Counselor's Corner
1. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
High School/ College Exchange Programs: Exchange programs are invaluable to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.
Go Global: Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a non-profit international educational organization with programs in 64 countries. One of the world's oldest, largest, and most respected exchange organizations, YFU has exemplified excellence in exchange worldwide since 1951.
CIEE : A nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, CIEE is the world leader in international education and exchange. For more than 65 years, CIEE has helped thousands of people gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most comprehensive, relevant, and valuable exchange programs available.
2. COLLEGE AND TESTING PREP/SUPPORT
ACT: ACT is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides a broad array of assessment, research, information, and program management solutions in the areas of education and workforce development. Each year, ACT serves millions of people in high schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies—nationally and internationally. ACT has offices across the United States and throughout the world.
SAT: The SAT is the nation’s most widely used college admission exam. Learn more about how the SAT can help you show colleges what you know and what you know you can do.
Reviews.com ACT/SAT Test Prep: The Reviews.com research team compiled a list of 38 ACT/SAT prep course companies and then selected the 7 best companies to review based on the 28 most important features.
Chegg Test Prep: With Chegg Test Prep, students can get instant access to hundreds of expert SAT, ACT, and GRE test prep guides.
SAT Test Prep: http://www.chegg.com/test-prep/sat
ACT Test Prep: http://www.chegg.com/test-prep/act
March2Success.com A great resource to prepare for the ASVAB as well as ACT/SAT tests.
Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization created in 2008 Salman Khan with the goal of creating a set of online tools that help educate students. The organization produces short lessons in the form of YouTube videos. Its website also includes supplementary practice exercises and materials for educators. All resources are available to users of the website.
CampusReel - 10,000+ student-made videos showcase dorm rooms, dining halls, student life and more on college campuses. It's like YouTube for college search. It's the most fun and effective way to experience a college campus and community.
ACCUPLACER Next Generation preparation links to review prior to testing;
Advanced Algebra and Functions Next Gen Practice
Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics Next Gen Practice
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer/practice
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer/practice-download
3.. PROFESSIONAL/VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Here are important links to local vocational programs as well as work force support options. I have also included links to all the military services. These are all great options to get skills and certifications for students not interested or possibly ready for college after high school.
Vocational Options
Southwest Colorado Community College
Colorado Northwest Community College
Military Options
4. WEB RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL AID
Please take a look at the numerous web links below which are designed to help students and parents navigate scholarships, financial aid, college search links, testing links, and exchange programs.
College Search Engines, Sources of Aid and Scholarships:
FAFSA: Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans —and its value to our society. Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in supporting postsecondary education by providing money for college for eligible students and families. We partner with postsecondary schools, financial institutions and others to deliver services that help students and families who are paying for college.
Student Loan Calculators: You can use these student loan calculators to compare repayment options, payoff strategies, refinancing savings, and tax deductions
Fast Web: For nearly 15 years, Fastweb has been the leading scholarship search provider for every student going to college. As a scholarship matching service, Fastweb matches users to scholarships based on their qualifications, meaning students have a better chance of winning. Their scholarship database contains 1.3 million scholarships worth over $3 billion.
Cappex: With easy-to-use tools that quickly let you find colleges, like College Profiles and Reviews for 3,000+ colleges, College Invites, $11 billion in merit scholarships (powered by MeritAid.com)... even a “What Are My Chances?®” Calculator that instantly tells you your chances of getting into your favorite schools. You've got the source that gives you all the info you need, all conveniently in one place. The resource more than 2 million cumulative students have trusted for their college decisions. MeritAid.com provides Cappex with comprehensive details of $11 billion in merit scholarships offered by colleges across the country. It is the first centralized website dedicated to matching students with merit-based scholarships from more than 3,000 colleges. Knowing what merit-based scholarships are available before students apply to colleges can help them make a more educated decision on where to apply.
Living Wage Calculator - A wonderful tool developed by MIT that helps students plan for life's expenses by state and regions within each state.
Bureau of Labor and Statistics - The BLS overview of wage data by area and occupation.
The salary that a single person needs in every US state - https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/29/the-salary-a-single-person-needs-to-get-by-in-every-us-state.html
5. TESTING DATES
I have included the windows for all tests that will be given this year. Please plan accordingly so that the students are available to take the tests.
1. The 9th Grade PSAT Test – 15 Oct 2024
2. The 10th/11th Grade PSAT/NMQS Test – 16 Oct 2024
3. The 10th/11th Grade ASVAB Test – 17 Oct 2024
4. The Access Test for all ELL Students - 13 January - 13 February 2025 (WINDOW)
5. The 3rd – 8th Grades CMAS - English,Math, Science and/or Social Studies - 8 - 24 April 2025 (WINDOW)
6. The 11th Grade COSAT Test – 18 April 2024
7. The 9th Grade PSAT Test - 16 April 2024
8. The 10th Grade PSAT Test - 17 April 2024
6. STUDENT SUCCESSES
As Norwood High School students have received recognition for their efforts this year, I will update this section. To date, the senior class has earned $1,768,594.00 in scholarships and grants.
8th GRADE
FRESHMAN
SOPHOMORES
Brylea Butler was selected to be a HOBY Ambassador for our school this summer.
Holli Johnson was selected to be a HOBY Ambassador for our school this summer.
