

Welcome to South Florence
Scholarship and Special Opportunities Webpage

Senior Conferences to Begin on September 28
Seniors received
a copy of their transcript, senior checklist and an information sheet when they
met with a member of the Guidance staff beginning on September 28. View Senior Information sheet here.
Parent Information Meeting PowerPoint is now
available
Parent
Information PowerPoint from Tuesday, September 29 is available by clicking here.
Junior Conferences to Begin on October 21
Juniors will
receive a copy of their transcript, an information sheet and a note for parents
to schedule an IGP conference with their student’s Guidance Counselor when they
met with a member of the Guidance staff beginning on October 21. View Junior Information sheet here.
Attention High School Juniors and Seniors
Interested in a Career in Teaching!!!!
Join the South
Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators in partnership with the Epsilon Chi
Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Florence District One for an
informational session on the SC Teacher Loan Program, Application Process,
Grants, Scholarships, Area of Certification and more. The informational session will take on Saturday,
November 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Poynor Adult and Community Education
Center- 301 South Dargan Street.


Commission on Higher Education
Students and parents are encouraged to visit
the Commission on Higher Education website at www.che.sc.gov. The website offers links to all college and
university websites in
“News You Can Use” from ACT
ACT's monthly “News You Can Use” electronic newsletter provides short
articles to inform students and parents about college and career planning. Access the website at http://www.act.org/news/use/index.html
.
Next Step Magazine Available Online
This magazine is
designed to help college bound students search for colleges, follow a simple
college planning timeline and research to find the perfect career. A limited number of hard copies are available
in Guidance or visit www.nextSTEPmag.com.
AnyCollege.com
An excellent direct, user-friendly college
search engine for high school students that offers a $2000 scholarship give
away four times per year. Students sign
up for the random scholarship drawing by going to www.anycollege.com and click on the “Win
a Scholarship” link.
Knowledge for COLLEGE
This site is a comprehensive resource that
takes the guesswork out of planning and paying for college. It walks students
and parents through the entire “going to college” process from early planning
and estimating costs to understanding student loans. Students can access a free scholarship search
containing over 2.8 million awards. For
Students and parents: www.CollegeAnswer.com .
College Financial Newsletter
Fall issue of the CERRA College Financial
Newsletter may be accessed at this direct link: http://www.cerra.org/export/sites/default/newsAndMedia/cfn/CFN_Sept09.pdf.
College Open Houses
Female students interested in finding more information about
Women’s Colleges may visit www.womenscolleges.org.
Limestone College Open Houses scheduled for October 30,
2009, February 19, 2010 and April 9, 2010.
Check http://www.limestone.edu/admissions-day-student-admissions/admissions-arrange-a-visit/admissions-open-house
for times and agenda.
Charleston Southern University hosts First Look events
for current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who want to experience
the campus of CSU. First Look dates for
fall and spring are Saturday, November 14, 2009 and Saturday, February 20,
2010. For more information, visit http://www.csuniv.edu/admissions/campusvisit.asp.
Clemson University is hosting a Sneak Preview weekend
from Thursday, November 12 through noon on Saturday, November 14. Sneak
Preview is designed to offer top performing minority high school
seniors the chance to experience life as Clemson University engineering or
science majors. Students will be paired
with undergraduate hosts who take them to class, to meals and to all of their
extracurricular activities. The seniors
will also stay in dorms with their hosts.
The Sneak Preview is free. To
be eligible, students must be seniors, must be enrolled in a college
preparatory program and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The mission of this program is to target
African American and Hispanic/Latino American students. Eligible students are selected on a
first-come, first served basis determined by the date and time the applications
arrive in the PEER office at Clemson.
Only five students per high school will be accepted. The deadline for receiving both the
application and parents’ permission form is October 29, 2009. Applications and information brochures
are on file in Guidance.
Winthrop University is hosting a Preview Day on November
7, 2009. To find out more information,
go to http://www.winthrop.edu/admissions/default.aspx.
Winthrop University’s Fine Arts Portfolio Day on November
7, 2009 is in conjunction with Preview Day.
