Counselor’s Corner

Take the time to complete Career and College Searches!

Here are some links you can use!

• My Next Move
  • Take an interest inventory (upper right hand corner)
  • Search for Careers
  • Find colleges that align with that career
• CareerOneStop
  • Assessments — Interest, Skills and Values inventories
  • Find Careers
  • Training
• O*Net Online    career search by interest, cluster, key words, etc 
• ACT Job Profiles Search 
• College Score Card
  • Compare Fields of Study (majors)
  • Compare Careers and Colleges
• Appily – career/college searches – virtual tours, and more
• Hire Paths  – explore careers – videos, etc 
• Dr. Kit – Career Videos

KS Degree Programs/College Comparisons

• KS Board of Regents – Program & Degree Search – comparison with stats
• KS Program Search 
• KS Degree Maps – (scroll to the bottom – pick a school, then pick your program of study/major to compare/print out)

Nex-Tech – Nex-Gen Internships

Register for the ACT 

Choose the ACT-No Writing Test!

Cost : $70.00 (EMR Composite – English, Math, Reading) (+$5 for Science add on) (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. McDowell.   There are fee waivers available for students who qualify.

*Please ask if needing extra ACT Prep help.*

Other Scholarships:

Nex-Tech – Nex-Gen Internships

• Dane G. Hansen Scholarships 
  • Hansen Leader of Tomorrow, Hansen Scholar, Hansen Student – Must qualify and take the Hansen Academic Scholarship Test
• Hansen Career & Technical Education Scholarship – Due Oct 20 – pick up a form from Mrs. McDowell or fill out the form online!
• NHS Scholarship – Due Nov 20 (opens Sept 3)
• Rudd Foundation Scholarship – Must be Pell Eligible (fill out FAFSA first) – For HS ONLY – to attend a 4 year KS School- Applications accepted Oct 1 – Dec 1
• Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program – variety of scholarships- many levels – due dates vary from Nov 1 to Feb 15 to June 15
• Nex-Tech Scholarship – Break the Rules  due Feb 13-  HS only (any school) 
• Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) College Scholarship Program – Due Feb 14- (for 1st year of school)
• Kansas Masonic Foundation Scholarships  (Applications accepted Dec 1-Feb 15) (KS Schools)
• GPACAC Scholarships  –  HS only  (and transfer students) to any school – due Feb 15 
• WTA2026 Academic & Trade School Scholarships (for children of Nex-Tech’s employees or board members) Due – Feb 27
• BBB Student of Integrity Scholarship – due Feb 28 (HS only)
• Nex-Tech Technical Education Program Sponsorship – For students going to Fort Hays Tech | North Central (www.fhtechnc.edu) in one of the qualified programs (Telecommunications, Information Technology, or Heavy Equipment Operation)- Due March 1
• Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships (due March 1)
  • For Trade Schools, or FHSU or KSUs majoring in Agriculture
• Ad Astra KS Foundation – Space Exploration Scholarship (for graduate, undergrads- all levels) (due March 1)
• True Blue KSHSAA Scholarship  (March 1) – HS only – to any school
• Kansas Grain and Feed Association scholarship application – – due March 5 (HS only – KS Schools)
• Kansas Board of Regents Scholarships  (May 1)
  • There are many scholarships available at this link! HS & POST GRAD OPTIONS
  • Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant – for Technical and associate programs only
  • KS Education Opportunity Scholarship – for dependents of teachers or 1st generation college students
  • KS Nursing Service Scholarship
  • KS Teacher Service Scholarship
  • KS Promise Scholarship – for community and technical colleges – based on your FAFSA
• KACRAO Scholarship  – due March 29
• Military Dependent Scholarships
• HomeDepot Path to Pro Construction Scholarship (Deadlines: March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31.)
• ***NEW*** 2026 Kansas Financial Scholars Essay Contest – HS Seniors attending a KS school (Due April 1) 
• ***NEW*** Educate KS Scholarship — HS and Post-Grads (Due May 31)

Local Scholarships:

Click on the link, and open the fillable form in Adobe.  Let Mrs. McDowell know if you have any issues or questions.

*****Spreadsheet list of descriptions *****(to help you get/stay organized) – download &/or print this, highlight which ones you qualify for and check off when you are completed.

