Happy FAFSA Friday (and new year, too)!!

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Happy new year Class of 2016! It’s your year!!!!

Happy 2016

As we celebrate the start of a new year that has a very special meaning (remember when 2016 seemed soooo far off!), today is the day to officially start your FAFSA! If you are unable to begin today, remember that the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria is sponsoring a FAFSA completion workshop on Saturday, January 9th from 8:30-11:00 AM. (*Also, check to be sure if you are applying to one of over 300 colleges, universities, or scholarships that require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE (list link and CSS Profile info link))

Upcoming Events

January 1st: Important Deadline for many colleges (Be sure you hit submit on your best possible submission by 11:59PM), FAFSA is live!!!,  and Happy New Year!

January 4th-11th: SoL Remediation for Expedited Retakes (Offered for Algebra 1, Reading and Biology)

January 5th: Deadline to turn in Pink Packets for January 15th college application deadlines

January 9th: SFA FAFSA Workshop from 8:30-11:00 AM

January 12-14: Expedited SoL retakes

January 13th: Deadline for Gates Millennium Scholars Program Application

January 15th: Another Important Deadline for Many More Colleges

January 18th: Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. Holiday (NO SCHOOL)

January 21st: SFA Scholarship Completion Session 3:15-4:15PM in the Rotunda

February 5th: Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Application due by 4:3oPM

February 12th: Special Alexandria Hall of Fame Ceremony @TC (info link)

February 20th : Alfred Street Baptist Church HBCU Festival (info link)

Time to Explore Internship Opportunities

As you look ahead to the exciting opportunities that this new year will bring, it is time to start thinking about interning in order to gain some valuable professional skill and build your network. Some of you have already begun to do this on your own, or via the Urban Alliance program. Now is the time to start exploring your options for an internship that will allow you to gain valuable experience in the professional world.

Intern Dermontti CasonDermontti has already begun to explore his options by interning in the LC10 office.

New Face in LC 12

GWU Intern Brian Gregson pictureThis spring we will welcome Mr. Brian Gregson as a school counseling intern from The George Washington University. Some of you may already be familiar with Mr. Gregson since he has been working as an AVID tutor on both TC campuses. He is excited to join the LC12 team and work with the students as they finish their high school career and plan their future endeavors. See you soon Mr. Gregson!

NASA Opportunity

Announcing NASA’s 2015-16 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest 
 
The Cassini spacecraft launched in October 1997 and has been orbiting Saturn since 2004. The 2015-16 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest is open to students in grades 5-12. Essays must be under 500 words.  
 
There are three essay topics to choose from: 
Target 1. Saturn’s rings and three moons: Tethys, Enceladus, and Mimas 
Target 2. Jupiter, as seen from a billion miles away 
Target 3. Saturn’s moon, Tethys, passing behind Rhea (27-frame movie) 
 
Students choose one of these topics and write an essay about why they think this image should be taken by the Cassini spacecraft. What questions do they hope will be answered by taking this picture? 
 
For contest rules, videos about each essay topic, a downloadable contest flyer, frequently asked questions, and more information, visit:
 
The contest deadline is Friday, February 26, 2016. All essays must be submitted by the student’s teacher (or parent, if homeschooled). If the essay contest is used as a class assignment, please send the top 3 essays from each class, along with a list of other students who wrote essays for the contest. 
 
All students who write essays will receive a certificate of participation. U.S. winners and their classes will be invited to participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists. U.S. and international winning essays will be posted on the Cassini website. 
 
For questions about the contest or to sign up for the contest’s email distribution list, contact scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov Good luck! 
Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Opportunity
The scholarship sponsored by Tomorrow’s Black Men, Inc. is designed to award qualifying African-American male high school students with scholarships of $500, $1,000 and $2,500. Because the essay requirements of scholarship/college applications can be intimidating, Tomorrow’s Black Men is also available for presentations on the importance of writing. www.tomorrowsblackmen.org
Enjoy a great start to the new year, and a wonderful weekend before we begin preparing for your fabulous future! Happy New Year!!!