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Counselor’s Corner

September 2014

“If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today”

–Lou Holtz

August “Most Valuable Panthers” Nominees Paradise Honors High School is proud to honor a select group of students for their efforts in and out of the

classroom during the month of August. Nominated students were given a certificate and have their pictures and

reason for nomination displayed on a bulletin board on campus.

**Recipients are listed below with accompanying teacher that made nomination**

Cody Lackhan- Mrs. Creel

Maddy Wright- Mr. Delmont

William Hilton- Mrs. Denny

SaringKan Silpvisuth- Mrs. Fogelson

Paul Hatcher- Mr. Gonzalez

Mariah Nottke- Mrs. Holmes

Destiny Carson- Mrs. Lara

Rhett Livingston- Ms. Mendoza

Allison Gilliam- Mrs. Nichols

Sean Symanski- Mrs. Oliver

Haley Pittatsis- Mr. Otten

Carter Witten-Mrs. Patterson

Lauren Herrmann- Mrs. Pearson

Megan Ruff- Mrs. Ramirez

Kami Morrow- Mr. Sahd

Abigail Neuer- Ms. Sessions

Katie Buntin- Ms. Snyder

Anna Jensen- Mrs. Turner

Coffee With The Counselors Our first meeting of the 2014-2015 school year will take place in the cafeteria on Friday, September 19

th from

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at Paradise Honors High School. Please R.S.V.P. no later than Thursday, September 18th

,

by accessing the online R.S.V.P. system on the counseling website. To access the online R.S.V.P. system, go to

http://phhscounseling.weebly.com/, click the “Calendar” tab, followed by the “R.S.V.P. for Events” tab. Hope

to see you there!!

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Free classes offered by Harvard, MIT, Cal-Berkeley, Penn State, Duke, Brown, Ohio State,

UNC, and many more!!! Now that I have your attention, let me explain. Professors from the universities listed above, as well as

professors from hundreds of other universities reaching across the United States and the world, are part of a

growing movement in education known as MOOCs. MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Courses.

Students of any age (including parents) can sign up to take any number of the classes offered through the

providers listed below. Although students will not earn college credits, MOOCs provide all students an

opportunity to experience and enhance their education at some of the finest universities in the nation. Anyone

interested in learning more should visit udacity.com, coursera.org, or edx.org for more information.

New for 2014-2015 -- Campus Tour Thursday The Counseling Department is sponsoring a new four-year initiative to educate and encourage more students to

consider attending colleges and universities throughout the United States. Each Thursday during the lunch

shifts, students will have the opportunity to take a virtual campus tour of 2-3 colleges. The videos are

approximately 6 minutes in length and are shown inside the cafeteria on large projection screen. Colleges

shown will cover small-large schools, a variety of religious schools, art and music schools, schools from every

state in the U.S., 2-year schools, 4-year schools, trade schools, military academies, expensive schools, value

schools, highly selective-less selective schools, and much more. Since we are using a four-year rotation, once a

college or university has been shown, the students will never see that school again before they graduate. This

means that our freshman will have access to viewing over 400 colleges and universities prior to graduation.

Colleges and universities shown to date include:

University of Arizona

University of San Diego

Chaminade University (Hawaii)

Xavier University (Ohio)

Rochester Institute of Technology (New York)

Idaho State University

Colgate University (New York)

Dixie State University (Utah)

Trinity University (Texas)

University of Wisconsin

University of Montana

Mercer University (Georgia)

Air Force Academy (Colorado)

Adams State University (Colorado)

Presbyterian College (South Carolina)

Ask your children if they are watching these videos. If they are not watching these videos, they are missing out

on valuable information needed for the college search process. The videos cover topics such as the GPA

needed for admission, SAT/ACT scores needed for admission, athletics, extracurricular activities offered,

majors offered, cost of attendance, average amount of financial aid awarded, scholarship information, special

campus events, graduation rates, etc., etc., etc. Don’t let your children minimize what some of the smaller

schools (typically the schools that they have never heard of) have to offer. Remember…there is a lot of money

out there for students that are willing to leave the state of Arizona. If you want your child to stay ahead of the

curve, this is a great way to help them reach that goal. For as little as 12-18 minutes per week, the students at

PHHS have the opportunity to educate themselves on the college search process and gain a major advantage

over their high school peers throughout Arizona.