• Hansen Career & Technical Education Scholarship – Due Oct 20 – pick up a form from Mrs. McDowell or fill out the form online!
  • Renewal from past recipients due by June 5.
• Smith County Conservation District Scholarship (Jan 1) HS Seniors
• Smith County Community Foundation Scholarships (and area foundations) (Feb 15)
• Harry B. Sweet Scholarship (March 1) HS Seniors  – (hand in to Mrs. McDowell or Mr. Wiens)
• **NEW – The Mans Family Healthcare Scholarship (March 1) HS Seniors or -non-trad/returning learners
• *** NEW – Melvin Kester/Phillips County Rod and Custom Club Scholarship- HS Seniors – (March 20th)
•  ** NEW –  Phillips County VFW Auxiliary Scholarship – HS Seniors (March 20)
• D.C. Duer Scholarship HS & POST-GRAD (March 30)
• **NEW – Phillips County PEO Scholarship – HS Senior (March 31)
• Phillips County Conservation District Scholarship (March 31) HS Seniors 
• Carl and Martha Grauerholz Memorial Scholarship HS Seniors***  Updated – due April 15
• Renewal – Carl and Martha Grauerholz Memorial Scholarship (undergrad)(March 31)
• Arnold “Tarzan” Levin Memorial Scholarship  HS Seniors *****Updated – due April 15
• Renewal – Arnold “Tarzan” Levin Memorial Scholarship (undergrad only) (March 31)
• ***KILMER-MILLER Scholarship  HS & POST-GRAD (undergrad only) (April 1)
• Kensington Lions Club Service Scholarship – HS STUDENTS ONLY (April 1)
• Bill and Julia Thomas Charitable Trust Scholarship – HS STUDENTS ONLY (April 1)
• Bill and Julia Thomas Charitable Trust Scholarship – POST-GRAD ONLY (undergrad and graduate) (April 1)
• Bill and Julia Thomas Nursing Scholarship HS & POST-GRAD (April 1)
• Orville L. and Beverly Borgman Scholarship- HS & POST-GRAD (undergrad & grad) (April 1)
• Thunder Ridge Educational Association Scholarship HS & POST-GRAD (April 1) * updated*
• Fred Marran Post #166 American Legion Scholarship HS & POST-GRAD (April 1)
• Fred Marran Post #166 Sons of the American Legion Scholarship (April 1) HS & POST-GRAD
• Fred Marran Post #166 American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship HS & POST-GRAD (April 1)
• Fred Marran #166 Vada Bonnett American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship HS & POST-GRAD (April 1)
• USD 110 Vada Bonnett Scholarship (April 1) HS & POST GRAD
• Theodore and Ruth Levin Charitable Trust Scholarship (April 1) HS Seniors & past recipients
• Vada Bonnett Music Scholarship (April 1) HS & POST-GRADS
• Carrol Darlene Booz Charitable Trust Scholarship (April 1) HS & POST GRADS
• Edward G. Beckman Scholarship Trust – HS SENIORS ONLY (April 1)
• Edward G. Beckman Scholarship Trust – POST-GRAD STUDENTS ONLY (undergrad only) (April 1)
• Rathert Foundation Scholarship Fund (April 1) – HS Seniors ONLY
• Margaret Nelson Castle College Scholarship Trust – POST-GRAD STUDENTS ONLY (April 1)
• Margaret Nelson Castle College Scholarship Trust – HS STUDENTS ONLY (April 1)
• Margaret Nelson Castle Vocational-Technical Scholarship Trust – HS STUDENTS ONLY (April 1)
• Cleon Dettmer Charitable Trust Scholarship (April 1) POST-GRAD STUDENTS ONLY
• Smith County Farm Bureau Scholarship (April 1) HS ONLY
• Phillips County Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship (April 1)
• Wanda May Vinson Scholarship – ACTIVE KAY Members Only! (April 1)
• Smith County Fair Board Scholarship (April 1) HS Only
• L. Kent Culbertson Scholarship (April 1)
• Lull Family Charitable Trust (April 1)
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church Scholarship (April 1)
• Agra American Legion and Auxiliary Post #357 Scholarship (April 15)
• Joey Zadina Memorial Scholarship (April 20) HS ONLY – attending KU
• Vietnam Veterans of America Scholarship – (received in Hays by April 24)
• Raegan Elizabeth Boden Memorial Scholarship – HS & POST GRAD (undergrad only) (April 15)
• Kensington/Thunder Ridge Alumni Scholarship – (April 22) HS ONLY
• Smith County 4-H Scholarship – (May 1) HS Only

Additional Scholarship Searches!!

• tuitionfundingsources.com
• Federal Student Aid
• Fastweb
• Broke Scholar
• Scholarships.com
• Fastaid
• Best College Degrees and Majors
• Scholarship Hunter
• How to Pay for College
• SuperCollege
• Scholly Scholarships 
• Appily – Virtual Tours, College Searching, Scholarships and more

Priority Deadline for Kansas – Received by April 1. Some schools may have an earlier priority deadline!   

Fill it out as early as October 1.  Do not pay ANY company to help with filling out FASFA. Be careful of scams!

Education Quest – Located in Kearney. Will help families fill out FASFA for FREE!!  – Website has lots of tools for preparing for your future after high school.

Try these Free Sources of Information:

• The U.S. Department of Education’s Web site

For more information on scholarship scams:

• http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml
• www.studentaid.ed.gov/LSA
• www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams