SENIOR INFORMATION

scholarship board

Arkansas Valley Electric Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

Deadline to apply: March 15

Eligibility Requirements: Local high school seniors who are attending any college or vocational/technical school. Parents or guardians must be AVECC members (can't be WAVE Rural Connect only - must use Arkansas Valley Electric).

APPLY FOR AVECC SCHOLARSHIP

John & Lee Ella McDonald Trust Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Deadline to apply: March 27, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

The John and Lee Ella McDonald Scholarship Trust was created in 1981 to assist students graduating from Charleston High School who are attending a four-year college. Criteria for selection are based on scholastic aptitude and financial need.

Charleston Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

Amount: $500

Deadline to apply: March 31, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Graduating Charleston High School seniors who demonstrate academic effort, involvement in school activities, and a commitent to the Charleston community should apply for a one-time scholarship for $500. Applicants must have a 2.75 GPA or higher.

Franklin County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Amount: $500

Deadline to apply: April 1, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Stuents from an agricultural background or those pursuing a career in the agricultural or family and consumer sciences field should apply. Students must be in the top 1/3 of their graduating class.

Mandy Coats Memorial Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Deadline to apply: April 1, 2026

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be an Arkansas high school senior who is applying for a college scholarship for the freshman year

Must be an active member of a church and/or other Christian organization

Must plan to attend an accredited college or university on a full-time basis

Must be of high moral character, exhibit a strong work ethic, and be intellectually qualified for the desired pursuit

Must have and maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better (scholarship awards will be forfeited if the student’s GPA falls below 2.0)

Must be willing to accept a scholarship as a gift from God and be willing to later help others as a result.

APPLY FOR MANDY COATS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

AAA/Centennial Bank Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline to apply: April 1, 2026

Description: 10 scholarships (5 Boys, 5 Girls) will be provided for athletic achievement and community service

APPLY FOR AAA/Centennial Bank Scholarship

Rock City Running Foundation Scholarship

Amount: $1500

Deadline to apply: April 3, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Students who have run at least two seasons of cross-country, indoor track, and/or outdoor track may apply for a one-time scholarship from the Rock City Running Foundation. Recipients will also receive a complimentary pair of running shoes. One male and one female athlete will receive a scholarship, and there are separate applications for each. Applications are due by April 3rd and should be emailed to rcrscholarshipapp@gmail.com.

Charleston Masonic Lodge Scholarship

Amount: $500

Deadline to apply: April 10, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Graduating Charleston High School seniors who plan to continue their education at an accredited college/university, vocational, or trade school with the intent to earn a degree or certificate in a trade, vocation, or service profession (mechanic, LPN, dental hygiene, paralegal, HVAC, plumbing, information/technology, etc.) can apply for a one time $500 scholarship in honor of Jasper Archey.

Carl and Rosemary Underwood PTO Scholarship

Amount: $250

Deadline to apply: April 6, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

In honor of Carl and Rosemary Underwood, the Charleston PTO has established two $250 scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female senior student.

Joe S. & Margie L. Hiatt Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Deadline to apply: April 6, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Jasper Archey Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $500

Deadline to apply: April 10, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Shelter Insurance Foundation Scholarship

Amount: $1500

Deadline to apply: April 17, 2026

Applications can be picked up from the Scholarship Board in the High School Entrance and returned to the Office.

Graduating Charleston High School seniors should apply for a one-time scholarship for $1500. Selection is based on scholastic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community activities, citizenship, moral character, educational goals, and financial need.

ARKANSAS WORKFORCE CHALLENGE

Please note that the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship can be used at private trade schools, as recent legislative changes have expanded the definition of "approved institutions" to include these institutions. Click HERE to learn more about the Arkasas Workforce Challenge.

FAFSA

Students need to complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal student aid, as well as most state and institutional aid. Filling out the FAFSA is the first step in accessing grants, work-study, and loans to help pay for college or career school. The 2026-27 FAFSA will be available to everyone by Oct. 1, 2025.

To complete the FAFSA, students and one parent (if applicable) will first need to create an FSA ID.

Mrs. Ward will work with all of our Seniors to create an FSA ID.

LEARN MORE

SAMS

SAMS (Arkansas' Scholarship Application Management System) is where students go to apply for state financial aid, including the Arkansas Academic Challenge (Lottery) Scholarship, the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship, the Arkansas Future Grant, the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Grant, and more.

Mrs. Ward will work with all of our Seniors to create a SAMS account.

LEARN MORE

FASTWEB

Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform that connects students to college scholarships, trade school scholarships, and financial aid news and resources. their goal is to help you find scholarships to make college and trade school more affordable.

LEARN MORE

goingmerry

Going Merry is a FREE one-stop shop for scholarships and financial aid. You can find and apply for scholarships and grants right from their website.

LEARN MORE

Ar community Foundation

Arkansas Community Foundation manages dozens of scholarships established by donors to support education for students who meet various criteria. Most Community Foundation scholarships are for Arkansas students pursuing higher education at two/four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools, or technical training programs.

