Guidance BLAST A Publication of the Roncalli High School Guidance Department

April 5, 2012
ALL STUDENTS (New) Scheduling: All scheduling appointments have concluded. At the end of the meeting with the counselor, students received a copy of their current transcript which included a list of courses planned for the next school year. Please check with your child if you have not seen this form yet. (New) Asian American Alliance Scholarship: The Asian American Alliance (AAAI) is pleased to announce its 2012 Scholarship Program for high school students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. AAAI offers the Asian American Leadership Scholarship. In the past seven years, AAAI has awarded more than 100 scholarships totaling nearly $60,000 to deserving students. AAAI awards multiple scholarships to students with financial need to achieve higher education while maintaining academic excellence and serving community and school. AAAI will award multiple $750 scholarships at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee. Please submit your application on the Asian American Alliance website at www.aaalliance.org no later than April 30, 2012. Recipients of the Asian American scholarships will be notified via email on or before May 20, 2012, and the awards will be presented during Asian Festival at Garfield Park on June 9, 2012. For additional information contact Rupal Thanawala, rthanawala@yahoo.com. You do not need to be a member of the AAAI to apply. Roncalli students have earned this scholarship in the past. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Hall in the guidance area (mhall@roncallihs.org) (New) Marion County Fair Queen Pageant: The Marion County Fair Board is seeking interested females who would like to compete in the pageant. Applicants must by 16-20 years of age (by June 20, 2012), Marion County residents and United States citizens. Candidates will be judged on beauty, poise, personality, communication skills, overall impression and stage presence. Each contestant must be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization in her community; i.e., church groups, Girl Scouts, 4-H, community service organizations, etc. Eligibility is not limited to 4-H members. Applications and additional information are available in the guidance carousel. Applications must be submitted by June 1 but only the first 38 applications will be accepted. The candidate crowned as Queen will be award a $1,000 scholarship. (New) Club Z: Club Z is offering an Achievement Award ($2,000; $1,000; and three $500) to students who have demonstrated strong character in the classroom, overcome obstacles, shown leadership, or improved academically since the beginning of the year. Selected entries will be judged based on performance, service, merit or achievement. Applications are available at www.clubz.com/indy and are due in the guidance office by April 13, 2012. A teacher recommendation must accompany the cover sheet of the application. This award is available to students in grades 5-12. (New) Driver Improvement Program in Central Indiana: Ivy Tech Community College is partnering with the National Safety Council to offer the Alive at 25 Driver Improvement Program in central Indiana. The focus of Alive at 25 is to reduce the number of violations, injuries, and fatalities incurred by young drivers between the ages of 16 and 25. This program is designed to persuade young drivers to take responsibility for their behaviors and to adopt safer driving habits. The program is currently being offered at Ivy Tech locations in Franklin, Shelbyville, and Indianapolis. If you would like additional information, there are handouts in the guidance carousel or you may contact Julie David at 925-0401 or jdavid1@ivytech.edu

(New) Summer Nanotechnology Academy at IUPUI: The IUPUI Nanotechnology Discovery Academy (INDA) Summer Camp provides a unique opportunity for high-school students entering their sophomore, junior, and senior years to explore the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology on the IUPUI campus. This cutting-edge field rapidly is becoming an essential part of science, engineering, medicine, and many other disciplines. The camp fee ($295) covers all camp materials and supplies and includes daily lunch and the cost of one IUPUI course credit. Need-based scholarships may be available; housing and transportation unavailable. Application Deadline: May 7, 2012. Participating high-school students will work with faculty mentors to discover innovative technologies, gain hands-on laboratory experience, engage in research and learning activities, and earn one college-credit hour. The application DEADLINE (postmarked) is May 7, 2012 and the camp dates are: Cohort 1: June 11-15, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cohort 2: June 25-29, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information and the application form, please visit www.crl.iupui.edu/programs/INDA/nanotechnologyForStudents.asp