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SAT & ACT Information

CEEB CODE: 030694

**PHHS will offer the SAT this year on October 11, 2014, May 2, 2015 and June 6, 2015.**

SAT

Dates

Registration

Deadline

Late

Deadline

ACT

Dates

Registration

Deadline

Late

Deadline

Oct. 11 Sept. 12 Sept. 30 Oct. 25 Sept. 19 Oct. 3

Nov. 8 Oct. 9 Oct. 24 Dec. 13 Nov. 7 Nov. 21

Dec. 6 Nov. 6 Nov. 21 Feb. 7 Jan. 9 Jan. 16

Jan. 24 Dec. 29 Jan. 9 Apr. 18 Mar. 13 Mar. 27

Mar. 14 Feb. 13 Feb. 27 June 14 May 8 May 22

May 2 Apr. 6 Apr. 17

June 6 May 8 May 22

***Seniors: Remember to register for the October SAT or ACT. Visit www.collegeboard.com for

SAT registration or www.act.org for ACT registration. Fee waivers are available to qualified students.

See your counselor for more information.

Freshman Class Profiles of Universities ***Sample List***

University Weighted GPA

Unweighted

GPA SAT Score

ACT

Score

Acceptance

Rate Range in Class

Cost per

year

Arizona Christian

University 3.30 3.30

> 970 (Reading

and Math) > 16 50%

Most students not

in top 50% $22,000

Arizona State

University Not listed 3.00

> 1040 (Reading

and Math) > 22 90%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $20,000

Baylor University Not listed Not listed >1828 > 27

40% 75% of admits

were in top 25% $44,500

Brown University Not Listed Not Listed > 2100 > 31

9% Most of admits

in top 10% $55,000

Colorado State

University Not listed 3.25

> 1010 (Math

and Reading) > 18 85%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $34,000

Duke University Not Listed Not Listed > 2140 > 32

18% Most of admits

in top 10% $54,000

Embry-Riddle

University 3.00 3.00

> 1100 (Reading

and Math) > 25 80%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $41,000

Fresno State University Minimum

of a 2.5

Minimum

of a 2.5

sliding scale

based on GPA < 18 95%

Most students not

in top 50% $25,000

Grand Canyon

University Not listed 3.00

> 920 (Reading

and Math) > 19 N/A

75% of admits

were in top 50% $20,000

Kansas State University Not listed 3.42 > 980 (Math

and Reading) > 21 99% Top 33% of class $27,000

New Mexico State

University 3.36 2.50

> 990 (Math

and Reading) > 21 80%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $25,900

Northern Arizona

University None 2.50

> 1000 (Reading

and Math) > 22 67%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $18,500

Ohio State University sliding based on

SAT scores

sliding based

on SAT scores

> 1250 (Reading

and Math) > 28 66%

Most of admits

in top 25% $36,000

Oklahoma State

University Not Listed 3.00 > 980

> 21 80%

Most of admits

in top 50% $29,000

Oregon State

University Not listed 3.51 >1584

> 24 82%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $34,000

Penn State University Not listed 3.75 > 1850 > 28

55% Most of admits

in top 50% $30,000

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Princeton University Not Listed 4.00 > 2200 > 32

8% Most of admits

in top 10% $56,000

Rice University Not listed Not listed > 2140 > 31

17% 82% of admits

in top 5% $54,000

San Diego State

University 3.76 Not listed 1144

> 25 33%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $31,700

San Jose State

University

Minimum

of 2.5

Minimum

of 2.5

sliding scale

based on GPA N/A 60%

More than 50% of

admits in top 10% $29,000

Stanford University 4.0 or better 3.70 > 1800 > 30 5% 80% in top 10% $55,000

Texas A&M University

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 1300 (Reading

and Math) > 30

64% 75% of admits

were in top 50% $30,000

Texas Christian

University None None > 1630

< 24 38%

More than 50% of

admits in top 10% $45,000

Texas State, San

Marcos

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 1500

> 22

80% 75% of admits

were in top 50% $25,500

Texas Tech University

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 1140 (Reading

and Math) > 24

70% 75% of admits

were in top 50% $27,500

University of Arizona Not listed 3.39 > 1500 >24

70% 75% of admits

were in top 50% $19,000

University of

California, Berkeley 4.37 3.92 1985

> 33 25% N/A $52,000

University of

California, Los Angeles 4.40 3.88 2037

> 29 33%

More than 50% of

admits in top 10% $52,000

University of Colorado

at Boulder Not listed 3.2

> 1080 (Math

and Reading) > 24 85%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $42,000

