I recently attended a financial aid workshop on the campus of A&M-Texarkana and received 3 $8000 scholarships to give to any students who meet the requirements and plan to attend this college in the fall.  The requirements are the following:  1) Must satisfy all admissions requirements 2) Must be accepted into A&M-Texarkana (by March 1, 2012) 3) Must have high school GPA of 3.0 or 18 ACT score, 4) Must enroll in a minimum of 15 undergraduate hours in fall of 2012 5) High school counselor must submit a signed form and letter of recommendation  to the A&M-Texarkana financial aid office by March 1, 2012.

A&M-Texarkana is a new, small-but-growing campus located several blocks behind the Gander Mountain store on I-30.  You can visit their website at http://www.tamut.edu/ .  Please let me know if you are interested in the scholarships.

Navarro College in Corsicana is hosting an open house for those students interested in their John Deere Tech program .   The event will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2012, at Gibson Gym on Corsicana Campus starting at 10:00 AM. You can participate in sessions on Hydraulics, Electronics, Service Advisor, AMS (the GPS guidance system, and Engines.   They ask that you please RSVP by February 23, 2012, to 903.875.7621 or to john.dawley@navarrocollege.edu .  You can learn more about the program at www.navarrocollege.edu or www.JohnDeerePowerUp.com.

Don’t forget about these scholarships.   One is theGE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program for students with “Leadership, Drive, Integrity, and Citizenship.”  Students can apply online at http://facebook.com/GEReaganScholarships  or at www.reaganfoundation.org/scholarships  .  The scholarships are for up to $10,000 and are renewable for 4 years.

The other scholarship is given by Carter BloodCare for students who have actively participated in the blood drive program.  This scholarship application is due in Tyler by February 17, 2012, and requires an essay that addresses these questions:  How is donating blood an act of community service?  What motivates you to give blood?  How and why is it important to continue donating even after graduation?   Five $1000 scholarships will be given to East Texas seniors.  These applications can be picked up in my office.

The Director of Financial Aid from Paris Junior College will be at Rivercrest on Thursday, January 19, at 6:00 PM in the high school library.  She is very knowledgeable about financial aid—-grants, loans, scholarships, FAFSA, etc.  Please plan to come to listen to what Ms. Linda Slawson has to say, especially if this is your first rodeo with college.  Parents and students are both welcome.  Her information applies to other colleges, too, not just PJC.

Two new scholarships have arrived this week in the mail.  One is the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program for students with “Leadership, Drive, Integrity, and Citizenship.”  Students can apply online at http://facebook.com/GEReaganScholarships  or at www.reaganfoundation.org/scholarships  .  The scholarships are for up to $10,000 and are renewable for 4 years.

The other scholarship is given by Carter BloodCare for students who have actively participated in the blood drive program.  This scholarship application is due in Tyler by February 17, 2012, and requires an essay that addresses these questions:  How is donating blood an act of community service?  What motivates you to give blood?  How and why is it important to continue donating even after graduation?   Five $1000 scholarships will be given to East Texas seniors.

All interested seniors will be going to Paris Junior College this Thursday, November 17th, around 12:30 for a College Fair.  Numerous universities will be represented there.  Encourage your son or daughter to get information from the colleges he or she is interested in.  Most of the same schools will be at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant the night before in the Student Union Building.  That would be a good time for you, the parent, to go and get information.

On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at the Paris Public Library (326 South Main) , the University of Texas will host an application

workshop in order to offer assistance on an individual basis to seniors interested in applying to the University of Texas next fall.

Seniors need to bring an official transcript, resumes, essays, and any other materials that might be relevant. Please e-mail

Claire.mizell@austin.utexas.edu to request your preferred time slot:

5:15-5:30

5:30-5:45

5:45-6:00

6:00-6:15

6:15-6:30

6:30-6:45

6:45-7:00

7:00-7:15

7:15-7:30

Call Ms. Mizell at 903-759-7801 if you have questions.  Ms. Mizell will be in Mrs. Guest’s classroom tomorrow, November 4th.

Burger King is offering scholarships from $1000 to $50,000.  http://www.haveityourwayfoundation.org/bksp_scholarship_eligiility.html

Application is available from November 15-January 10, 2012.

Several presenters are scheduled for the senior classroom between now and Thanksgiving.  I have included a list below.  If you know of someone with a job or an opportunity that would be beneficial to our seniors, please let me know.

10/26/11: Emily Kelly with Luminant will be here to talk to our seniors in Mrs. Guest’s classroom.  Many of you have read about possible power plant closings, but even if this happens,  there should be other jobs available, especially with the present aging workforce.  Charlie Hines—a Luminant employee, a former Rivercrest ISD school board member, and an excellent local resource—may also be here.  This program is a great opportunity for both males and females.  The scholarships she will talk about allow a student to receive an associate’s degree in a field related to the power plant.  After two years of college , the student is under no obligation to go to work for the company.

10/29/11:  A recruiter from Spartan College in Tulsa will be here Friday in Coach Purviance’s class to talk to classes about this college that prepares students for the aeronautics field—from professional pilot to maintenance.  http://www.spartan.edu/

11/04/11:  Claire Mizell, a University of Texas graduate, will be here to talk to seniors about UT, how to apply, etc.

11/16/11:  Northeast Texas Community College will host a College and Career Fair at night.  (Not sure about the time.)

11/17/11:  A bus will carry all interested seniors to a College and Career Fair at PJC  from 1:00-2:30.

11/19/2011:  A representative from Paris Junior College will be in Mrs. Guest’s room  November 18th to talk about the nationally acclaimed jewelry program offered on campus at PJC.  Students from across the US study the art and science of jewelry making at the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology located in Paris, TX.    http://www.parisjc.edu/index.php/tijt/

Foundation Excellence Award:  Deadline–01/05/2012  Also available at http://giving.tamu.edu/fea  

Scholarship to Texas A&M University.  Cannot be submitted online; must be mailed by the above date.  Short essay required.  Letters of recommendation are welcome.  Good for $2000-$2500 per year.

www.axa-achievement.com :  Scholarships from $10,000-$25,000 for students active in the community, who have overcome personal challenges, and/or who have led a project that benefits others.  Apply online before December 1, 2011

www.axa-achievement.com:  Community Scholarships of $2000.  Must apply by February 1, 2012.

Texas Student Housing 2012-2013 Scholarship Application:  See me for a paper copy of this application for students attending college in Austin, College Station, or Denton only.

Universal Technical Institute:  Open House on October 29th, 2011, from 9:30-12:30.  5151 Regent Blvd., Irving, TX 75063.

Speakers scheduled in senior English class:  Tommy Neyland from Luminant–October 26th;  Claire Mizell from University of Texas–November 4th; Serena Omori from PJC’s jewelry program–November 18th.

PJC College Fair:  November 17, 2011   1:00-2:30 PM.  We will carry all interested seniors on a bus to PJC.  Several universities will have representatives there.  Great place to get information!