Apply for the 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Award and you could win $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., next May. Please visit spirit.prudential.com or nassp.org/spirit for complete details and to access the application. The deadline to have your application and student/parent agreement completed is November 5, 2013

Scholarships at Davidson College

THE BELK SCHOLARSHIP

The John Montgomery Belk Scholarship is Davidson’s most prestigious merit-based program. Covering the comprehensive costs of attending Davidson (room, board, tuition and fees), the Belk Scholarship is valued at over $54,000 in 2013-14.  Belk Scholars are those students whose outstanding intellectual ability and success, leadership experience, commitment to service and overall personal vigor mark them as those who will accomplish much and contribute most to the Davidson community and in their lives beyond their college years. Each school may nominate one Belk Scholarship candidate, no later than November 8, 2013. Materials are available at www.davidson.edu/Belk. 

Nominees’ admission applications must be completed and received in our office no later than December 2, 2013

Approximately 60 semi-finalists (chosen from an anticipated nomination pool of over  800 candidates) will be interviewed by telephone in February.  Twenty-five to thirty finalists will participate in Belk Scholars Selection Weekend, March 20-22, 2014.

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THE BRYAN SCHOLARSHIP

The Lowell Bryan Scholarship program awards, each valued at $30,000 annually, are offered to two scholar-athletes (one woman and one man) in each entering class.

Candidates are chosen on the basis of: academic and personal excellence, strong promise of significant impact in their classes and in their lives on campus, proven potential for significant success in Davidson’s NCAA Division I athletic program.

Each school may nominate up to three candidates for the Bryan Scholarship.  The nomination deadline is September 20, 2013. Students may also be nominated by Davidson coaches of the 18 eligible sports (men’s and women’s basketball and football are not eligible)  (Visit www.davidson.edu/Bryan for details and nomination materials.) 

Nominees’ admission applications must be completed and received in our office no later than 5:00 pm on October 15, 2013

Finalists will participate in selection interviews on campus on November 2-3, 2013.

For additional information on these and other merit opportunities at Davidson, contact Ms. Gardner Roller Ligo, Director of Merit Programs, at 704.894.2970 or galigo@davidson.edu. 

Updated link for PROBE.  
If you and your student are attending the PROBE Fair at the Classic Center on September 16, use this site to pre register for a barcode that can be scanned by colleges you are interested in http://www.gaprobe.org/students  This site has been having issues, you may need to clear cookies on your browser before opening it.

FREE Driver’s Education Parent Workshop

Join us on Monday, August 26th, 2012, from 6-7:30pm for a Parent Workshop outlining the steps for your teen to obtain his or her Class D driver’s license. At this workshop, we will cover information about Joshua’s Law, TADRA, the graduated licensing process, teen driving safety, and insurance discounts. We will also be providing a driving simulation demonstration. Discount coupons for upcoming 30/6 driver training classes will be distributed to workshop attendees. You can register online atwww.georgiaopenroad.com under “Driver Training Courses”. Be sure to reserve your spot today! See back for directions to our office.

Advice on avoiding college debt from Clark Howard http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/atlanta-bargain-hunter/2013/aug/22/ollege-week-clark-howards-tips-avoiding-student-de/

The Istanbul Center, in partnership with Atlantic Institute, is sponsoring an art and essay contest. The theme this years is Connecting Cultures in the Digital Age: How Does Social Media Change the Future of our World. Artwork can be submitted in drawing, painting, collage, photography and graphic design. The essays can be either a persuasive essay, informative, narrative or true story. Please visit www.artessay.org for complete details. The deadline for all entries is December 20, 2013.


Camp MAGIK, a healing camp for bereaved children, is now accepting applications for its 2013 fall session. Camp MAGIK serves children ages seven through high-school, who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or other close family member within the past three years.  Camp MAGIK will provide an opportunity for children and teens to meet, talk, and process their grief with professional grief counselors.
The fall informational session of camp will be at the YWCO Camp in Clarkesville October 4-6(deadline for applications is September 25, 2013). Registration forms may also be found on our website,www.campmagik.org, under the “join us” tab). Camp MAGIK has served over 2,700 bereaved children in Georgia over the past 18 years. The camp sessions are free of charge for all participating children. There is also a retreat available for adults who want to process their own grief with other adults who are grieving. The retreat is held on the same campuses as the children’s camp sessions, led by professional bereavement counselor.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Dr. Rene McClatchey via e-mail atcampmagik@gmail.com, or via phone, 404.790.0140.

If you are planning to attend the PROBE college fair on Monday, September 16 at the Classic Center, go ahead a pre-register.  This will allow your selected colleges to scan your barcode and download your contact information immediately.  Register at

https://www.gotocollegefairs.com/Registration/EventSelectForState?StateName=Georgia

UGA’s ‘Vet School for a Day’ set for September

Athens, Ga. – Registration is now open for the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Vet School for a Day. Held Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the college’s campus, the program teaches high school juniors and seniors about the wide variety of careers in veterinary medicine.

Registration, which is required, will close Sept. 6. Students from throughout Georgia and South Carolina are encouraged to attend.

Vet School for a Day includes a tour of the teaching hospital, a panel discussion by faculty veterinarians in a variety of specialties and the opportunity for the high school students to meet veterinary student leaders. Students also will learn about the high standards for admission to the college and what they need to study to be prepared for veterinary school.

