Hi Seniors,
I'm Ms. Rainey, the director of college counseling for Elevated and Peak Education. This is the first Senior Newsletter for Peak Ed and Elevated students of the school year! Each month, I'll send seniors updates/newsletters, scholarships, opportunities and more. Make sure to read or skim them so that you don't miss out on important information. In this first newsletter, you'll learn more about:
12th Grade Requirements
How to schedule a required meeting with Ms. Rainey
Scholarships and more!
What can Ms. Rainey help you with?
The entire college/scholarship process—filling out college and scholarship applications, essay review, FAFSA, CSS Profile and much more!
Fall semester of senior year is probably the busiest semester since most of the major college application, financial aid and scholarship deadlines are in this semester. Make sure to start the semester strong. Use a planner or something similar to map out deadlines for everything you need to do!
I'm looking forward to working with you all this year!
Elevated Grant and Peak Ed Scholarship
At the end of your 12th grade year, you're eligible to receive an Elevated Grant and/or to apply for a Peak Ed Scholarship.
Elevated students: A one-time Elevated grant to be applied towards your first year of college. Amount varies based on the number of years you've been in the program.
Peak Ed Students: A renewable 4-year Peak Ed Scholarship. The amount varies.
To maintain eligibility, you must complete the college counseling requirements, which includes meetings, events, presentations, workshops and other tasks. Please see the section below to review your requirements for this year.
12th Grade Requirements
You can listen to Ms. Rainey explain your senior requirements HERE and/or....
Carefully review the 12th grade tasks and requirements (bookmark this page and write down important dates in your phone/calendar/planner).
Grade-Level Calendar of 2023-2024 Events.
Your requirements consists of one-on-one meetings, presentations, workshops and tasks. They're all designed to help you be more successful with the college and financial aid process this year. You have all the dates in advance; so, please plan to attend. If you work, please make arrangements with your job to swap your days off when possible. If you have conflicts, communicate with Ms. Rainey in advance.
Remember, completing these tasks and attending these events maintains your eligibility for your Peak Ed scholarship and/or Elevated grant! So, please plan to attend the live events when possible.
Scheduled your Beginning of the Year Meeting with Ms. Rainey
Before signing up for a meeting, please complete the Getting to Know Your Form.
Sign up for a required check-in HERE. Note: The scheduling system defaults to Zoom meetings. If you prefer an in-person meeting, please email Ms. Rainey.
Please do NOT forget or be late. When signing up for a meeting, please put the meeting date and time in your phone. Set your phone to remind you 1 hour and/or 1 day before the meeting is to occur.
Access this meeting from a quiet space and make sure you have a full 30-35 minutes to meet!
How to prepare for this meeting? You don't have to prepare! It's an informal conversation for me to get to know you and your post-secondary goals better. I'll review your Getting to Know You Form with you. Feel free to bring any questions you have about the college or financial aid process for me to answer.
Upcoming Presentations and Workshops
Tuesday, August 29th: Admissions 101 & How to Craft a Strong Activities List; location: Zoom- https://zoom.us/j/97672882585?from=addon (Required)
Saturday, September 16th: College Essay Presentation and Workshop; location: In Person TBD (Required)
Tuesday, Sept. 19th at 4 pm: MIT Rep Visit @ Peak Ed Office of 1645 S. Murray Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916 (Not Required)
ALL students--Elevated and Peak Ed welcome to attend)
Students interested in engineering, computer science should attend.
Need essay help?
If you need your college and/or scholarship essays edited, then please send them to me at jasmine@peakedu.org. Share them as a Google document if possible since it makes editing and providing feedback easier. Make sure you give me “editing” rights when you share the document.
Remember there will be a required essay workshop on Saturday, September 16th!
Review your senior requirements for more info.
Fly-In Programs (all expenses paid!)
This was emailed to you a few weeks ago, but in case you missed it make sure to check out the the Fly-In Programs Sway. Deadlines are quickly approaching; so, start working on these applications ASAP! I challenge you all to apply for one of these programs and to visit a college you hadn't previously considered! Please let me know if you apply to one!
August/September Checklist
Research colleges, add them to your MaiaLearning college list and narrow down your college list if you have more than 10 schools.
Request at least 2 letters of recommendation. If you need a request form, use this one.
1 letter needs to come from a core teacher (English, math, science, social science/history).
1 letter can come from an elective teacher, another core teacher, coach, the organizer of your extracurricular activity or community service, your boss, etc.
Pro Tip: Many scholarships will ask for multiple letters of rec, and one will need to be from a community member (e.g. Elevated mentor, Peak Ed staff member, etc). So, collect a letter from a community member at the start of the semester.
View the full senior checklist HERE.
For more tips and resources visit the College Corner page.
Scholarships
I plan to send more scholarships in the coming weeks, but below are some of the major scholarships of 12th grade year that are due this fall semester! Some have quickly approaching deadlines. Make sure to apply if you're eligible!
Pro-tip: Review all the scholarships and write down the ones that interest you. Write down the deadlines in your phone or planner. Set EARLIER deadlines to complete parts of each application (e.g. essays, collect letters of rec, etc). Let Ms. Rainey review your essays in advance (at least 2 weeks before the deadline)!
