IRISH WEEKLY

Counselor's Corner

CCP information

Thank you to all the parents and students who attended our CCP Information Night on March 11. In brief, Ohio’s College Credit Plus program gives students the chance to earn high school and college credit simultaneously by taking courses at/through participating Ohio colleges or universities. Tuition is free if your student takes classes through a public college and if you complete your funding application by the April 1 deadline. CCP can reduce your child’s time and tuition expenses in college.

Here are the links to the two documents that we reviewed during the meeting, as well as a link to the state's webpage for CCP for Nonpublic School Families.

CCP Overview: Click here for the document from the State of Ohio that explains the CCP program, including requirements and eligibility.

CCP Funding: Click here for the CCP Funding Application Manual

CCP Process for Nonpublic Schools: Click here to visit the state's website dedicated to College Credit Plus for Nonpublic School Families.

Funding Deadline is April 1 -- ACTION IS REQUIRED ASAP if your student is interested in taking any CCP class next school year. Applying for CCP overall is two big steps:

STEP 1 is applying to the college(s) of your choice.
STEP 2 is applying for funding; this step requires you to create an Ohio ID if you don't have one already, and this step can only be completed after you have been accepted to a college/university. The deadline to secure funding is April 1, so you would want to submit the funding application before April 1 to give the state time to process your request.

CCP Speech Course Through Stark State -- IMPORTANT INFO

STVM is planning to offer a CCP Speech class through Stark State Community College next year. This class will be taught online by a college instructor from Stark. Students in this CCP Speech class will be assigned a common study hall, with a dedicated supervisor, during which they can work on class assignments. However, students are fully responsible for completing the work on their own. They may work ahead, but they must meet all deadlines and requirements outlined by the Stark instructor.

Important: If your student is interested in taking this CCP Speech class through Stark State, there is a very tight timeline of tasks that need to be completed in order to meet the April 1 funding deadline. Stark State has a testing requirement for admission, which means your student has to have certain SAT or ACT scores, or if they do not have those, they need to pass an assessment offered by Stark State called ACCUPLACER, which is a computer-based placement test that Stark offers on a daily basis at the Stark State Campus or at the University of Akron Campus. The test is FREE. For more information and to schedule this exam, click here.

AP Testing

Please click here to log to your AP College Board account and see how many tests you are registered for, the dates of the tests, and your total amount due for the 2025 AP Tests. Please review the schedule carefully and note your test dates. If you have a conflict with these dates, please see or email Mrs. Busey at rbusey@stvm.com as soon as you are able to discuss options. There is a very specific process for rescheduling a test date.

AP Exam Fees

Each exam is $99. Payment for exams should be made in the bookstore via cash, credit card or check.
If you feel you are eligible for a fee reduction based on these guidelines, here, please notify Mrs. Busey as soon as possible.
There is a $40 fee (in addition to the $98) for late testing. Students will not be charged for late testing due to an athletic event, academic contest, family or school emergencies, school closings, or two AP tests on the same date and time.
If a student is listed as “Yes” for taking the exam, and you do not show up for the exam or cancel, you will be charged a $40 cancellation fee.

April 15 is the deadline to pay your AP exam fees in the bookstore.

2025 AP Testing Schedule

Mon., May 5: Biology (8 am), European History (12 pm)

Tues., May 6: Chemistry (8 am), U.S Gov. and Politics (12 pm)

Weds., May 7: English Literature and Composition (8 am)

Thurs., May 8: Statistics (8 am)

Fri., May 9: United States History (8 am)

Mon., May 12: Calculus AB/BC (8 am)

Tues., May 13: Precalculus (8 am), Environmental Science (12 pm)

Weds., May 14: English Lang & Comp (8 am), Physics C: Mechanics (12 pm)

Fri., May 16: Psychology (12 pm)

important: Time-sensitive Next Steps for Seniors

Ms. Henry recently sent an email to seniors reminding them about important next steps in the college selection process, including comparing offers from the schools they've been accepted to as well as officially accepting awards, accepting admission and other important next steps. Please note that this is a time sensitive issue, so please see that email ASAP for details.

Seniors should continue to visit Ms. Henry in her office during school hours for assistance with post-high school plans and for support with college decisions. Parents may also reach Ms. Henry by emailing her at jhenry@stvm.com or calling (330) 253-9113 Ext. 136.

Lastly, seniors should continue to check their school email often and regularly for helpful college admissions and scholarship information sent by the counselors. Students also should check the scholarship section of the Counselor's Corner as well as the application portals of the colleges to which they have applied or been accepted for valuable information and important next steps.

class of 2025
Merit Scholarship Recognition

Please save and make copies of all merit scholarship offers that students have received from all the colleges to which they have been accepted. Please note we just need merit offers--not loans, grants, etc. Your student should bring all copies of their merit scholarship letters to Ms. Jessica Henry, the College & Career Counselor, as soon as they are received, so they can be entered into Naviance. This information is critical for STVM and will also be included in the graduation program under your student's accomplishments.

