with all the information you need regarding your senior project. Make sure you are checking it frequently for important updates. 

Link to the Class of 2026 google classroom: https://classroom.google.com/c/NTM2MzkzODk1NjI2?cjc=xuf66bu 

Important Dates and Reminders

What needs to be completed during your senior year:

• Project Proposal Form (presented in front of the teacher council)

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• Application – written neatly in pen (no pencil, scribbled out/crossed out mistakes)

• 1 Letter of Recommendation – from outside the school

• Community Service – 32 hours (community based: church, non-profit, unpaid, not for a relative or work; see Mr. Logan with questions)

  • You can get Community Service Logs in the guidance office. 

• Civics Test (study aids found on the Senior Class Google Classroom)

• Senior Survey (last week of school)

These items must be completed and turned into Mr. Logan. All items, paperwork, and related documents can be found on 

the Class of 2026 Google Classroom.

Important Dates:

• Project Proposal due by: Monday November 3, 2025

• Last day to change a proposal: Monday, November 17, 2025

• Written components due: Wednesday, December 18, 2025

• Community Service due: Monday, March 2, 2026

•  Presentation date: Friday, March 27, 2026 Times and Format will be presented closer to the date.

• Makeup Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 If you can’t present on the due date, due to a valid reason given to Mrs. Thompson, you will present during school on this date. Set up in the library, 1st period; presentations to select classes, 2nd period; and tear-down, 3rd period.

• Civics Test –Monday/Tuesday: 1/12/26 and 1/13/26 (S1 POD Classes) and Monday/Tuesday: 5/4/26 and 5/5/26 (S2 POD Classes). All seniors will take it in the cafeteria on paper. Should take no more than a period.

Important Reminders:

• Completion of the Graduation Project and passing the Civics Test are a requirement for graduation. You must also complete the Senior Survey.

• Mr. Logan is here to help guide you as much as possible, but it’s your graduation project. Any questions on projects, see Mr. Logan in Room 412.

• Missed dates for completing or turning in components will lead to a referral to the office and a detention hall.

Any questions on projects, see Mr. Logan in Room 412.

FAFSA Information

 The FAFSA is set to open October 1, 2025 this year. 

Students and families can reach agents at the contact center in English or in Spanish. Interpretation services in additional languages can be accessed here at StudentAid.gov.

Student Aid Guide for 2025-2026: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/80568904/

PA Forward Bridges Tuition Gaps

PHEAA’s PA Forward Student Loan Program can help students pay for college next fall by covering tuition gaps that federal aid doesn’t pay for. PA Forward offers great benefits like competitive rates, no fees, and multiple repayment options for PA residents attending school in or out of state. Visit pheaa.org/PAForward for more information. 

What is FAFSA?

• • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a federal application used to determine student eligibility for the following: 

    • Federal Aid Programs- Pell Grants, Campus-Based Aid and Direct Student Loans

    • PA State Aid Program- PA State Grant, State Work-Study and other special programs

    • School Aid Programs- need-based aid and scholarships

If you plan to attend School from You can submit the FAFSA from Tax Info

July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027     October 1, 2025- June 30, 2027     2024

July 1, 2027- June 30, 2028 October 1, 2026- June 30, 2028 2025

How to File the FAFSA

• Step 1: Create a StudentAid.gov Account

  • Visit StudentAId.gov to create an account. 

  • https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch 

    • Your account login is the username and password for most U.S. Department of Education websites. It also serves as your electronic signature. 

    • If you're a dependent student, both you AND at least one parent should create an account to electronically sign the FAFSA.

• Step 2: Organize your Information

• The FAFSA asks for details about you and your financial situation. If you're a dependent student, you will also need your parents information. 

• You will need these items to complete your FAFSA: 

  • Your StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID)

  • Your Social Security number

  • Federal income tax return 1040 and accompanying schedules 

  • Your financial assets, including: 

    • Checking and savings statements 

    • Records of stocks, bonds, 529 plans, and other investments 

    • Child support received

    • Value of business

    • Value of investment farms 

  • a personal email address (not a school email address)

  • Alien registration or permanent resident card (if not a U.S. citizen) 

• Are you a dependent or independent student? 