Cameron Impact Scholarship
Amount: Full Ride
Deadline: September 8th @ 1 p.m. MT
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale
U.S. Citizen
Current high school senior planning to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year U.S. college beginning in fall 2023
Submit the following three components by September 9:
Online Application
Two required Letters of Recommendation
Transcript
Criteria:
Show proven excellence in extracurricular activities
Be motivated leaders with a strong work ethic
Demonstrate active participation in community service and/or civic minded arenas
Gates Scholarship
Amount: Full Ride
Deadline: September 15th
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
A high school senior
From at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
Pell-eligible
A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
A minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
Criteria:
An outstanding academic record in high school (top 10% of their graduating class)
Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
Tips from Ms. Rainey: The first stage of this application usually consists of an application without essays. So, they make their decision on if you will move to the next stage based on your grades and activities list and descriptions. Review the tips found HERE about how to create a strong activities list. Before submitting your application, let someone like Ms. Rainey review it and provide feedback.
QuestBridge Scholarship
Amount: Full Ride at partner colleges
Deadline: September 26th
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
A high school senior
In top 5-10% of class
Financial Need
See all requirements HERE.
Criteria:
An outstanding academic record in high school
Evidence of strong writing ability, intellectual spark, and determination.
Tips & Insight from Ms. Rainey: Your QuestBridge application also serves as a college application for the partner college. Learn more about this scholarship by reviewing this presentation , which was created by a Peak Ed college intern and former finalist for the QuestBridge scholarship.
After you complete your application, you will have the chance to rank up to 10 colleges; make sure you rank them in order of interest because if you match with a college, you're committing to go there and have the QuestBridge scholarship fully cover your tuition!
There are a lot of pieces to this application; so, if you have questions, email Ms. Rainey. Prioritize writing the essays and short responses (including the short sentences) NOW. Make sure you submit everything to Ms. Rainey for feedback at least 2 weeks before the deadline.
Coca Cola Scholarship
Amount: $20,000
Deadline: October 2nd @ 3 pm MT
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
Current high school senior
U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Permanent Residents, Refugees, Asylees, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, or Humanitarian Parolees
Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution
Minimum GPA 3.0
Criteria:
Capacity to lead and serve, and commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities
Daniels Fund
Amount: up to $100,000 (~$25K per year)
Application Period: Opens September 15 - Deadline October 15
Learn more HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
A high school senior from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming
Citizen or permanent resident of the United States
3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Minimum 490 SAT Math and minimum 490 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing; or a minimum 18 ACT in each category (writing score not required). Super scoring is not accepted.
Demonstrate financial need ($85,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
Criteria:
Strength of character
Leadership potential
Commitment to serving their communities
Academic performance or promise
Well-rounded personality
Emotional maturity and stability
Boettcher Foundation Scholarship
Amount: Full Ride
Deadline: Opens Sept. 1 and Due November 1 @ 5 pm
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
Colorado high school senior who has lived in Colorado for full junior and senior years
Citizen, legal permanent resident, or lawfully present in the United States
Criteria:
Superior scholastic ability and intellectual curiosity
Evidence of leadership and involvement
Service to community and school
Outstanding character
Heisman High School Scholarship
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: October 17 @4pm MT
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
High school senior who participates or has participated in grades 9, 10, or 11 in one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee (see the full list here)
Minimum weighted GPA 3.0
Demonstrate leadership in school and in the community
Voice of Democracy: Audio-Essay Scholarship Program
Amount: $1,000-$35,000
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
High school students
Lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence
Audio Essay Judging Criteria:
Originality (30 points)
Content (35 points)
Delivery (35 points)
Greenhouse Scholars
Amount: $20,000 (four-year, renewable scholarship of $5000 per year)
Deadline: November 21st
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
A high school senior planning to attend a four-year accredited academic institution
U.S. citizen/permanent resident and a legal resident of Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, or North Carolina
Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5
Demonstrate financial need (annual household income no greater than $70,000)
Criteria:
Possess excellent leadership skills
An ability to persevere through difficult circumstances
A strong interest in and commitment to their community
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship
Amount: Up to $55,000 per year
Deadline: November 16th
Apply HERE (application is on Common App; opens 8/24).
Eligibility Requirements:
Current high school senior intending to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2023
Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5
Demonstrate financial need (annual household gross income no greater than $95,000)
Criteria:
Academic excellence: A strong academic record, outstanding recommendations from teachers, shows a desire to be challenged, and demonstrates enthusiasm for learning.
Leadership: Motivates others, takes initiative, and contributes positively to the community.
Persistence: Exhibits determination when faced with obstacles, goal-oriented, and confronts challenges with an ability to adapt to change.
Dell Scholars
Amount: $20,000 + a laptop + textbook credits
Application Period: October 1 – December 1, 2022
Apply HERE.
Eligibility Requirements:
Participate in a college readiness program in grades 11 and 12 (e.g. AVID, Upward Bound). View list of approved CRPs.
Minimum 2.4 GPA
Demonstrate financial need; Pell Grant-eligible
Plan to enroll full time at an accredited higher education institution in the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in the fall directly following high school graduation
Criteria:
Grit – by taking action to overcome personal challenges related to families, schools, or communities
Potential – by participating in college readiness programs and seeking out academic rigor
Ambition – by preparing themselves and planning for their dream of graduating with a college degree