ATTENTION SENIORS!
NEW MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COLLECTION FORM
We now have an online form for you to submit all of your MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS you have received from each Granting Scholarship Organization, Institution or College/University; one entry is required per scholarship. You must upload a copy of your official scholarship award letter with each submission. All scholarship information must be submitted no later than May 1, 2026, as this information will be captured and proudly displayed in the Graduation Program under your name.
Click here to submit your Merit Scholarships.
COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS
College Credit Plus is a free program where students earn both high school and college credits at the same time, but students must meet specific guidelines and deadlines, many of which are coming up quickly. If you missed the CCP Information Nights held at school or have any questions about the application and registration process, please contact Jessica Henry at jhenry@stvm.com as soon as possible.
April 1st at 5:00 PM ET is the deadline for all application paperwork - no exceptions.
The counselors are forwarding scholarship and other post-graduation opportunities to the Class of 2026 via their school email and will continue to do so throughout the school year. We encourage students to look through this information regularly. Do not delay--not all of these are online applications and several require essays and other information (such as official transcripts, letters of recommendation, copies of college acceptance letters, etc.) that take time to gather.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The St. Mary Parish Men's Club has opened applications for the Reverend Joseph Costello Memorial Scholarship. This is open only to parishioners of St. Mary Parish in Hudson. Click here for information. Deadline is April 11, 2026 by 8 a.m.
The Summit County Retired Teachers Association offers scholarships to high school seniors who plan to pursue careers in education. Click here for more information. Deadline is April 6, 2026.
The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence has opened applications for it's Men's College Scholarship. Please click here for application information. Deadline is April 1, 2026.
Bath Volunteers For Service Merit Award, for those living in the Revere Local School District. Click here for the flyer. Deadline is April 9, 2026.
The Women for Greater Akron Charities will be awarding four (4) $2,000 scholarships to female residents of Summit, Medina, Portage or Stark Counties planning to attend an Ohio college, university or post-secondary program for fall semester of 2026. Click here for application details. Deadline: March 31, 2026. Several STVM students have received this scholarship in the past so it's a great opportunity!
The Summit County Master Gardeners are providing scholarships (amount varies, minimum of $1,000) to students or residents in Summit County who are committed to attending an Ohio university/college and planning to pursue a two or four-year degree in horticulture, agriculture, environmental studies or closely related field. The applications should be filled out online at www.akroncf.org/scholarshipapps, (scroll/search for the "Master Gardener Scholarship Fund"). Additional information can be found here. Deadline: April 1, 2026.
SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
The Akron Community Foundation provides scholarships from forward-thinking donors to help local students pursue their educational dreams. Please click here to view specific scholarship opportunities they have available, based on a variety of qualifying factors. You should also click here which will direct you to their online application portal, which provides an opportunity to be auto-matched with scholarships for which you may be eligible.
This link to College Now lists several scholarship opportunities. Please scroll all the way through and to the bottom to explore scholarships for which you may be eligible!
This page on Stark State's website offers several scholarship opportunities for Northeast Ohio students. These are OUTSIDE scholarships that may be applicable to students attending any higher education institution or vocational training program. Click here to find the ones for which you meet the criteria.
StudentScholarships.Org is a great resource for external scholarships. Please click here for a list of scholarships currently accepting applications. Also, please click here to sign up for the newsletter.
Scholarships.com has valuable information as well as application links to all types of scholarships. It's worth checking out often to see if you might be a fit! You can also sign up for email alerts.
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID NOTE
Students should be visiting the Tuition and Financial Aid sections of the websites for the colleges they are considering to learn about specific scholarships that the schools offer and the requirements for applying.
A completed FAFSA form is often required before a college will consider students for scholarships. Please visit the FAFSA website to learn more about getting this important form started.
COLLEGE FAIRS
Stark County College Fair at Walsh University: Monday, April 13, 2026. 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Click here for the flyer.
Check out The College Tour, an award-winning series TV series that tells the stories of colleges and universities around the world. The latest episode features Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), a proud HBCU. Visit their website to see other colleges and universities featured on the show.
Please check out these links shared by The University of Pennsylvania with tips for writing essays and listing activities on college applications, including through the Common App.
