Summer Opportunity & Scholarship Information

Summer Opportunity

Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy is offering Bulldog Pharmacy Camp the week of June 21 to 26, 2020 for high school students that are interested in investigating a career as a pharmacist.  We would like to invite you to participate in Bulldog Pharmacy Camp.  During the week of pharmacy camp, you will experience hands-on learning about health careers in pharmacy, participate in tours of local health care facilities and local pharmacies, participate in compounding activities and hands-on demonstrations in the College of Health Sciences Learning and Simulation Laboratories. Students who attend the camp will have the unique opportunity to spend time on the Samford campus and experience campus life, spend time with pharmacy professors, and have a lot of time to interact with other students also interested in careers in pharmacy. 

The camp is open to rising high school juniors, seniors and entering college freshmen. Selection for the camp is based on high school academic performance and your interest in the professions of pharmacy.   Attached is a flyer that will provide you with important information regarding this exciting opportunity. 

Information about the camp and the camp application can be found at https://www.samford.edu/pharmacy/bulldog-pharmacy-camp.  If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, you will need me to send an email to pharmacycamp@samford.edu stating that you are applying for camp and have not taken the test yet. 

Space is limited so please apply early.  The application deadline is February 1, 2020. If you have any questions, please call 205-726-2008 or email pharmacycamp@samford.edu.

New Scholarship Information

The Assistance League of Charlotte will be moving its scholarship application online this year.  They plan to have it available on their website by February 1st. The qualifications are the same as year's past and are noted below. The application checklist is also included, so you know what will be expected.  

The following criteria must be met to be eligible for the scholarship:

• Be a graduating senior from a high school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and a U.S. citizen
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 weighted
• Score a minimum combined total of 1100 on SAT math and reading/writing OR minimum 21 on ACT
• Enroll as a full-time student for the fall and following spring semesters at one of the 16 campuses of
  The University of North Carolina (See attached list)
• Disclose all financial sources for your college education; this scholarship is based, in part, on financial need
• If selected as a finalist, complete an interview with the Assistance League of Charlotte Scholarship Committee

Application Checklist

Signed Statement of Intent to Enroll in The University of North Carolina System, Page 5 (wet signature required, print and sign)

• Official transcript including your senior year 1st-semester grades
• SAT or ACT scores (or both)  
• Copy of your parent’s/legal guardian’s 2019 Federal tax form (Please only send form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ)
  
  • Note: You must be listed on the tax return submitted. (Do not send W-2’s or 1099’s or entire tax return). If 2019 tax return is not available, please submit 2018 tax return.
• A resume that includes community service, clubs, activities, awards, work history, etc. (up to two-pages)
• A one-page, double-spaced, typed essay about why you are the best candidate for this scholarship
• A signed letter of recommendation on school letterhead from your high school counselor/instructor
• A signed letter of recommendation from a non-family member outside of your school

Reminders & Opportunities

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Sophomores, you will take the PreACT on Wednesday, 11/13 which is a half-day.

Juniors & Junior Parents, be sure to complete the Junior Questionnaire on Naviance. Your parents should also complete the Junior Parent Questionnaire. These can be found by clicking on "My Surveys" under the "About Me" tab. Both questionnaires must be completed one week before your scheduled Junior Family Meeting or the meeting will be rescheduled. Completing it sooner will help us greatly. One or both parents should attend the meeting with the student. Parents may sign up for a meeting time here. If you cannot make your scheduled meeting time, please email or call ahead of time to let us know. We tried to provide time slots at the beginning and end of each available day to help with parent work schedules. 

Seniors, if we have submitted your requested transcripts, please allow two to three weeks for them to be processed. Colleges & universities are extremely busy during application season. This means that your college portals are not updated immediately. If you are concerned that your transcripts were not received by the college or university, please contact their admissions office first before reaching out to us. 

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:

 1. The Perry Outreach Program will be on Saturday, January 11, 2020, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. The Perry Outreach Program is a free, one-day, hands-on experience for high school women who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine and engineering. Students will hear from women leaders in these fields and try it for themselves by performing mock orthopaedic surgeries and biomechanics experiments. 

They are now seeking applicants for our Charlotte, NC program. Participants should be women in grades 10 and up with an expressed interest in science, medicine and/or engineering.  You must fill out their online application in advance of the December 11, 2019, application deadline. 

Additional information can be found their our website: www.perryinitiative.org

The application may be accessed directly using the following link: http://perryinitiative.org/programs/student-online-application/.

2. The Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge is the flagship program of the Jesse Helms Center Foundation, a non-profit, education museum, and archive located in Wingate, North Carolina. Some Hickory Grove alumni have attended this Leadership Challenge and have great things to say about their experience. This program is an affordable summer option for rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who would like to improve their leadership skills. Registration begins on January 1, 2020.

Upcoming Events & Summer Opportunities

*USA Gap Year Fair - February 10th at Providence Day School, 2:00-4:00 PM

- Register now at the following link: USA Gap Year Fairs.