SCHOLARSHIP & Post-Graduation opportunities

The counselors have been forwarding scholarship and other post-graduation opportunities to the Class of 2025 via their school email. Students should check their email regularly for information, eligibility requirements and deadlines. Recent emails were sent about the following opportunities, among others:

The Auxilary of University Hospitals Portage Medical Center is awarding scholarships to residents of Portage County who plan to pursue degrees in nursing. See your student email or the flyer here. Please click here for the application. Deadline is April 15, 2025.
The Appalachian Chapter of the American Association of Drilling Engineers is offering scholarships to encourage college-bound high school seniors to consider a career in the oil and gas industry. This scholarship is being limited to Petroleum Engineering majors; engineering majors or Energy Industry related majors. Please click here for more information. Deadline is April 15, 2025. Click here to apply.
The Men's Club of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hudson will again award the Reverend Joseph Costello Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to a high school senior who is a parishioner of the parish. STVM students have received this scholarship several times over the past few years, so get your application in by the deadline of April 12, 2025. Click here for the application.
The following link from Stark State lists several scholarship opportunities for Northeast Ohio students. Click here to find the ones for which you meet the criteria.
The Italian American Professional Business Club awards scholarships to Summit County high school students. Applications are due April 15, 2025. Click here for more information.
Residents of the Revere Local School District: Bath Volunteers for Service (BVS) will award two or more one-thousand-dollar ($1000) cash awards and a Certificate of Commendation to graduating seniors who have demonstrated that volunteer service (unpaid) has become a part of their emerging philosophy of life. Applications are due by April 1, 2025. Please click here for more information.
Flohr Machine Company is a family-owned and operated full-service precision contract machining company in Barberton, Ohio. Flohr Machine will be offering up to four scholarships per year to high school seniors who plan to enroll in a Mechanical Engineering, Drafting, or Manufacturing Program or Curriculum. Click here for more information. Deadline is June 15, 2024.
College Now provides scholarship opportunities to high school graduates who are interested in a training program in the field of manufacturing with the result leading to a license/certification or degree. Click here for more information.
American Muscle Automotive will award a scholarship for $2,500 to students pursuing an automotive themed major. Click here for more information. Deadline is July 15, 2024.
The Women for Greater Akron Charities is offering four $2,000 college scholarships. Seniors were sent an email with information. You can also click here for details and application packets. Several STVM graduates have received this scholarship in the past, so be sure to get applications in by the March 31, 2025 deadline.
The Summit County Retired Teachers Association is offering a college scholarship to students pursuing a degree in education. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2025. Information can be found here.
The Akron Community Foundation provides scholarships from forward-thinking donors to help local students pursue their educational dreams. Please click here to visit its website and locate scholarships for which you may be eligible.

The Summit County Master Gardeners are providing scholarships to students or residents in Summit County who are committed to attending an in-state university and planning to pursue a two- or four-year degree in horticulture, agriculture, environmental studies or closely related field. Click here for more information. Deadline is April 15, 2024.

Please make sure that you are searching through your specific college websites/application portals (of colleges that you have specifically applied to) to find university and/or specific major/minor programs that offer scholarship opportunities since most of your scholarship monies will come from your specific colleges/universities (where you have already applied). Local scholarship opportunities will primarily come during the spring months.

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 their newsletter.

PAST PRESENTATION LINK

Here is a link to the presentation given at STVM about College Financial Aid:

Introduction to Financial Aid

2025-26 FAFSA Information

(Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE 2025–26 FAFSA® FORM

NEW: The 2025-26 FAFSA (the FAFSA that current seniors should complete) is now available.

Parents/guardians should complete the 2025-26 FAFSA form as soon as possible. Here are some steps to take to be prepared:

Create a StudentAid.gov account (if you don’t already have one).
Learn about the documents you may need to fill out the FAFSA form.
Determine your dependency status and whether your parent(s) or spouse will be required to contribute information on your FAFSA form.
If you’re a dependent student, use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form.

Summer learning Opportunity

in corporate business/entrepreneurship

Learning About Business provides high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with a week-long mini-MBA experience, providing an interactive business simulation while fostering creative problem solving. Held at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, LAB students get a taste of college life away from home. Students also have an opportunity to earn three college credits for their participation in LAB Week. Students received a flyer and application via their school email. Click here for more information. Deadline to apply is April 26, 2025.

Math Tutor

A math tutor is available at select times to assist students. Please see the LRC for details.

Meet The Counselors

Ms. Jessica Henry - College & Career Counselor

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.

Ms. Henry is extremely happy to be a part of the STVM Fighting Irish and has numerous family members that are alumni. Ms. Henry can be reached by email at jhenry@stvm.com or by phone at 330-253-9113 Ext. 136. Go Irish!

about The Health and 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.

Ways we can help include, but are not limited to:

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.

Ms. Tara McCants (Serves families with last names A-L)

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. Tara is happy to be a part of the STVM family, and she is committed to creating a nurturing environment where every student feels valued and empowered. Tara can be reached by phone at 330-253-9113 ext 131 or by email at tmccants@stvm.com. Students fill out a request to meet with Ms. Tara using this link: Request to See Tara. She looks forward to a great year!

Mrs. Amy Gay (Serves families with last names M-Z)

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. Amy is very excited to start this journey at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School! She is passionate about her work to help students and their families and believes every student can become their best self. Amy strives to provide a calm, warm, and non-judgmental environment. If you have questions or need to contact Amy, you can call at (330) 253-9113. Ext. 182, email agay@stvm.com. Students can request to see Mrs. Gay by filling out this form: Request to see Amy (this is only for student use). Let's make it a wonderful year!