(New) A Liberal Arts Degree - Is It Worth It? With increasing tuition rates and student loan debt, is a college education even worth the expense? Please join IU College of Arts & Sciences administrators and faculty to discuss pressing questions regarding this hot button topic. Audience members should plan to participate in a lively discussion with questions for the panelists - and each other! The discussion will be led by: Larry Singell, Dean, IU College of Arts and Sciences Jamsheed Choksy, Professor of Central Eurasian Studies and History; Presidentially-appointed and Senatorially-conformed member, United States National Council on the Humanities Richard Miller, Professor of Religious Studies and Director, Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions Prospective students, current IU College of Arts and Sciences students, IU alumni, IU admissions staff, local secondary education professionals, and advocates for higher education are invited to this discussion. This event is free and open to the public, but preregistration with the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Advancement is required. Registrants will receive a copy of The College magazines article, Is a College Degree Worth the Cost prior to the event. Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Time: Reception 6:00pm - 6:30pm (4th Floor Lobby), Discussion 6:45pm - 8:00pm (Room 405) Location:IUPUI Campus Center, 420 University Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202. Click here for directions. Please RSVP to asalumni@indiana.edu or at 812-855-7934. Health Information at IU Health: Indiana University Healthy will offer information on their accredited program in Pharmacy technician (9 months), Surgical Technology (11 months), EMT (6 months), Paramedic (10 months), and Electroneurodiagnostic technician (18 months). Each program information session begins at 12:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. on March 28, 2012 in Wile Hall, Room WG33 (1812 North Capitol Avenue). No reservations are necessary. If you are unable to attend and would like further information on the programs, contact learning@iuhealth.org or 317-962-8185. Military Scholarship Resources: Now is the time for underclassmen and juniors whose parent/s served in the military to begin to research scholarship options. The Veterans Administration offers their Need A Lift book which lists various options. The book is available electronically at www.needalift.org Parent with Military Experience: Parents and sometimes grandparents who were disabled in the military may be eligible for remission of fees (free tuition) at any state-supported post-secondary school or university in the State of Indiana. This applies at any age as long as the child was adopted by age 24 and the child is a

resident of Indiana. The Remission of Fees is good for 124 semester hours of education and may be used for either undergraduate or graduate level work. The amount remitted is 100% of tuition and all mandatory fees. The term "mandatory fees" is defined as any fee that must be paid by every student attending the institution. For more information on this program: http://www.in.gov/dva/index.htm Purple Heart: The Military Order of the Purple Heart: The Military Order of the Purple Heart scholarship program is exclusively for MOPH members, their spouses and their direct descendants. Scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books, incidental fees, room and board, and other direct costs associated with higher education except transportation expenses. If a parent has earned a Purple Heart, they should review the website www.purpleheart.org Applications are due February of the senior year. STEM: Rising 8-11th graders are invited to apply to the Naval Academys Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) summer program on campus in Maryland. Select students gifted in STEM enjoy the opportunity to further their aptitude for STEM using the Academys world class facilities under the tutelage of their professors and the leadership of their midshipmen. More information is available at: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/stem.html Additional information is available from Donald Montgomery at dmontgom@usna.edu Summer Opportunities: Watch for a link to enrichment opportunities in tomorrows Principals Newsletter. There are many summer programs that offer students the opportunity to study on campus in a variety of disciplines. http://roncalli.org/uploads/summeropportunites.pdf (New) College Corner: Paying for College: Students and parents may want to consider the following sites as they plan for college expenses: a. Start a Savings Plan: www.collegechoicedirect.com b. Compare College Costs: www.indianaCollegeCosts.org c. Shop for Scholarships: www.IndianaCollegeCosts.org d. (Seniors) File Your FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov (New) College Open Houses Miami University (OH) offers dates in April. For additional information: http://www.miami.muohio.edu/admission/admission/accepted/fall/special-events/ Univ. Evansville April 9 St. Marys College April 10 Huntington College April 14 Anderson University April 15 Indiana State University April 16 Oakland City University April 16 University of Southern Indiana April 16 Butler University April 18 Manchester College April 27 DePaul University April 28 Visit Day for Juniors www.depaul.edu DePauw University May 2 Reps Visiting Roncalli Be sure to sign up on College and Career Connections. April 17Navy ROTC at 11:00 a.m. SENIORS: (New) Senior Scholarships: In order for senior scholarships to be recognized at the Academic Awards Banquet as well as in the printed Graduation program, seniors must enter all of the scholarships the senior has