“Through this program, we hope to educate students and guidance counselors about the many career opportunities available within the field of veterinary medicine,” said Paige Carmichael, associate dean for academic affairs.

All students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone—a parent, counselor or teacher. Students attend for free, but to help offset the cost for food, there is a $15 per-person fee for each chaperone, payable on the day of the event.

For more information or to register, see www.vet.uga.edu/academic/vet_school_for_a_day.

Vet School for a Day is sponsored by the David Forehand Foundation, created in memory of alumnus Dr. David Forehand, who graduated from the college in 1976.

Welcome Back!

Parent Nights are coming!

• Senior Parent Night, August 19 at 6:00pm at the Oconee County Civic Center 
• Junior Parent Night, August 19 at 7:30pm at the Oconee County Civic Center 
• Freshman Parent Night, August 26 at 6:00pm at the Oconee County Civic Center 
• Sophomore Parent Night, August 26 at 7:30pm at the Oconee County Civic Center 

Leadership Opportunities
Any student interested may apply for a position on the State School Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee. Information and an application can be found at http://www.gadoe.org/Pages/Student-Advisory-Council.aspx

Current Sophomores and Juniors can apply to be part of Youth Leadership Oconee, which develops young leaders at a local level. Applications can be picked up in the Guidance Office.

New Scholarships 
In 2011, SACAC initiated Extend the Dream Scholarships to recognize and reward deserving students. These scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, and community service. Awards are in the amount of $1,000 and are not renewable. Applications are due in late May each year. Scholarship Criteria:
Applicant must be a current high school senior graduating from a public, private, parochial high school or home school located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or the Caribbean 
Applicant must be accepted by and plan to attend an accredited, non-proprietary, technical, community or four-year college in the fall following his/her graduation
Applicant must have at least a 2.75 grade point average for grades 9-12.
 Applicant must have financial need
 Applicant must demonstrate a commitment to community service, social justice issues, and/or leadership qualities
Applicant must submit ACT and/or SAT scores
The contact person for the scholarship is SACAC Grants Chair, Joyce Mai (joyce_mai@ncsu.edu). The link to the website is http://www.sacac.org/student-scholarships.

The Horatio Alger Association provides financial assistance to students who have financial need and have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. Recipients must be graduating in May 2014 and plan on pursuing a bachelor's degree. The scholarships are given to deserving students each year and range in award value from $5,000 to $20,000. Students may apply online August 1 - October 25, 2013 at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.

Students may now be nominated for the William H. and Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholars Program at Washington University. Candidates are sought who have exhibited a capacity for service and leadership, as well as academic excellence, and who will embrace the challenges of a rigorous academic curriculum. Students who exhibit maturity, strong moral character, selflessness and commitment to the community are especially desired. For complete details, please visit www.admissions.wustl.edu . You may also call (800) 638-0700. The deadline to be nominated is October 15, 2013. Up to 40 applicants will be selected as finalists and invited to campus March 27-30, 2014, for a required interview weekend.

Applicants of Hispanic heritage with a 3.0 high school GPA may be eligible for a scholarship to the University of North Georgia (Oconee Campus) for next Fall. Please contact Dr. Kristen Roney at Kristen.roney@ung.edu , (678) 717-3748 for complete details and application information.

The Progressive Outreach Coalition promotes academic excellence, leadership development and professionalism. Applicants must be raised by their grandparents and have a GPA of a 2.8 or higher. A two page essay, copy of the high school transcript and two adult references must be included with the application. For more information, please visit http://pocoalition.org/about.html . You may also email scholarship@pocoalition.org for more info. as well.

The Ron Brown Scholar Program seeks to identify African-American high school seniors who will make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, exhibit exceptional leadership potential, participate in community service activities and demonstrate financial need. The applicant must be a US citizen or hold a permanent resident visa card. Applications and further requirements can be obtained at www.ronbrown.org.

Other Opportunities 
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013-2014 Athens Area Chapter of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees. Highly talented high school students are being sought out to fill current vacancies on the Board. The Watson-Brown Foundation labors to improve education and preserve history in the American South, in part through the Junior Board. The exclusive mission of the Board is to preserve local history. During the school year the Junior Board conducts research, pre-grant inquiries, and site visits, as well as determining final grant awards for preservation projects. All interested students can pick up an application in the Counseling Office or through email at shays@trrcobbhouse.org . You may also contact Ms. Shanon Stroer at (706) 369-3513 for more information. The application deadline is September 18.

Washington University invites students and their families to meet with a representative of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The event will take place on Sunday, September 15 from 3:00 - 4:00 at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center. No reservation is needed. For additional information, please call (800) 638-0700.

Vandy Fan For A Day provides high school sophomores and juniors of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with invaluable information about the selective college admissions process, insight to their need based aid and affordability, and a chance to enjoy the excitement of an SEC football game as the Vanderbilt Commodores take on the University of Kentucky. Ten high-achieving students (five sophomores and five freshmen) may be nominated from OCHS. In addition to selecting high-achieving students, the following factors will be considered: -Students who will be first generation college students -Students participating in free or reduced lunch -Students who are significantly involved in the community. Please see Mr. Guthas in the counseling office if you meet the criteria and are interesting in being nominated by Monday, September 9.