However, students may come just to the Portfolio Day that begins at 1
p.m.
To learn more about Portfolio Day, go to http://www2.winthrop.edu/vpa/finearts/portfolio.html.
Francis Marion University Open Houses scheduled for
October 17, 2009, November 21, 2009, February 27, 2010 and April 17, 2010. Students
may register at www.admissions.fmarion.edu.
Coastal Carolina University’s Carolina Comes First Day is
scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2009.
North and South Carolina
seniors can bring a completed application, sealed copy of their high school
transcript and a copy of their SAT or ACT score report and meet with an
admissions counselor. Students can
complete and print their application at http://www.coastal.edu/admissions/apply.html. Attendance is limited, so call,
843-349-2027, to reserve your spot today.
An information card with the tentative schedule of activities is posted
on the Scholarship board in Guidance.
All South Carolina and North Carolina students will receive a $45
application fee waiver for attending the program and submitting a completed
application.
National Portfolio Day is scheduled for Saturday,
November 21, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Maryland Institute College of Art will be
hosting this event. This event provides an opportunity for young
artist to meet with representatives from art institutions to review artwork,
discuss educational and professional goals and share information on art
programs, careers admissions and financial aid.
For more information, visit www.portfolioday.net.
Anderson University announces Sneak Peek @ AU
events. Events are planned for November 14, 20 and December 3. To find out more information or register for
events, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu.
USC Upstate announces Upstate Open House Series. The
programs will be held from 10am-2pm on November 14, February 13 and March
20. To register, call 1-800-277-8727 or
visit www.uscupstate.edu.
Columbia College Arts Open House Weekend on January
29-30, 2010. For information and to obtain an Arts Open House registration packet,
contact of the following program coordinators:
Ms. Wrenn Cook
(Dance) wcook@columbiasc.edu, Dr.
Rebecca Johnston (Music) rjohnston@columbiasc.edu,
or Professor Stephen Nevitt (Visual Arts) snevitt@columbiasc.edu. Please visit www.columbiasc.edu/aoh to
register.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Hugh O’Bryan Youth Leadership Seminar: 10th grade only. Seminars are scheduled for the spring. HOBY Leadership Seminars are designed for high school sophomores to recognize their leadership talents and apply them to becoming effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace and community. More information is available at www.hoby.org. Interested sophomores should see Mr. Gamble.
South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Math (GSSM): Current 10th graders. GSSM provides high achieving students an educational opportunity for an academic challenge in a residential community of like minded scholars. GSSM is designed to challenge the best students while preparing them to succeed and excel at higher levels of education. Students apply to GSSM during their sophomore year and if accepted, attend their junior and senior years of high school. GSSM is accepting applications for the Class of 2012 now through March 1, 2010. Students can apply online or download the application at http://scgssm.org/prospective_students/admissions/apply_online/.
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine is hosting “Role Models in Medicine” on Friday, February 5, 2010. This program is designed to generate enthusiasm among high school juniors and seniors who have an interest in pursuing a career as a physician. The day will include scientific demonstrations, a tour of the campus, and an opportunity for students to meet and talk with medical school students and faculty. Space is very limited and only four students from each high school will be selected to attend. Students who are interested in attending this program should apply with Mrs. McBride by November 13.
Rotary Youth Exchange Program: Students interested in spending up to a year living with a few host families and attending school in a different country may visit www.rotary.org and click on the Students and Youth link or call 662-7783 for more information.
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship is a high school student exchange program fully funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag (Parliament). Each year, CIEE administers scholarships for American high school students to live and study in Germany on a one-year full scholarship. For more details and to apply, visit www.USAGermanyScholarship.org.
Information is also posted and on file in the Guidance office.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Francis Marion University is accepting applications for the Governor Robert E. McNair Scholarship. Made possible by a generous private gift to the FMU, the McNair Scholarship is part of the program offered by the McNair Center for Government and History at FMU. To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, a high school student must meet the following criteria:
· High school senior with 1100 or higher score (math and verbal) on the SAT or a score of 24 or higher on the ACT.