  • In general most students under the age of 24 are considered dependent. You may be considered independent if any of the following apply: 

    • Born before 2002 for the 2025-2026 award year

    • An orphan (both parents deceased), in foster care, or a ward of the court when 13 years or older

    • Have legal dependents, other than a spouse

    • An emancipated minor or in legal guardianships through the court

    • An unaccompanied homeless or self-supporting students at risk of being homeless

    • A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or serving on active duty for other than training purposes

    • A graduate or professional student 

    • Married or separated 

• Step 3: File Online

  • Before starting the FAFSA, turn off any pop-up blockers in your browser. This ensures you don't miss any tool tips or information. 

  • Complete the FAFSA Form

    • https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa 

    • Your FAFSA should correspond with the academic year you plan to attend school. 

To learn more about the FAFSA consider attending a virtual webinar hosted by PHEAA: https://www.pheaa.org/virtual/ 

How to Apply for the PA State Grant Online: 

• Once you have completed your FAFSA and PHEAA has received your information they will contact you to complete the PA State Grant process. Once this process is completed PHEAA will determine if you are eligible for an award. 

• Make sure you meet all deadlines as they are laid out for you throughout the process. 

Unusual Circumstances- Dependency Override 

Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, if the student indicates an unusual circumstance, the student will submit the application under a provisional independent status. This will allow applicants to receive a Student Aid Index (SAI) and an estimated Pell Grant award, which is subject to final determination by their school(s). Post-secondary schools will respond to receiving a provisional dependent status on a FAFSA by alerting the applicant of the school's process, requirements, and timeline to review adjustment requests. The student will need to follow the schools' requirements regarding acceptable documentation. Each school may have different instructions on how to submit information. FSA encourages schools to make a determination within 60 days of receiving requests from students. The financial aid staff will determine if the student can be considered independent. If the student is not determined to be independent and does not update their FAFSA with parental data, the student will only be eligible to be considered for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. 

If you have questions or need assistance with the FAFSA please contact:

Laura Papcunik 

724.614.3823 

Laura.papcunik@pheaa.org 

Laura will be providing a presentation to the senior class on October 1, 2025

Below is the information shared with students during the presentation on 10/1/25

Applying to College

When to apply

• • You can begin applying to colleges as early as the summer before your senior year

  • Students who are ready to apply to their preferred schools by November or December of their senior year can apply early action or early decision. 

    • The important difference is that:

      • Early decision = binding to one school

      • Early action = student can choose between multiple schools, just as with regular decision

It is recommended to have all of your college applications completed before the Spring Semester of your Senior Year 

Benefits to Applying Early 

• Priority admission

  • May have better odds of admission. 

• Faster decisions

  • Applicants may receive decisions faster than regular decision applicants. 

• Demonstrates interest

  • Shows that you are interested in attending the college and are able to meet early deadlines. 

• Priority financial aid

  • May have a better chance of receiving scholarships and other financial aid. 

• Priority housing

  • May have priority selection for on-campus housing. 

• More time to make a decision

  • Provides more time to consider options. 

• Room for improvement

  • Some schools may offer feedback if they think your application has potential. 

• Finances

  • You can learn more about your financial aid packages sooner. 

• Reduced stress

  • Applying early can help you relax and reduce stress

Application form

• • This form collects basic information like your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. 

  • Applications can be found on college websites and are typically listed under an "admissions" tab.  

  • Many colleges accept the common application. This allows you to complete one application and apply to multiple colleges with the same form. 

    • https://www.commonapp.org/ 

    • For step by step instructions on how to link your common application to your Xello account watch the short video linked below:

      • https://xello.wistia.com/medias/o97p9kta4g 

Transcript

• • This document provides admissions officers with important information about your high school performance and the difficulty of your coursework. 

  • Colleges often require an official transcript from your High School. You can email Mrs. Carberry at dcarberry@springcovesd.org to request that your official CHS transcript be sent to colleges/programs you have applied to. 

    • We can provide you a copy of your transcript, but please note that if you send a copy of your transcript to the college on your own it will not be considered official. Colleges refer to transcripts received in this way as "unofficial". 

  • If you took dual enrollment courses while at CHS you will need to request an official transcript from each of the colleges you earned credit through. More information on this can be found under the "dual enrollment" tab on this website. 

Test scores

• • Some colleges require or accept SAT or ACT scores to gauge your academic abilities. 

  • Conemaugh School of Nursing is now requiring the TEAS exam. 

    • Note: Information on how to register for these exams can be found on the announcement tab of this website. 

Recommendation letters

• • These letters provide context for your application from the perspective of teachers and counselors who know you well. 