been awarded into College and Career Connections, including those scholarships which seniors do not plan to accept. Deadline to enter this info is Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Specific directions were emailed to all senior parents/guardians on April 4, and are also available in the Guidance Center. Any questions, please contact your counselor. (New) College Visits: The last day to take an excused college visit is April 27, 2012. Graduation announcements from Jostens have arrived and are available in the guidance area. We do have a few additional Jostens announcements that cost $1.00 each. Graduation Announcements: Extra Herff-Jones graduation announcements are available in the guidance area. They sell for $1.10 each or $11.00 for ten. Checks should be made out to Clark School Services. Graduation Information: http://www.roncalli.org/guidance/graduation-guide JUNIORS: (New) College Visits: The last day to take an excused college visit is April 27, 2012. Naval Academy Summer Seminar: The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, sixday experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches you about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's leaders. If you think that you may be interested in pursuing an appointment to one of the nation's service academies and serving your country as an officer, you should seriously consider attending the Naval Academy's Summer Seminar. For additional information on the Summer Seminar: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm West Point Summer Leaders Seminar: The SLS is a week-long immersion in academic, military and social life for those juniors to-be seniors who are considering West Point. You will explore West Point from all angles, including some intense military training and athletic activities. It is the best way to gauge the challenges you will encounter as a cadet. Acceptance to the seminar is competitive, so apply online early. About 500 students are selected to attend each session of the seminar. The cost is $350, not including your transportation costs. Admission is on a rolling basis, which means acceptance letters will go out even before the April 1 application deadline. For additional information: http://admissions.usma.edu/summer_program.html
WABASH

COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT BUSINESS PROGRAM-OLAB This event is a one-week, hands-on introduction to business and the market economy for current juniors. The OLAB week at Wabash College will be July 8-14, 2012. This is a demanding and challenging opportunity for motivated students that want to learn more about running a business. Students will run a mock business and compete to sell similar products. In addition to learning about business, students will also enjoy social activities while on campus. Seventy students from across Indiana are selected to attend this unique FREE camp. If you are interested in applying for this experience please log onto http://www.wabash.edu/olab/apply Applications must be received by April 20, 2012. Nordstrum Scholarship for Juniors: Nordstrum will award 80 scholarship to juniors who submit applications and have a minimum 2.7 gpa and are active in their community. Applications are due by May 1, 2012 at http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-cares-scholarship If you have any questions about the scholarship or application process, contact Ellen Greene, Nordstrom Scholarship Program Manager, at 206.373.4550 or nordscholar@nordstrom.com Standardized Test Dates SAT Test Date

Registration Deadline

Site: www.collegeboard.com

May 5 June 4 ACT Test Date June 9

April 6 May 8 Registration Deadline May 4

Cost: $47.00

Site: www.act.org Cost: $48.00 with writing

SAT and ACT Preparation Options: 1. Method Test Prep on College and Career Connections (free) 2. College Board website www.collegeboard.com (free) 3. ACT website www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html (free) 4. ACT and SAT prep booklets in the guidance area (free) 5. Additional free sites: a. www.number2.com b. www.freevocabulary.com c. www.freesat1prep.com d. www.4tests.com e. www.march2success.org You must register but the service is free 6. ACT Test Information Release and SAT Question and Answer Service This service allows students to receive an entire test booklet along with the answer key in the mail so that the student can analyze the exact questions. Analyzing an ACT or SAT is one of the most effective and efficient ways a student can prepare for retaking the ACT or SAT When registering for the April or June ACT OR May SAT indicate Test Information Release (ACT) or Question and Answer Service (SAT). Cost for the service is $18.00 7. Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com offers online, small group and individual preparation at a cost. 8. Kaplan www.kaplan.com offers online, small group and individual preparation at a cost SOPHOMORES: Campus Visit: Sophomores are encouraged to schedule a campus visit or spring open house if they have not taken one yet. A listing of spring open houses/preview days can be found in the Document Library of College and Career Connections under Spring 2012 Open Houses. SOPHOMORES AND FRESHMEN: Career Information: Deciding on a future career is a gradual process for most of us. Students who pay take the opportunity to explore different subjects, read about careers and talk about careers with others can determine career fields that might be of interest and those that are definitely not. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to do a little exploring through our online College and Careers Connections system. Check out the Do What You Are assessment. Read the results about your style and careers that would work well for your personality. Check out the Career Profiler - see what careers match your interests. Log into College and Career Connections: Find the link on the Roncalli home page. Log in with your student ID and use your PIN twice for the password. On the Careers tab, click on personality assessment for Do What You Are results and on career interest profile for careers that match your interest. FRESHMEN Campus Visit: Freshmen scheduling appointments began this week. All collegebound freshmen are encouraged to arrange a college Open House visit. These events are often available on Saturdays during

April. More College Visit information is available within each college's website. Spring Break can offer freshmen the time to visit a college during the weekday as well! Collegebound freshmen do benefit from college visits, both in terms of investigating possible majors and career choices as well as understanding college admissions criteria. Do consider arranging a college visit for your freshman, if possible! A listing of spring open houses/preview days can be found in the Document Library of College and Career Connections under Spring 2012 Open Houses.