*Charlotte National College Fair - - Sunday, March 17, 2019

- Find out more here.   

*Job Fair at HG Christian - Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 2/28 during the lunch hour. 

*Spring Guidance Night April 9th

- High school students and parents are encouraged to attend.

- Please put this date on your calendar as we will have sessions about paying for college and pursuing athletics in college. There will also be some college representatives available to speak to students and parents.

*Summer Opportunities for Learning & Enrichment

- Visit the following links to learn about numerous programs scheduled during the upcoming summer for students who wish to increase their knowledge and participate in experiences related to a field of interest. Some of these are free while others are quite expensive. Financial assistance may be available so be sure to check them out to see if they are a good fit for your student.

U of SC Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series 2019 - Click here to learn more.

Compass Summer Experience Montreat College - Click here to learn more.

Leadership Initiatives - Click here to learn more.

Meredith College Programs - Click here to learn more.

VA Tech Black College Institute - Click here to learn more.

VA Tech Hispanic College Institute - Click here to learn more.

NC State Native Education Forum - Click here to learn more.

NC State Emerging Scholars Academy - Click here to learn more.

NC State Caminos - Click here to learn more.

NC State Textiles Summer Programs - Click here to learn more.

UNC Project Uplist & Uplist PLUS - Click here to learn more.

North Carolina Renaissance (NCR) - Click here to learn more.

2019 Summer Pre-College Programs w/ Financial Aid - Click here to learn more.

Design Camp @ NC State (for middle & high school) - Click here to learn more.

Duke Summer Session  - Click here to learn more.

National Residential High School Summer Programs - Click here to go to a listing of programs. Individual links with more information are found there.

Bank of America Student Leaders Program - Click here to learn more.

The United States Naval Academy Summer Session - Click here to learn more.

EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program (career in HVAC) - Click here to learn more.

*College Fly-in Diversity Programs: Please click here to learn more about opportunities for students of color.

*Scholarships: As you are accepted to colleges/universities, be sure to check their scholarship portal for school-specific scholarships.

List of Top Scholarships - Click here to learn more.

Englander Peebles Scholarship Essay & Video Competition - Click here to learn more.

EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program (career in HVAC) - Click here to learn more.

Younce, Vtipil & Baznik 2019 Scholarship Contest - Click here to learn more.

Sarah Scott Schofield Scholarship - Click here to learn more.

Flavorful Futures Contest - Click here to learn more.

Brady Cobin Law Group Scholarship - Click here to learn more.

A New Adventure

Greetings parents & students!

I have been in my new position as the high school guidance counselor for a little over four months now. I can say without a doubt that I feel truly blessed to serve in this capacity. God's timing is perfect and I know He has placed me here for a reason. Having been a teacher at here for twelve years, it is rewarding to now be with some of the very same students I taught as they navigate their high school years. Being in this position allows me to see the full picture of what we do to invest in the lives of our students here at Hickory Grove. Thank you for your words of encouragement and your belief in me as I learn and grow as a counselor.

I will be updating this blog often with information related to academics and guidance. Students can check here for important dates and deadlines and discover exciting opportunities to increase their learning through summer programs, community involvement, and other educational events outside of the normal school setting. Please feel free to contact me throughout the year as questions related to guidance come to mind. Dr. Similton and I will do all we can do to point you in the right direction.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Upcoming Opportunities:

*USA Gap Year Fair, Charlotte, NC, February 10th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM - Registration is now open.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usa-gap-year-fair-2019-charlotte-nc-registration-48834692881?aff=eivtefrnd

*Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy is offering a one-week Pharmacy Camp this summer for high school students that are interested in investigating a career as a pharmacist. The application deadline is February 1, 2019. 

https://www.samford.edu/pharmacy/bulldog-pharmacy-camp

*Duke Summer Session - Applications are due by April 15th.

https://summersession.duke.edu/high-school-students

*Bank of America Student Leaders Program - Application is open November 11th through February 1st.

https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/student-leaders.html#fbid=X9irSN-hOlq

Tracey Bennett
High School Guidance Counselor

Charlotte College Fair | March 18 | 12-4pm

Parents and Students,

On March 18, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) will be providing a free College Fair for high school students in Charlotte. This will be a great opportunity for you and your high school student(s) to attend, gather information about colleges he or she may be interested in attending, ask questions of the admissions representatives at those colleges, and learn more about the college admissions process. With about 200 colleges in attendance, this event is sure to give you a wide range of colleges from which to draw information!

This event is being held at The Park Expo and Conference Center on Sunday, March 18, from 12-4pm. You can learn more about the event, from where to park to which colleges will be attending, by visiting their website: https://www.nacacfairs.org/charlotte.

This Spring is also a great time - especially for our Juniors - to continue the college planning process. I am available to meet with you and your students to help in this process! Please contact Michele Wilson in the High School Office to set up an appointment.