  • Make sure you ask for recommendations at least 2 weeks before the due date to give the writer a respectful amount of time to complete this request. 

  • Provide a copy of your resume so the person writing your letter of recommendation can personalize the letter and highlight all you have done. 

  • Consider writing them a thank you note to show your appreciation and make a good lasting impression.

Essays

• • Admissions officers use essays to assess your writing ability, personality, values, and critical thinking skills. 

  • For more information on how to write your college essay check out the ultimate college essay guide linked below:

    • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/apply-to-college/application-process/ultimate-college-essay-guide 

Extracurriculars

• • These activities can help diversify your personal narrative and demonstrate your commitment. 

Application fee

• • This fee funds the work involved in screening, verifying, and evaluating applications. 

  • Visiting colleges and talking to admission counselors when they visit CHS can give you access to fee waivers for application fees. 

  • If you qualified for a fee waiver for the SAT, you automatically qualify for a fee waiver for college applications

    • For more information on fee waivers contact the admissions department of the schools you are applying to

• Demonstrate interest

  • You can show how much you want to attend a college by:

    • Visiting the campus

    • Talking with admission officers

    • Participating an interview

Other factors that colleges may consider include: grades, strength of curriculum, class rank, and personal qualities highlighted by participation in extracurriculars, community service, and letters of recommendation. 

Xello for Families

If you would like  to view scholarships available to your student: 

Log in to your account

When your child’s school or district has created a Xello Family account for you, you’ll receive an email. The email will include a link to activate your account within 17 days of receiving it. All you’ll need to do to get started is set a password.

Note: 

• An email invitation to Xello was sent to all families via the email address provided to the school in power school on 1/14/25

• If you haven't received the activation email, it may have redirected to your spam folder. Make sure to remove "xello.world" from your email spam settings to receive this and future messages from Xello.

If you forget your password:

• Visit https://login.xello.world/ 

• Click Having trouble signing in?

• Enter your email address and click Send Email.

• You’ll receive an email to reset your Xello Family password

Scholarship Essay Tips

When you are faced with the challenge of scholarship essay writing, remind yourself that the effort you put into writing your essay represents the chance to sell yourself to the scholarship committee. A winning scholarship essay is one that truly sets a particular applicant apart from the others. If you tell your story clearly and persuasively, you just might find yourself receiving a congratulatory letter from the scholarship committee! 

Top Two Tips: 

• Proof Read! Essays that have spelling mistakes and grammatical errors immediately put you at a disadvantage. 

• Make sure you are responding to the given prompt. If you are utilizing the same essay for multiple scholarships you need to be especially careful of this.

Check out the attached article for more tips on crafting your scholarship essays: 

Information for Students seeking to Obtain their CDL

• Pennsylvania CDL schools: https://cdltrainingtoday.com/schools/pa/?authuser=0 

• Demonstration by a state licensed CDL examiner:

Information for Students seeking to Pursue a Career as a Lineman

Many lineman in Pennsylvania receive their training at:

•  Global Powerline Academy

  • https://globalpowerlineacademy.com/program/ 

• Northampton Community College

  • https://www.northampton.edu/business-and-community/workforce-training/technical-industrial-trades/lineworker-trainee-program.html 

Common employers of lineman in Pennsylvania include PPL Corporation, First Energy Corp and Verde Energy, TriEagle Energy. Some local union for lineman in Pennsylvania include Local 56 (Erie), Local 81 (Scranton) and Local 126 (Philadelphia).

Median Journeyman Salary:$74,571

90th Percentile Journeyman Salary: $99,590

Estimated Lineman in Region: 3,250

Information for Students seeking to Pursue a Career as a Pennsylvania State Trooper

The resident training program lasts approximately 28 weeks

Cadets receive a salary of $1,595.20 biweekly (before deductions) during the training period. 

To be eligible for the Academy candidates must have: 

• High School Diploma or GED

• Must be 20 years old on or after the date their application is completed. 

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and cannot have reached their 40th birthday prior to or on the date of appointment as a State Police Cadet. 

For a complete list of Cadet eligibility requirements and to learn more follow this link: https://patrooper.com/requirements.html 

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a State Trooper reach out Blair County's local recruiter 

TPR. Cynthia Schwaderer

(717) 497-2353

Senior Year College Prep Checklist

Senior Year Checklist for Entering the Workforce

Senior Year Checklist for Joining the Military

Central High School Graduation Project Information Packet