JUNIORS
Valeria Hernandez was selected to attend a Pinhead Internship to study Veterinary Medicine this summer.
Brycen Rummel was selected to return to the HOBY Conference this summer as a Junior Staff Member.
SENIORS
Amber Bockrath was selected to return to the HOBY Conference this summer as a Junior Staff Member.
Amber Bockrath received the Chancellor's Scholarship valued at $30,000.00 over four years from Colorado Mesa University.
Amber Bockrath received an Academic Scholarship valued at $44,000.00 over four years from The University of North Dakota.
Amber Bockrath received an Academic Scholarship valued at $8,000.00 over four years and the WUE Scholarship valued at $65,520.00 over four years from The University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Amber Bockrath received an Academic Scholarship valued at $44,000.00 over four years from Iowa State University.
Grace Harris received the University of Colorado-Boulder Outstanding Junior Scholarship valued at $4,000.00.
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $24,000.00 over four years from Colorado Mesa University.
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $14,000.00 over four years from Western Colorado University.
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $20,000.00 over four years from the University of Wyoming.
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $14,000.00 over four years from Colorado State University - Pueblo
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $8,000.00 over four years from New Mexico State University.
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $20,000.00 over four years from Fort Lewis College.
Grace Harris received an Academic Scholarship valued at $14,000.00 over four years from The University of Northern Colorado.
Kendra McCluer received the Tribal Affiliation Scholarship valued at $39,832.00 over four years from Fort Lewis College.
Kendra McCluer received the Equity Scholarship valued at $8,000.00 over four years from Fort Lewis College.
Joshua Platt enlisted in the United States Army and received an enlistment bonus of $9,750.00.
Cadence Shaw received the Chang-Chavkin Scholarship valued at $60,000.00 over four years to be applied to the college of her choice.
Cadence Shaw received an Academic Scholarship and Grant Package valued at $215,200.00 over four years from the Gettysburg College.
Cadence Shaw received an Academic Scholarship valued at $8,000.00 over four years and the WUE Scholarship valued at $65,520.00 over four years from The University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Cadence Shaw received an Academic Scholarship valued at $14,000.00 over four years from the University of Northern Colorado.
Cadence Shaw received an Academic Scholarship valued at $24,000.00 over four years from Colorado Mesa University.
Cadence Shaw received Academic Scholarships and Grant Package valued at $252,800.00 over four years from the Ursinus College.
Cadence Shaw received an Academic Scholarship valued at $112,000.00 over four years from the Austin College.
Cadence Shaw received the Dean's Scholarship valued at $236,000.00 over four years from the Chapman University
Mikah Wareham received the Presidential Scholarship valued at $20,000.00 over four years from Colorado Mesa University.
Mikah Wareham received an Academic Scholarship valued at $6,000.00 over four years from West Texas A&M University.
Mikah Wareham received an Academic Scholarship valued at $55,504.00 over four years from Kansas State University.
Mikah Wareham received an Academic Scholarship valued at $14,000.00 over four years from Western State University.
Mikah Wareham received an Academic Scholarship valued at $36,00.00 over four years from Oklahoma State University.
Mikah Wareham received an Academic Scholarship valued at $67,432.00 over four years from Idaho State University.
7. OFFERS AND ACCEPTANCES
Below is a list of Norwood High School Seniors who have been offered admission to colleges and universities throughout the United States. To date, 5 seniors have been offered admission to 37 college, university or post-secondary programs throughout the United States.
Amber Bockrath - Texas A&M University (ACCEPTED), Iowa State University (offer), Grand Canyon University (offer), Colorado Mesa University (offer), University of North Dakota (offer), Lake Superior State College (offer), University of Hawaii at Manoa (offer), University of Colorado-Boulder (offer), Colorado State University (offer), Purdue University (offer)
Grace Harris - Colorasdo Mountain College (ACCEPTED), University of Wyoming (offer), Colorado State Unoversity-Pueblo (offer), Colorado Mesa University (offer), Colorado State University (offer), University of Northern Colorado (offer), Fort Lewis College (offer), Western Colorado University (offer), New Mexico State University (offer)
Kendra McCluer - Fort Lewis College (ACCEPTED)
Josh Platt - US Army (ACCEPTED)
Cadence Shaw - Ursinus College (ACCEPTED), Colorado Mesa University (offer), Colorado State University (offer), Metropolitan State University of Denver (offer), University of Northern Colorado (offer), University of Hawaii at Manoa (offer), Austin College (offer), Chapman University (offer), Gettysburg College (offer)
Mikah Wareham - West Texas A&M University (ACCEPTED), University of Wyoming (offer), Colorado Mesa University (offer), Kansas State University (offer), Western Colorado University (offer), Colorado State University (offer), University of Idaho (offer), Oklahoma State University (offer)
10. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
NOTE: ALL PAPER BASED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SENT TO EACH STUDENT'S EMAIL. SEE ME IF YOU CAN'T FIND ONE
The Francis Warner Elks Scholarship is due by 1 May 2025. If interested, please see Mr Williams for an application.
If invited, True North Scholaship applications are due on 1 May 2025. Applications will be sent to those invited to apply.
The Norwood Roping Club Scholarship is due by 6 May 2025. If interested, please see Mr Williams for an application.
The San Miguel Sheriff's Office Scholarship is due by 9 May 2025. Please see Mr. Williams for an application.