Welcome to the Counselor's Corner! Here you will find information about: ACT Registration, graduation requirements, financial aid, scholarships, and college searches.
Please check often for updates and contact me at school if you have questions about the content on this page!
Thunder Ridge High School Graduation Requirements
Admission Requirements for State Universities
State universities in Kansas follow Qualified Admissions (QA) criteria when admitting undergraduate students. QA guarantees admission to a state university for Kansas residents meeting certain criteria. These criteria are set by the Kansas Board of Regents, the governing body for the six state universities. The purpose of QA is to enhance success at the university level by ensuring students are prepared for the rigors of a university education. The institutions that use QA for admission are: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, and Wichita State University.
Qualified Admissions for Kansas Residents State Scholars Curriculum
Kansas System Wide Transfer Courses: takes the guesswork out of college transfer within Kansas' public community colleges, technical colleges, and universities! The courses have been approved by the Kansas Board of Regents for transfer as direct equivalents at all public post-secondary institutions.
Choose the ACT-No Writing Test!
Cost : $50.50 (fee waivers are available for students who qualify - see counselor for details)
Thunder Ridge School Code: 171-580
To register, go to www.act.org or see Mrs. Boden. There are fee waivers available for students who qualify.
ACT Prep
play2prep App (Available for iphones and androids)
www.act.org
March2success
FINANCIAL AID
FAFSA on the Web www.fafsa.gov
National Association of Student Financial Aid www.nasfaa.org
StudentAid.gov Priority Deadline for Kansas - Received by April 1. Some schools may have an earlier priority deadline!
Unfortunately, there are people out there trying to take advantage of students and parents trying to get financial aid for college. Don't pay for help to find money for college! Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1000. You might have heard or seen these claims at seminars, over the phone from telemarketers, or on-line:
For more information on scholarship scams:
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml
www.studentaid.ed.gov/LSA
www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams
Try these Free Sources of Information:
Don't Pay for the FAFSA - Several web-sites offer help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education !
To request college transcripts from Cloud County:
Go to Cloud County Community College web-site at www.cloud.edu/. Select Academics, select Academic Services, select Transcript Request or see Mrs. Boden for a copy of the request form.
Scholarship Searches!!!!!
tuitionfundingsources.com Federal Student Aid
Fastweb
Broke Scholar
Scholarships.com
Fastaid
Findtuition.com
Scholarship Hunter
SuperCollege
Senior Scholarship Information:
All scholarship information that comes to me will be posted on this web-site. If there is a flyer, those are posted on the bulletin board in the senior hallway.
Kansas Board of Regents Scholarship - Apply online at www.kansasregents.org or applications are available from your college financial aid office. The following scholarships are available: State Scholarship, Ethnic Minority Scholarship, Nursing Service Scholarship, Teacher Service Scholarship. Some have service requirements. Common eligibility criteria: resident of Kansas, enroll in a qualified program in a Kansas college or university, and not already awarded an undergraduate degree, unless you are applying for the Kansas Nursing or Kansas Teacher Service Scholarships.
Kansas American Legion Scholarships - this is a variety of legion scholarships available for Kansas students. These are not our local legion scholarships. To access, please go to www.ksamlegion.org and click on the "Scholarships" icon then select which scholarship(s) you wish to view and print off the application. Deadlines vary per scholarship. Horatio Alger National Career & Technical Scholarship Program - Receive up to $2,500 to pursue a career or technical education certificate/degree (510 awards up to $2,500 each). Criteria: Have completed high school or plan to complete high school by Spring 2018 with plans to enroll at a non-profit post-secondary institution by fall 2018. Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a career or technical program at an accredited non-profit post-secondary institution in the U.S.; Demonstrated critical financial need (must be eligible to receive the Federal Pell grant as determined by completion of the FAFSA); Demonstrated perseverance in overcoming adversity; Be involved in community service activities; Be younger than 30 years old; Be a U.S. citizen. The application will be open with a rolling deadline until all awards have been given out. Applications will be reviewed monthly. For more information or to apply, go to https://scholars.horatioalger.org/scholarships/about-our-scholarship-programs/technical/
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS Most are for high school seniors but some may be for college students. Some eligibility is based on where you live, some are based on what county the school you attend is located in.