· High School cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
· South Carolina resident
· Interest in a career in public service, broadly defined
· Willing to commit to study abroad and service learning opportunities while enrolled at FMU
The selection process will also involve application essays
and for semi-finalists, personal interviews.
Two McNair Scholarships will be awarded to freshmen entering the
University in August 2010. The McNair
Scholarships will cover tuition, fees and room and board. Applications are available online at www.fmarion.edu. Deadline for applying is November 20, 2009.
SC Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities announces the 2010 Journalism Contest “Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation. The contest winner receives a four-year scholarship to the South Carolina state-supported institution of his or her choice. To enter, contestants must write a three-page article on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. Contestants must be South Carolina residents ages 16-19 and a junior or senior in high school. They do not have to have a disability. Entries must be postmarked no later than January 19, 2010. For more information and complete rules and eligibility requirements, visit www.journalism.scvrd.net. Information is also on file in Guidance.
Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the
Places You’ll Go” 2010 College Scholarship Program: Seniors only.
This scholarship recognizes a high school senior who understands and
values the limitless possibilities that education can offer with a $5000
scholarship award. Thinking about the
book, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” what kinds of opportunities and challenges do
you think your education will present in the future? Your original composition must be submitted
in personal essay/memoir format. All
submissions must be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than one page (500
words). Applications and further details
are on file in Guidance. Entries must be
postmarked by February 15, 2010.
The Prudential Spirit
of Community Awards (National Association of Secondary Principals): Middle and High school students. If you have made a difference by
volunteering in your community over the past year, you could win $1000 and a
trip to Washington, D.C. To apply, visit
www.prudential.com/spirit or www.principals.org/prudential,
click on the “How to Apply” link and follow the onscreen instructions. When asked for the access key, type the word spirit.
Please print out the completed application, sign and return the
application to Mrs. Page in Guidance by November 2, 2009.
Harvard University announces that parents in families with incomes of less than $60,000 will no longer be expected to contribute to the cost of their children attending Harvard. In addition, Harvard will reduce the contributions of families with incomes between $60,000 and $80,000. To find out more information about Harvard offering free tuition for the families specified, visit Harvard’s financial aid website at http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/ or call the school’s financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.
Attention Class of 2011!! Enter the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program for recognition and college scholarships by taking the 2009 PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 14 at South Florence High School. Students may be eligible for the following scholarships:
· The National Merit Scholarship Program is open to all high school students who meet published entry requirements.
· The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition in which only Black American high school students participate.
The PSAT/NMSQT is the route of entry to NMSC programs. Information about program entry requirements is available at www.nationalmerit.org. Information is also posted in Guidance.
NROTC Scholarship Money for College: Seniors. NROTC scholarships are offered at more than 100 colleges and universities. NROTC scholarships cover tuition and fees, plus money for textbooks and a $200 monthly subsistence. There are over 60 leading colleges and universities with a NROTC unit. Learn more at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil or www.navyjobs.com.
Harry Hampton
Scholarship: Senior only. SC seniors wishing to further their
education in the natural resources discipline such as wildlife biology,
fisheries biology, forestry or marine science are eligible to apply for the
$2500 annual scholarship up to four consecutive years. Applications are available at www.HamptonWildfireFund.org. More information is on file in Guidance. Deadline
is January 31, 2010.
Wallace F. Pate
Scholarship: Seniors only. SC seniors wishing to further their
education in the natural resources disciplines are eligible to apply for the
$1500 one time award at www.HamptonWildlifeFund.org
. More information is on file in
Guidance. Deadline is January 31, 2010.
James O. Thomason
Scholarship: Seniors only. SC seniors wishing to further their
education in print or photo journalism, advertising, public relations or mass
communications are eligible to apply for the $1000 annual scholarship for up to
four consecutive years at www.HamptonWildfireFund.org
. More information is on file in
Guidance. Deadline is January 31, 2010.