University of Florida 4.2 Not listed > 1280 (Reading

and Math) > 27 40%

Most of admits

in top 25% $30,000

University of Georgia 3.83 Not Listed > 1900 > 28

65% Most of admits

in top 50% $40,000

University of Houston Minimum

of 2.5

Minimum

of 2.5

>1114 (Reading

and Math) > 24 61%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $28,600

University of Kansas Not listed 3.50 > 1090 (Math

and Reading) > 24 93% Top 33% of class $30,500

University of New

Mexico 3.20 2.50

> 1080 (Math

and Reading) > 22 63%

75% of admits

were in top 50% $28,900

University of North

Carolina 4.5 N/A

> 1300 (Reading

and Math) > 30 30%

Most of admits

in top 10% $37,500

University of North

Texas

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 1430

> 20

55% Most of admits

in top 50% $26,000

University of

Oklahoma Not Listed 3.6 > 1180

> 26 80%

Most of admits

in top 50% $30,000

University of Oregon 3.57 Not listed > 1500 > 22

71% 75% of admits

were in top 50% $38,500

University of

Pennsylvania Not Listed Not Listed > 2200

> 32 12%

Most of admits

in top 10% $56,000

University of Southern

California Not listed 3.80 2030

> 30 20% N/A $60,000

University of Texas,

Austin

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 1858

> 28

48% More than 50% of

admits in top 10% $39,000

University of Texas, El

Paso

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 970 (Reading

and Math) > 20

99% Most admits not

in top 50% $16,200

University of Texas,

San Antonio

sliding

depending on

class rank

sliding

depending on

class rank

> 1000 (Reading

and Math) >21

80% Most of admits

in top 50% $28,500

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ASU Pre-Health Conference Attention aspiring health professionals! New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at Arizona State

University’s West campus is hosting the 7th Annual Pre-Health Conference on Thursday, Sept. 25, from

4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the La Sala Ballroom. If you are a high school student interested in the medical field or a

current ASU pre-med student, you don’t want to miss this event. This year’s conference features a keynote

presentation from distinguished physician, Dr. Grace Caputo, Director of Medical Education, Designated

Institutional Official, and General Pediatrics from Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Students will learn about

available pre-med programs offered at ASU and partake in simultaneous breakout sessions featuring

Midwestern University and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. During the conference students

will have the opportunity to attend an info fair where they can ask representatives about careers in the medical

profession, meet with Kaplan Test Prep about the MCAT, and gain insider tips on how to write a personal

statement for medical school. Current high school students planning a future in the medical field are invited to a

special breakout session where they will learn about preparing for college and selecting the right major.

New College offers a Life Science degree that helps students jump start their career in health professions. Have

you always dreamed of working in a lab alongside some of the top professors in the medical field? Now is your

chance. The Life Science degree program allows students the opportunity to explore biology, chemistry,

geology, and physics through challenging coursework, as well as become an active part of cutting edge medical

research in faculty based research laboratories. With hands-on experience, New College alumni are prepared to

enter graduate programs inhuman or veterinary medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry. Whether you are preparing

for college or preparing for graduate school, the Annual Pre-health Conference is the place to be. Register today

at NCevents@asu.edu. We hope to see you at the Pre-Health Conference! For up-to-date information about

ASU New College, like us on Facebook at the New College Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter

@ASUNewCollege, and Instagram @asunewcollege.

NCAA Night The Counseling Department will also host an NCAA Eligibility Workshop for parents on October 16, 2014.