TO ACCESS THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS, PLEASE CLICK ON THE SCHOLARSHIP TITLE.
Deadline: received at a Nex-Tech office - February 25, 2019 for Nex-Tech signature to meet the required FRS postmark date of March 1, 2019. Harry B. Sweet Scholarship - The Harry B. Sweet Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nebraska, will make scholarship grants to individuals who reside or graduate from high schools in Jewell, Smith and Republic Counties, Kansas and Nuckolls County, Nebraska. The amount of each scholarship grant will be a least $500 but may be more. The grant must be used for tuition, fees, room, board and expenses related to study at an accredited college or university in the United States. Application deadline is March 1. Turn in applications to Mr. Wiens. Kilmer Miller Scholarship - The Kilmer Miller Scholarship is available to any Eastern Heights graduate, students graduating from Thunder Ridge High School from 2009-2012 who attended Eastern Heights, and Thunder Ridge graduates starting with the class of 2013. Applicants must attend any two or four year Kansas public or private college or any Kansas vocational technical school and have not already obtained a BS or BA. Application deadline is April 1. DC Duer Scholarship - the primary purpose of the D.C. Duer Foundation is to provide funding for the educational needs of the citizens of Smith County, Kansas. The scholarship is renewable each year upon appropriate application, eligibility and approval. Application deadline is March 30. Smith County Community Foundation Scholarships - The Smith County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Students in Smith County may qualify for scholarships through GSCF and its other regional affiliates. Online applications are accepted from November 1 to February 15. Eligibility: scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional sschool students and nontraditional students who are attending community college, four-year universities, career/technical schools, medical, or professional schools in the United States. All applications must be submitted through our online system. For more information and to apply, go to http://smithcountycommunityfoundation.org/scholarships/. Application deadline: February 15. Carl & Martha Grauerholz Memorial Scholarship - High School Applicants! Eligibility 1. Applicant must be a current senior enrolled at Thunder Ridge High School and has been accepted or anticipates being accepted into an accredited four year university. 2. Applicant must possess a cumulative G.P.A. of at least a “C” or higher at time of application. 3. Applicant must complete either the SAT or ACT test.Scholarship is available for tuition, room, board and books. Funds will be paid directly to the school. Renewal of Carl & Martha Memorial Scholarship - Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of their first two semesters. At the end of second and third years their cumulative GPA shall be 2.5. Applicant must have taken a minimum of 12 hours per semester. 2. Renewal applications must be made in writing to the Scholarship Committee prior to March 31. Award of scholarship renewal will be made pending submittal of second semester grades. Arnold "Tarzan" Levin Memorial Scholarship - High School Applicants! Eligibility 1. Applicant must be a current senior enrolled at Thunder Ridge High School and has been accepted or anticipates being accepted into an accredited four year university. 2. Applicant must possess a cumulative G.P.A. of at least a “C” or higher at time of application. 3. Applicant must complete either the SAT or ACT test. Note: Scholarship is available for tuition, room, board and books. Funds will be paid directly to the school. Deadline is March 31. Renewal of Arnold "Tarzan" Levin Memorial Scholarship - Renewal - Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of their first two semesters. At the end of the second and third years their cumulative GPA shall be 2.5. Applicants must have taken a minimum of 12 hours per semester. Applications must be made in writing to the Scholarship Committee prior to March 31. Award of scholarship renewal will be made pending submittal of second semester grades. Dane G. Hansen Foundation Scholarships for Phillips County Health Systems - Any application for a health-related career that will enhance the delivery of health care in the Phillipsburg/Norton area will be considered. To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must have completed the pre-requisite classes and been accepted into their chosen medical field. Each scholarship carries a $5,000 annual grant. The awards are renewable, year by year, if satisfactory progress is made toward completion of professional training. Recipients of the scholarship must agree to return to Phillips County Hospital to serve in their professional capacities for at least one year for each year the scholarship is awarded. Applicants should write for information to: Health Scholarships, Attn: Human Resources, Phillips County Hospital, PO Box 607, Phillipsburg, KS 67661. Application deadline is April 26, 2019.
