August 2023 College & Career Newsletter

 

Welcome Back

Welcome back to a new school year!  The College Office is here to help you with all things “life after high school.”  Please read your school emails and if you do not already have a private email address (that you check regularly) I encourage you to make one for college application purposes.  Email will be the main method of communication for colleges.  Your warrenschools email address will be eliminated upon graduation, so please move all important information over now including usernames and passwords that are linked to your warrenschools email account.  We welcome the Ayers Foundation to our School and Counselors: Vanessa Farris, Grace Young, Dr. Katrina Haley & Tori Meeks.  Vanessa Farris will be serving students in the Biological Sciences Academy at WCHS.  Vanessa has over 30 years experience in serving students and families including middle and high school counseling and a decade focused on college access and success. Prior to AYERS, Vanessa was a GEAR UP Coordinator. Vanessa has Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, a Masters degree in Education Psychology and Counseling, and an Ed.S in School Counseling from Tennessee Tech University.  She enjoys traveling, broadway plays and reading in addition to kayaking, hiking and lake days. Dr. Katrina Haley will be working with students in the BLE academy. She has many years in education as a Technology HS teacher, Tech related college professor at various colleges and former director of Technology. She has also worked on  the corporate side of IT with Bridgestone corporate and Arnold AFB. Dr. Haley has her doctorate degree from TSU, masters and Ed.S. From TN Tech, and B.S. from The Univ. of TN, Knoxville. She enjoys vacationing to Walt Disney World and working. Mrs. Chelsea Gribble is our Scholarships Coordinator and Mrs. Leah Simpson has remained in our office as the Minority Liaison/Athletic Liaison.  Chelsea Gribble is a graduate of Vol State Community College and Leah Simpson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication & Communication Studies from the University of Montevallo (Alabama) and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Tennessee Technological University.   She has worked at WCHS since 2013.  

 

Tennessee Promise (TN Promise)

Did you know that many TN students are eligible for tuition-free community or technical college through TN Promise? The deadline to apply is November 1. Visit http://www.TNPromise.gov to submit your application today. We will be visiting senior advisory classes soon to begin this process with many of the senior students.  You can also see your Ayers Foundation Counselor at WCHS anytime for assistance.

 College Fair

Please join us for our College & Career Fair, September 25th, 4pm-6pm in the front lobby.  There will be many colleges, TCAT, and the military. Bring your parents/guardians to learn more about your future opportunities.  

Google Classroom & Remind

Join our Google Classroom to stay up-to-date on all things College & Career including TN Promise & FAFSA (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  The Classroom code is: 2jscc6h.  We also have a Remind account, here is the link: https://www.remind.com/join/createdbyl.

Free Applications 

We will have more information about our TN College Application and Exploration Month to come... More schools are signing on daily, but here is a list of those who have agreed to waive application fees so far:

• August 1 – September 30: Union University, **Sewanee: The University of the South**

• September 1 – 30: Bethel University, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, The University of Memphis

• September 18 – 24: Middle Tennessee State University

• September 19 – 23: Lipscomb University, The University of Tennessee at Martin, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The University of Tennessee Knoxville

• The following participants have no application fee: Carson-Newman University, Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Dyersburg State Community College, Jackson State Community College, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Motlow State Community College, Northeast State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, Rhodes College, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Trevecca Nazarene University, University of Tennessee Southern, Volunteer State Community College, Walters State Community College

*Please Note: this list may be revised as it’s from 2022* & **Free all year**

 

Other Important Information

• Scholarships are available on Google Classroom.  Local scholarship applications will be out at a later date. 

• Resume templates are available in Google Docs (create new > template) which is a great tool for scholarships! Don’t forget to include your extracurricular activities!!!  

• Upcoming Field Trip Opportunities: MTSU & TTU. Check with your Ayers Counselor!  

 

College Fair & Parent-Interest Meeting

Join us on Monday, September 25, 2023, from 4-6pm for the WCHS Senior College Fair. The event will take place in the WCHS front lobby.  If you have a child interested in participating in collegiate sports there will be an informational meeting at 5:30pm in the auditorium.  

TN Promise

Did you know that many TN students are eligible for tuition-free community or technical college through TN Promise? The deadline to apply is November 1. Visit http://www.TNPromise.gov to submit your application today. You can also see your Ayers Counselor for assistance, in the office across from the green hall restroom, downstairs.

 

Steps to Enrollment & Free College Applications

The college going process can be overwhelming; however, there are many tools that can be utilized to better help ease this transition.  One such tool is the website, CollegeforTN, and for specific TN Promise related help, TN Achieves's website.  Furthermore, free College App(lication) Week is this month.  Check the list out at the end of this newsletter to see if the school you’re interested in is waiving application fees.  Remember, do a transcript request on Google Classroom after you apply to a college/university!

Other Important Information

• Scholarship Deadlines: The Gates Scholarship is due 9/15!   QuestBridge The National College Match Scholarship is due 9/26.

• Don’t forget to check out Google Classroom for updates weekly about all things college and career.  The Classroom code is: 2jscc6h.  

• Check all emails & don’t forget your warrenschools email will disappear after graduation.

 

Leah Simpson, Special Populations Liaison, simpsonl@warrenschools.com

Chelsea Gribble, Scholarship Coordinator, gribblec@warrenschools.com

931.668.5858 

 

FAFSA

The FAFSA will be undergoing an overhaul and will not be opening until approximately December 2023.  "The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $120 billion in financial aid to help pay for college or career school each year." We are encouraging students and parents to jumpstart the process by making a username/password for the FAFSA, known as a FSA ID.  Here is how you can make a FSA ID for you and your parents (click here: FAFSA).  Call WCHS at 931.668.5858 with any questions.

 

 

 

Other Important Information

• JHA is our contact for cap & gowns; orders due by 11/15; email gribblec@warrenschools.com or call 668.5858 & ask for Chelsea Gribble for assistance if you have any questions or need financial assistance.

• Parent-Interest Meeting information for future Collegiate Athletes link here if you missed!  

• Scholarships due in October can be found on Google Classroom & this link.

• TN Promise applications are due 11/1 - if you are interested in UT Promise you MUST do a TN Promise application by the deadline as well! (here)

• Community Service available, email simpsonl@warrenschools.com 

• What should I work on for scholarships? In order of importance….

1. Resume (an example is available on Google Classroom)

2. Financial considerations paragraph (For example, I’m a First generation college student, & detailed reasons why you need $$$, etc…)

3. Local scholarships (WCHS comes out in December)

4. Specific school scholarships (Motlow, MTSU, TTU, etc…)

5. Tennessee based scholarships (ex: Scarlett Family Foundation, etc..)

6. National Scholarships that are for minority groups (ex: Hispanic Scholarship)

7. All national scholarships (You can Google a scholarship for anything, but beware of scams)

• Ayers Counselor Dates: 

• Every Tuesday-Thursday they will be available in Advisory during November for Student FSA ID Creation in the Computer Lab (different academy groups each date)

• Nov. 6, Parent Teacher Conference, FSA ID Creation for parents in Computer Lab & 5:30 PM  Parent Financial Aid Night with TSAC and local colleges

• November 30, Advisory--Future Nurses Student Meeting in Auditorium with TCAT, Motlow and TTU Nursing Advisors providing information 

• Saturday, January 6; NEW YEAR NEW FAFSA HELP Session with Breakfast   8AM-11A