This workshop will help parents understand and better prepare for the college athletics process. If there is even

a remote chance that your son or daughter may be interested in college athletics, this is a must-attend workshop.

Parents of students in all grade levels are encouraged to attend. New changes to requirements will significantly

impact those in lower grade levels. Don’t get caught with you hand in the cookie jar, start preparing now for

the future!!

AZ Earn to Learn AZ Earn to Learn is a groundbreaking program that prepares high school students for college with financial

education and matching funds. Qualified candidates can earn up to 8X their savings (or up to $4,500) to help

pay for tuition and other college expenses each academic year. Students must attend Arizona State University,

Northern Arizona University, or The University of Arizona. For more information, please visit

http://www.azearntolearn.org.

Student /Parent Information Sessions Want to be a part of the Sun Devil tradition? Schedule your visit to Arizona State University today by typing

https://visit.asu.edu/campus into your Google search bar.

The University of Arizona offers several different options for campus tours. Choose from Ambassador Tours,

Group Tours, Special Tours, Class Cats, and/or the Arizona Experience to make your U of A research complete!

Sign up for the tour that fits your needs at http://admissions.arizona.edu/general/visit-university-arizona

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Northern Arizona University offers a number of ways for prospective students to learn more about what they

have to offer! If you are unable to make the short trip up north the Flagstaff, let NAU come to you!

Representatives will be at the Phoenix Airport Marriott on Sunday, October 5th

, 2014, from 2:00 PM-4:00

PM. Don’t forget to RSVP by Thursday, October 2nd

, 2014 (see registration information below). Want to

beat the heat? Attend a Discover NAU Day in Flagstaff on any of the following dates:

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Monday, October 13, 2014

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Saturday, November 15, 2014

*spaces fill up fast!!! Register for both events at https://www4.nau.edu/uadmissions/dnau/edefault.aspx

No matter how many tours you attend or brochures you read, you won't really know what it's like to be a college

student until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Now you can, at Discover GCU. During Discover, you will

experience firsthand what it means to be a Grand Canyon University student by sitting in on classes, meeting

financial aid representatives and staying overnight in one of our suite-style residence halls with a student host.

You'll also attend special concerts or other Student Life events on campus during your stay! On your Discover

day, bring your transcripts so we can determine your scholarship award! With dates throughout October, go to

http://www.gcu.edu/Upcoming-Events/Campus-Events/Discover-GCU.php to set up your overnight visit.

Exploring College Options is a special recruitment program sponsored by the undergraduate admissions offices

of five of the country's leading universities: Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University,

The University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University. During the spring or fall of each year, the

Exploring College Options group will visit all 50 states, Puerto Rico, USVI and the District of Columbia. At

each event, representatives from the five universities will conduct brief slide presentations about their institution

and answer your questions about the sometimes-mystifying world of college admissions. You will learn what

distinguishes one fine university from another, what competitive colleges look for in the selection process, and

what you can do to enhance your college application. The programs start promptly at 7:30pm, so we suggest

arriving 15 to 20 minutes beforehand to complete the sign-in process and find a seat. Programs typically last

one and a half hours. This fall’s workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 1 at the Tucson Marriott

University Park, Tucson, AZ. Please register at http://www.exploringcollegeoptions.org/.

Heading to the beach? Stop by and visit the University of San Diego on your way! Student–guided tours are

offered twice a day, year– round, Monday through Friday, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Each begins with an hour

and a half long campus tour, followed by a 30 minute information session. The information session is led by a

member of our admissions staff and is designed to address the admissions application process, financial aid, and

highlight various aspects of life at USD. If you can’t fit a campus tour into your schedule, stop by while you are

in town to pick up some general information. Families are always welcome on our campus to look around or

enjoy a meal in one of our dining facilities and meet some of our students. Register for tours at

http://www.sandiego.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit/tours/daily_tours.php

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Autism Transition Expo

Building a D.R.E.A.M Job Fair (Disability & Rehabilitation Employment Awareness Month)

Pre-Employment Fair

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014

9 A.M. to 11 A.M.

Gateway Community College, Copper Room

108 N. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85034

ATTEND AND LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS!