LEARN MORE

Big future

BigFuture is a free online resource created by the College Board to help students plan for life after high school. It provides tools and information to explore careers, plan for college, and discover ways to pay for college. Whether a student is interested in a four-year university, community college, or career training, BigFuture aims to help them make informed decisions.

LEARN MORE

scholarships.com

Scholarships.com is a free college scholarship search platform that helps students find scholarships they qualify for. As one of the most widely used and trusted scholarship search engines, they’ve helped over 26 million students and families connect with college scholarship opportunities.

LEARN MORE

senior ANNOUNCEMENTS

SELECTIVE SERVICE

Selective Service System registration is required by law for 18-year-old males. Register at https://www.sss.gov/.

PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS

If you haven’t already, it’s time to set up a professional email address to use for job, college, and scholarship applications.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

You’ll need to know your Social Security Number for several things this year. This is a great time to memorize it!

EMAIL AND GOOGLE CLASSROOM

Check your school email and Google Classroom regularly!

COMPLETE YOUR FAFSA form

The 2026-27 FAFSA Form is now open! Click here for instructions and more information. If you need additional help with your FAFSA form, please sign up for our FAFSA Help Night using the link above. We strongly recommend that students begin by filling out their own FAFSA form and completing their sections first. They will then invite contributor(s) to finish their parts by entering the email address they used to create their FSA ID.

Who Completes the Form

The Student: The FAFSA is in the student's name, and they are responsible for creating an FSA ID to log in and complete their required sections.
Contributors: If you are a dependent student, your parent(s) must provide their information. Anyone providing information on the FAFSA is known as a "contributor" and must create their own FSA ID to provide information and sign the form.

Providing Consent to Share IRS Information

You and your contributors must provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into your FAFSA form. You (and your contributors) must provide consent and approval even if you didn’t file a U.S. federal tax return or any tax return at all. If you or your contributors don’t provide consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA® form, you won’t be eligible for federal student aid. Although most of your financial information will be imported directly from the IRS when you provide consent and approval, you and your contributors should each have your own tax returns on hand (if applicable) when you fill out the FAFSA form. You may need them to answer additional questions.

Why You Should Fill Out the FAFSA

Federal Aid: The FAFSA is the gateway to more than $150 billion in federal aid, including the Pell Grant, work-study programs, and federal student loans.
State and School Aid: Many states and colleges use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for their own grants, scholarships, and loans. This includes the Arkansas Academic Challenge (Lottery) Scholarship, Arkansas Future Grant, Arkansas Workforce Challenge, and other programs. The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship can now be used at private trade schools, as recent legislative changes have expanded the definition of "approved institutions" to include them. Under the Arkansas ACCESS Act, private vocational-technical schools and public or private technical institutes are now eligible, provided they meet specific criteria, such as being on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) eligible training provider list or the state's private career education list.
Merit-Based Aid : Even if you don't have significant financial need, filling out the FAFSA can qualify you for merit-based scholarships offered by your school.

Complete the FAFSA Form

senior calendar

PLANNING FOR life after high school

arkansas rehabilitation services

Arkansas Rehabilitation Services’ (ARS) mission is to prepare Arkansans with disabilities to work and lead productive and independent lives.

To achieve its mission, ARS provides a variety of training and career preparation programs. They have 19 field offices across the state serving all 75 counties, where individuals can receive assistance with accessibility and training needs that can lead to successful employment. Want to see if you qualify for services? Click on the button below to fill out the form. For more information, call our area office at 479-675-3835.

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY

college info for seniors and parents

Did you know the State of Arkansas is home to over 40 institutions of higher education, including 10 four-year universities, 22 two-year colleges, 12 private universities, and one academic health center?

FIND OUT MORE

APPLYING for college

If you plan to go to college, consider applying to multiple schools—you can always decline offers later. Apply early, especially for housing. After submitting your applications, email Sunny at smoore@tigersmail.org and request that she send your transcript to the college.

VISITING COLLEGE campuses

Make sure you pre-arrange all college visits with your teachers three days in advance. Pick up a college visit form from the office and return it signed after the visit.

College application tracker tool

Getting ready to start applying to colleges? Use Get Schooled's free college application requirements tracker to stay organized. This tracker can help you stay on top of application requirements, deadlines, and more. Download a copy by clicking the link below.

APPLICATION TRACKER

TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION CARD

If you have a Tribal Identification Card or Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), please let Mrs. Rachuy and Mrs. Ward know. You may be eligible for additional financial aid.

COLLEGE ATHLETE REQUIREMENTS

NCAA

Creating an NCAA account is the first step to becoming an NCAA athlete. When registering for the ACT or when requesting scores, use the code "9999" to send your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

CREATE AN ACCOUNT

NAIA

To participate in sports at an NAIA college or university, student-athletes must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center. When registering for the ACT or when requesting scores, use the code "9876" to send your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

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