Guidance Department to offer assistance to complete Scholarship Applications
Starting on Monday, March 14th - Thursday, March 17th, School Counselor, Mr. Andersen will offer assistance to students who need assistance with completing scholarship applications. A reminder that the due date for the Zenas Crane Scholarship is Tuesday, March 15th and the WRHS local scholarships are due Friday, March 18th. When you have a DLT, please request an e-hall pass to see Mr. Andersen.
Guidance Department to offer SAT registration support
On Thursday March 31, 2022, your guidance counselors will be hosting an SAT Registration Day in the College and Career Center for students interested in taking the SAT in May or June. If you are interested in signing up and would like to participate in SAT Registration Day, please complete the Google Form emailed to you by Mrs. Salavantis. Please sign up during a DLT. If you do not have a DLT, please indicate so on the Google Form and we will contact you to pick a period. YOU MUST REGISTER BY MARCH 24 TO PARTICIPATE!
Colleges Openings Update
Each year the National Association for College Admission Counseling posts a list of schools that continue to accept applications from prospective students. You can find their college search tool via this link:
https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/Research/openings/
NEACAC Essay Contest
NEACAC announces its Annual Essay Contest for high school juniors and seniors. High school juniors and seniors from NEACAC-member high schools in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont are invited to submit a 500-word essay on the following topic:
Describe a counselor, teacher, or coach who has had the greatest influence on your decision to attend college. How has this individual impacted your future? What will you do in college or beyond that will make a difference in your community?
A panel of high school counselors and college admissions officers from NEACAC-member institutions will select the winning essays. Essays will be evaluated holistically, taking into consideration factors such as originality, creativity, focus, clarity, and structure. Priority will be given to applicants who hold an identity that has been historically excluded from higher education. For more information, click here. Deadline to submit is April 1.
Local Scholarships announced to Seniors
The Wahconah Regional High School local scholarships have been announced to our Seniors via email on Monday, February 14th. The deadline to complete applications is Friday, March 18th.
The local scholarship brochure can be found via this link and the applications can be found in this google docs link
ALL APPLICATIONS will need to be emailed to Mrs. Drosehn by the deadline. Please do not send them to your counselor. Send each application as a separate document. Do not send them as a long running document. You can email them back to Mrs. Drosehn in the same email or as you complete each application.
In addition, students can access many regional and national scholarships through Naviance. Once logged in click Colleges>Scholarships & Money>Scholarship List>Local & Regional Scholarships to access.
Remember to read the requirements and directions carefully. Please fill out scholarship applications legibly and completely. It is best if you do not wait until Friday, March 18th to email your scholarship applications. There will be no exceptions to scholarship deadlines.
Crane Scholarship announcement
As of January 1, 2022 the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has opened their scholarship applications here: BTCF scholarship application
District specific scholarships:
Zenas Crane Fund for Student Aid
The Zenas Crane Fund for Student Aid provides scholarships for individuals graduating from Wahconah Regional High School or a vocational-technical program of a public high school generally within the previous five years. Awards range from $1,000 - $2,000 annually. Apply by March 15.
Garrett Francis Collins and Josephine Goodwin Collins Scholarship Fund
The Garrett Francis Collins and Josephine Goodwin Collins Scholarship Fund supports graduating high school seniors who are residents of Hinsdale and are pursuing full-time undergraduate study at a two- or four-year school accredited by the "Council on Post-Secondary Education." Scholarships include $1,500 with an achievement standard of a 3.0 GPA or higher, and are renewable for three additional years if that standard is continued. Apply by March 15.
Winthrop Crane Scholarship Fund for Graduate Studies
The Winthrop Crane Scholarship Fund for Graduate Studies provides scholarships for individuals who are graduates of Wahconah Regional High School and are enrolled at a post-graduate academic institution. Eligibility prioritizes financial need and evidence of ambition and achievement. Awards range from $1,000 - $2,000. Apply by March 15.
Junior class scholarship opportunity
106 scholarships at $25,000 each
As one of the nation’s largest college financial aid programs in the country, the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program is one of the major scholarship programs nationally that specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. The scholarships are funded by Horatio Alger Members who, like the Scholars, have experienced challenges but ultimately overcame them to become successful business and civic leaders.
The National Scholarship is awarded to eligible students in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. National Scholars receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., during the spring of their senior year to participate in the National Scholars Conference. Recipients must attend the National Scholars Conference to receive the award.
To be eligible to apply for the Horatio Alger National Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
Be a United States citizen
The undergraduate application will be available from December 1, 2021 – March 15, 2022.
You can apply here: Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program
Raise Me
RaiseMe partners with universities to offer students scholarships for their achievements during high school and college. WRHS students grades 9-12 can access this website to participate via this link. https://www.raise.me/how-it-works
College Planning Night for Juniors and their parents has been rescheduled
Due to the recent snow storm, our College Planning Night for Juniors and their parents originally scheduled on Wednesday evening March 9th has been rescheduled to Wednesday evening March 16th. Sponsored by the WRHS Guidance Department, the meeting will be held in the Auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a brief overview of Wahconah Guidance services and a presentation from Dr. Joshua Mendel, a long time Director of College Admissions and now the Director of Corporate Engagement and Strategic Partnerships with the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Mendel will provide important information about the college search and selection process. Parents and students have found his presentation to be timely and informative, helping students increase their knowledge and confidence preparing for the college application process.
Juniors - SAT registration update
WRHS Juniors are encouraged the take the SAT exam in the Spring months if they are planning to use SAT scores as part of
their college application next Fall. It is important to note that many schools have changed their admission policy and are now SAT optional. You can check the admissions website of the college you are interested in to determine their current SAT policy.
Deadlines for this year’s exams are approaching.
Upcoming Testing Dates and Deadlines:
Test Date: May 7th, 2022 (Deadline to register is April 8th, 2022)
Test Date: June 4th, 2022 (Deadline to register is May 5th, 2022)
SAT FAQ’s
How do I register?
You register to take the SAT through the Collegeboard website. If you need help, you can make an appointment with your school counselor and they can assist you.
How do I get a fee waiver?
Students who qualify for free and reduced lunch can obtain a fee waiver from their school counselor. If you need to reapply, your school counselor can give you an Application for our Fee & Reduced Lunch program You will need to do this first before we can approve your eligibility.
Important MCAS Update
Below is a detail of our scheduled test dates for your reference (please note that these dates are subject to change depending on updates from DESE)
MCAS - Grade 10
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 - ELA Session 1
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - ELA Session 2
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 - Math Session 1
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 - Math Session 2
MCAS - Grade 9
Tuesday, June 7, 2022 - Biology Session 1
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 - Biology Session 2
Mass Hire Youth Employment Services
MassHire offers various programs through a Career Center to help connect youth with the help they need to prepare themselves for a successful future in the Massachusetts workforce.
Youth Employment Strategies: Employment assistance, job applications, and more! Thursdays at 2:30 to 4:00 (Drop in employment assistance) Other Workshops include Resume Writing, Interview Skills, and how to write a Cover Letter.
Youth Works Year-Round programming- In-person Work Readiness, Career
Pathway training, starts October 18th, and will continue every Friday until May for eligible Youth Works participants. Paid in Person Work Experience begins October 25th for ages 16-21! Apply at : Youth Application Form - YEAR-ROUND: https://youthworksdata.org/aboutyouthworks.asp?key=key1y&yw=MassHireBerkshire
Questions regarding the program can be directed to:
Kelly Groves -Skrocki
Youth Services Coordinator
MassHire Berkshire Career Center
160 North Street Pittsfield MA 01201
413-499-2220 Extension 145