The following are opportunities that have been shared with STVM for high school students to participate in college programs over the summer months. These programs are often a great way to show "demonstrated interest" in a school during the college admissions process.
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON WAYFINDERS
Explore what it means to be "on the way" in our lives, with others and with God. Drawing upon wide and varied resources in the Catholic tradition — including UD's particular Marianist tradition — discuss, explore, read, discover, reflect and learn across four days and nights on UD's campus in the summer. Participants earn one college credit at the University of Dayton. Click here for registration information.
SUMMER CIVICS INSTITUTE AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
The Lincoln Scholars Program and Political Theory Institute are hosting a FREE week-long college experience seminar for high school students at American University. Students in this seminar will explore major debates and texts in the American political tradition and gain experience in what college work is like. Over seven days, students will meet in small conversation-based seminars with American University faculty and practice skills that are invaluable to a college career. Click here for more information. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2026.
MIAMI UNIVERSITY SUMMER SCHOLARS
The Summer Scholars Program at Miami University in Ohio is a selective, week-long summer experience for academically talented high school students who will be juniors or seniors the following fall. The curriculum for this program is built for active learners. Students dive deeply into a specific academic topic, participate in lively discussions and hands-on projects, and forge connections with Miami faculty and peers. For more information, click here. Deadline to apply is May 1, 2026.
Applications for UCLA Emerging Filmmakers Summer 2026 are now open for students interested in filmmaking, screenwriting, cinematography, animation, or exploring the relationship between moving image media and theme parks. Early application is highly encouraged. Click here for details.
The University of Notre Dame offers a variety of pre-college programs for students interested in various academic areas, leadership opportunities and even travel. These programs give high school students a chance to engage with ND faculty and spend time on campus. Financial aid for these programs is also available. Visit the link above for more information.
The Rice University Precollege Program offers an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen key skills early in the year and explore academic interests through online programs and courses in subjects such as aerospace, engineering, or psychology, applying these core skills in engaging contexts. Please click here for more information on how to apply for this program.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the following resources:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. You can also use the online chat service.
Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Veterans Crisis Line: Veterans can press 1 when calling 988 or text 838255.
Please visit the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) - for more resources and information.
Ms. Jessica Henry, College & Career Counselor
jhenry@stvm.com or 330-253-9113 Ext. 136.
Ms. Henry has a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Akron and is a licensed School Counselor as well as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She has worked at the high school level for her entire career in the education field and loves being able to help students navigate the college/career process and everything that comes after high school. Ways that Ms. Henry can help students includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Planning and pursuing post-high school plans, including college, job placement, armed forces or other opportunities.
Supporting the creation and management of Naviance and the Common Application accounts for college-bound students.
Reviewing transcripts and providing documentation necessary for college applications.
Notifying students about scholarship opportunities and providing support as necessary.
Notifying students of college visit opportunities and student programs.
Assisting students in identifying resources and meeting requirements needed to pursue post-secondary education, including ACT/SAT testing, essay development, letters of recommendation and other college requirements.
Assisting students in researching college options.
Guiding students through CCP (College Credit Plus) applications/guidelines/questions, etc.
Helping students with AP (Advanced Placement) information/guidance/questions, etc.
Helping student-athletes with NCAA Clearinghouse registration and questions.
Tara has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in School Counseling, both from Walsh University. She has been working as a school counselor for 11 years, with the majority of that time being at a school in Washington, D.C.
Amy has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Applied Conflict Management, a Master of Education in School Counseling, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Counseling, all from Kent State University. Amy has more than 12 years of experience working with youth and more than ten years of experience working in a school setting.
Health & Wellness Counselors
In our commitment to educating the whole person, the Health and Wellness Counselors at STVM support all students' social, emotional, and academic needs. They are available during the school day to meet with students individually or in groups and conduct classroom lessons.
Working with students to communicate with parents, teachers, and administrators.
Helping advocate for the individual needs of students and families and assist them in advocating for themselves.
Working with students to help assess abilities, interests, and achievements to help them make decisions about their future.
Providing professional assistance and support to a student or small group of students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical change, or other situations impeding student success.
Recognizing and responding to student mental health needs and assisting students and families seeking resources.
Sharing strategies that support student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations
Providing referrals for students and families to school or community resources for additional assistance and information.