Rathert Foundation Scholarship - Eligibility: Thunder Ridge High School senior pursuing college or vocational education. Application deadline is April 1. Margaret Nelson Castle Vocational-Technical Scholarship - Eligibility: A prospective high school graduate residing in Smith County, Attending an accredited vocational-technical school, Enrolled in a vocational program to be completed in one or two years. Deadline is April 1. Margaret Nelson Castle Vocational Technical Post-Grad Scholarship - Eligibility: A high school graduate residing in Smith County, Attending an accredited vocational-technical school, Enrolled in a vocational program to be completed in one or two years. Deadline is April 1. Margaret Nelson Castle College Scholarship - Eligibility: A prospective high school graduate residing in Smith County, Attending an accredited college or university. Deadline April 1. Margaret Nelson Castle College Post-Grad Scholarship - Eligibility: A high school graduate residing in Smith County, Attending an accredited college or university. Deadline April 1. Bill and Julia Thomas Charitable Trust Scholarship - (High School) Eligibility: Applicants must be a resident of Smith County, Kansas, planning to attend a college or university for an associate, undergraduate or master’s degree or planning to attend a vocational school. Deadline is April 1. Bill and Julia Thomas Charitable Trust Post-Grad Scholarship - Eligibility: Applicants must be a resident of Smith County intending one of the following: planning or attending a college or university for an associate, undergraduate or master’s degree; planning or attending a vocational school; planning or attending a medical school and upon the completion of said course of study intend to practice medicine in Smith County. Deadline is April 1. Orville L. and Beverly Borgman Scholarship - Eligibility: Prospective graduate or former graduate of a Smith County High School that is or is planning to a. pursuing a post-secondary education in a Health Care related field at a university, college, vocational school or in a graduate program; or b. Attending or planning to attend the Seminary; or c. Pursuing a degree in a Special Education related program. Deadline is April 1. Cleon Dettmer Trust Scholarship - Graduates only! Eligibility: A graduate of Kensington High School, Thunder Ridge High School or its successor, 2Pursuing a post-secondary education (must have completed one year of post-secondary education), and planning to attend an accredited university, college, junior college, or vocational technical school, Scholarship is granted for one year and must be re-applied for each year of college thereafter. Deadline is April 1. USD 110 Vada Bonnett Scholarship - Eligibility: Thunder Ridge High School senior or graduate; senior must be in the top 1/3 of their graduating class or have a 3.2 GPA; graduates must be in good standing with their college and have a at least a 2.0 GPA; applicant must be enrolled as, or an applicant for, full time student status (12 credit hours) in a 4 year or 2 year granting institution. Deadline is April 1.
Thunder Ridge Educational Association Scholarship - Eligibility:Thunder Ridge High School student or graduate with a minimum.3.0 GPA andCareer goal of entering the teaching profession. Deadline is April 1. Carroll and Darlene Booz Charitable Trust Scholarship - Eligibility: A resident of Smith County or have graduated from a high school organized and operating in Smith County, Kansas; Pursuing a post-secondary education and planning to attend an accredited university, college, junior college, or vocational technical school; Scholarship is granted for one year and must be re-applied for each year of college thereafter. 4. The scholarship will be based upon need, grades, and educational pursuits. Application deadline April 1.
Other Helpful Information
COLLEGE PLANNING
College.gov - this is a resource from the U.S. Department of Education about continuing education for students (of all ages) and parents. The purpose of this site to engage, inform and inspire students about continuing in post-high school education.
AnyCollege.com - this is a site to utilize for conducting a college search
College Answer www.collegeanswer.com
The College Board www.collegeboard.com
EducationPlanner.org www.educationplanner.org
My College Guide www.mycollegeguide.com
U.S. Department of Education www.ed.gov
Kansasworks kansasworks.com
CAREER ASSESSMENT
MyNextMove.org MySkillsMyFuture.org CareerOneStop.org MyFuture.com www.todaysmilitary.com
www.scholarshipexperts.com
www.collegeanswer.com
www.fastweb.com
www.military.com