Sincerely,

Greg Lineberger, M.Ed.
High School Counselor

Christian College Fair - Thursday, September 28

Are you considering a Christian University?  A Christian college or university can provide many of the benefits you've experienced at HGCS - a tightly knit family environment, smaller class sizes, strong moral values, like-minded fellowship - while not withholding a true college or university experience.  Christian colleges and universities also vary in size, from small to large, with programs to fit every student.

I would encourage every student at HGCS to at least consider attending a Christian college or university, and to investigate the options that are available.  You will never know what college is best for you unless you at least become familiar with what is available!

This Thursday, September 28, from 6:30-8:30pm, Charlotte Christian School will be hosting a Christian College Fair.  

Before you come, click on the link below and download a barcode.  The barcode will allow you to quickly give your information to colleges or universities you would like to learn more about.  If you forget, there will be computers available for you to use upon arrival, but it will save you time to do it before you come!

You can get more details about the fair, including which colleges and universities that will be in attendance, and pre-register (get a barcode) by clicking here. 

College Planning for Seniors

Seniors and Parents,

As September 1 quickly approaches, college application season is about to be in full swing!  Many of you have already begun to submit college applications (many private schools are already accepting applications), and many of you are beginning to fill out the Common Application.

As we enter this season, I have some (hopefully) timely and helpful advice for you:

1. Colleges and Universities have 100% of their seats and scholarship dollars available right now.  Applying as early as possible (early September in most cases) gives you the best opportunity for getting in and getting scholarships.  After the early admissions deadline (usually sometime between October 1 - November 1 depending on the school), admissions will become more selective, meaning you will have to have a higher GPA and SAT or ACT scores in order to get in.  
2. Early Decision vs. Early Application or Early Action.  "Early Decision" is a binding agreement between you and the school that, if you are accepted, you are obligated to enroll in that school.  Several rules apply here, including the limitation that you can only apply "Early Decision" to one school.  "Early Application" or "Early Action" is non-binding and typically no further rules apply.  This form of application simply means you are applying at the earliest possible time and can expect to receive an admissions answer sooner.
3. The Common Application.  The Common Application, or "Common App," is a college application used by many colleges around the US.  Several NC schools use it, including UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Wilmington, NC State, and Appalachian State.  For a full list of schools that use the Common App, searchable by state, click here.  It is important when filling out the Common App to properly identify Hickory Grove as your high school.  The best way to do this is to use our school code (sometimes referred to as a CEEB code).  The code for Hickory Grove is 340661.  Some organizations have us listed as "Hickory Grove Baptist Christian School" while others have updated their database and have us as "Hickory Grove Christian School".  Either of these is fine.  Also, make sure to enter my email address correctly so that I can upload your transcript and complete your counselor recommendation in a timely manner.  My email is greglineberger@hgchristian.org.
4. How to request your Hickory Grove transcript.  Your high school transcript contains your personal information and grades, which are protected by law.  In order to grant us permission to send your transcript, and to instruct me on where to send it, please fill out our official high school transcript request online.  You can find the form on our website www.hgchristian.org, or you can use this direct link.  Transcripts will be sent within 5 business days, by electronic means (when available) or by US Mail.  Once a college receives your transcript from us, it sometimes takes them up to 2 weeks to process it and add it to your account.  
5. Class Rank.  At Hickory Grove, as at many smaller private and public schools across the US, we do not rank our students.  With a graduating class size of only 80, providing a student's class rank to a university unfairly represents the majority of our students.  Therefore, if an application asks you to indicate your class rank, there will usually be a box to check that says "N/A" or something similar.  If no such box exists, or if you are asked to type in a numeric value for class rank, type in "0" or "0 of 0" for your class rank.  The only exception to this policy is for Military Academies, which do not waiver in their requirement that schools provide class rank.
6. Requesting Teacher or Administrator Recommendations.  All recommendation requests need to be made in person before you submit the recommender’s information to the school or Common App.  It is very helpful for you to also present a resume to the recommender, along with specific recommendation instructions, so that the recommender can write the best possible recommendation.  
7. Community Service Hours.  We do not have a community service requirement for graduation, but we do generally recommend students complete and document approximately 50 hours of service per year.  Missions Week at HGCS can contribute about 12 hours to this number each year, while the senior trip to the DR generally includes about 24 hours of service.  A community service log sheet is available for students to pick up in the High School Office.
8. When to submit the FAFSA.  The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is recommended for each high school senior.  Parents can submit the FAFSA as early as October 1 of senior year.  Go to www.fafsa.gov for more information and to begin the process.
9. NC Free Application Month.  Each year in November, many colleges and universities in NC participate in Free Application Month sponsored by the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC).  For 2017, the College Application Month runs from October 28 to November 24.  This can be a great opportunity to apply to schools you would not otherwise apply to, such as schools that are not in your top 5-8 choices.  Because College Application Month occurs after the early application deadline at many schools, it is not recommended for your top choice schools.