Southern Wesleyan University: A scholarship and grants program with institutional scholarships that range between $3,000 and $8,000 per year, renewable for up to four years is awarded to new applicants who met and maintain a minimum GPA while enrolled at SWU. To apply for admissions and find out more information about this program, visit www.swu.edu.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriotic Audio Essay Competition “Voice of Democracy”: Students in grades 9-12. Grand Prize is a $30,000 scholarship. Record your original 3-5 minute essay on a standard cassette tape or CD on this year’s theme, Does America Still Have Heroes? Label your cassette or CD and neatly typed essay with your name and entry form. Provide these three items to the local VFW Post for judging. Entries must be turned into the local VFW Post by midnight on November 1, 2009. Entry forms are on file in Guidance.
KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program: Seniors only. The KFC Colonel’s Scholar Program was created in 2006 and is dedicated to assisting students with financial need who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a public institution within their legal state of residence. To qualify, a student must be:
· Graduating from high school this academic year (between 12/1/09 and 8/31/09)
· Maintaining a minimum high school cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
· Enrolling in a public, in-state college or university (start date no later than 9/30/10)
· Pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Students may begin their college career by entering into either a two or four year accredited, public (state-funded institution within their state of legal residence), as long as they stay on track to complete a bachelor’s degree program.
· A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Students complete their application online at www.kfcscholars.org. The online application will be available from
December 1, 2009 through February 10,
2010.
ESA (Epsilon Sigma
Alpha) Foundation Board of Directors offers more than 150 scholarships a year
for deserving United States and International students who meet the criteria of
individual endowments. The
information about the scholarships, requirements and applications are available
at www.esaintl.com/esaf. Click on Scholarships application on the left
sidebar and look for scholarships offered in South Carolina. Click on ESA Foundation Scholarship
Application and Guidelines to print an application for submission. The completed application must be submitted
with all the documentation required by
February 1, 2010.
Spartanburg Methodist College: Seniors only. Students with a 3.0 GPA on the SC Uniform Grading Scale based on grades in a predominantly college prep curriculum and are Life Scholarship eligible will be offered a financial aid package equivalent to the cost of tuition. A FAFSA must be completed by June 30th to be eligible for the full tuition. For more information please contact SMC at 1-800-772-7286 or www.smcsc.edu.
Anderson University
offers a Visual Arts Scholarship Competition.
The Visual Arts Department of Anderson University holds
distinguished accreditation for art, graphic design and interior design through
the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Register for a portfolio review to compete
for an annual visual art scholarship up to $3500 per year. To register for a scholarship competition,
visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/visitart. Choose from one of the following portfolio
review dates: October 23, November 14, 2009 and January 15 and February 26,
2010.
Gates Millennium Scholars: Seniors. The process to become a Gates Millennium Scholars requires applicants to complete the Gates scholarship application (Nominee Personal Information) form and to have a nominator who is an educator and a recommender who is familiar with the student’s leadership and community service complete the Nominator and Recommender forms respectively. One thousand students will be selected based on the following eligibility criteria:
· Are African American, American/Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American
· Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or national of the United States
· Have attained a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or earned a GED
· Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities
· Meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
· Have all three required forms (Nominee Personal Information Form, Nominator Form and Recommender Form) completed and submitted by the deadline.
The scholarship application is available at www.gmsp.org. Scholarship applications must be submitted online by January 11, 2010 by 11:59 p.m. EST or the paper application postmarked on or before January 11, 2010. Nomination booklets are also on file in Guidance.
Anderson University offers auditions to compete for an annual $6000 music scholarship. To register for a scholarship competition, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/visitmusic.
Anderson University offers auditions to compete for an annual $4000 theatre scholarship. To register for a scholarship competition, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/visittheatre.
The American Legion Annual High School Oratorical Scholarship Program- “A Constitutional Speech Contest”: 9th -12th graders. Each contestant will present a prepared oratorical on some phase of the United States Constitution which will give emphasis to the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. Each contestant will start the competition at the local post level. Scholarships will range in value from $100-18,000. Details are available at www.scarolinalegion.org under Legion programs. Copies of the information poster are on file in Guidance.
For questions about
this webpage, please contact Beverly McBride
in the Guidance Department.