●Resume Review ●Mock Interviews ●Interview

Techniques ●How to Apply Online ●Employer

Presentations ●How to Work a Job Fair

Get access to valuable resources to help you get

your dream job!

D.R.E.A.M. Job Fair

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014

10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Gateway Community College, Copper Room

108 N. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85034

●40 Employers ●Hundreds of JOBS!

●Retail ● Hospitality ● Healthcare ● Labor

●Banking ● Customer Service ● Janitorial ●

Warehouse Communications ● Technical ●

Transportation

Providing job and networking opportunities for

people with disabilities in Maricopa County

Upcoming Parent Nights at PHHS (presented by the Counseling Department) NCAA Night- October 16, 2014

Junior Parent Night- November 5, 2014

Sophomore Parent Night- January 14, 2015

Freshman Interviews Counselors are in the process of meeting with the freshman class to get to know each student and to ensure that

each student understands the role of the high school counselor. “It takes the hammer of persistence to drive

the nail of success.” –John Mason

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Upcoming College Fairs SCOTTSDALE AND TEMPE REGIONAL COLLEGE NIGHT

Monday, September 15, 2014

6:00-8:00pm

Scottsdale Community College – Scottsdale, AZ

Follow this link to register

https://www.gotocollegefairs.com/Registration/EventSelectForState?StateName=Arizona&grdSelectEvents-

page=10&grdSelectEvents-orderBy=EventDates-asc

DEER VALLEY AND PEORIA REGIONAL COLLEGE NIGHT

Thursday, September 18, 2014

6:00-8:00pm

ASU West – Glendale, AZ

Follow this link to register

https://www.gotocollegefairs.com/Registration/EventSelectForState?StateName=Arizona&grdSelectEvents-

page=10&grdSelectEvents-orderBy=EventDates-asc

FALL NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR

Sunday, September 28, 2014 from 11am - 3pm @ Phoenix Convention Center

To register please visit http://www.nacacnet.org (Must register in advance)

Click on student registration to register for college fair

Cost: Free

PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS COLLEGE FAIR

See website below for date, times, & locations

http:/www.nacacnet.org

Cost: Free

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FAIRS

Monday, October 20, 2014

6:00-8:00pm

Valley Christian High School, Chandler, AZ

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

6:00-8:00pm

Scottsdale Christian Academy, Phoenix, AZ

Register online at http://www.naccap.org/events/event_details.asp?id=314838

NCAA Student-Athlete Information Any senior student-athlete wishing to compete on the NCAA Division 1 or 2 level must complete an application

through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Log on to http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp to

register. You must complete this process to receive any type of athletic scholarship money! Student athletes

are reminded to send their SAT and ACT test scores to the Eligibility Center by entering the code “9999” in the

box when registering for the tests.

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Testing Information The ASVAB military entrance exam will be given at PHHS on December 3, 2014. This test is open to juniors.

There is no cost for the test.

The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) will be administered to all juniors on Wednesday, October

15, 2014. Any interested sophomore students must register in the Counseling Office. Cost: $20.00.

Sophomores can register today!!!

Financial Aid Information Looking for national scholarships? Complete the registration at www.fastweb.com to receive email

notifications of scholarship programs.

Visit www.meritaid.com to find merit-based scholarship opportunities from colleges before you apply. This

website can help students with merit-based scholarships from colleges that reflect your accomplishments and

interests.

Another good resource for researching scholarships is www.finaid.org .

Paper FAFSAs will no longer be delivered in bulk to high schools. Students are able to obtain a paper FAFSA

by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Students are

encouraged to file the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov for faster processing. A PDF version of the FAFSA

is also available for download at www. studentaid.ed.gov.

The US Department of Education sponsors www.studentaid.ed.gov, which provides helpful information on

preparing for college, types of financial aid, determining who is eligible for financial aid, how to apply for aid

with the FAFSA, and information on repaying your loans.

Scholarship Information

Arizona State University’s What is College? Video Contest ASU is excited to announce the opening of a video competition showcasing the importance of college. We are now

accepting video submissions from current Arizona high school and ASU students. Tell us about your understanding of

college and what it takes to get there, by answering any combination of the questions listed below:

Who or what was your inspiration for planning to go to college?

How did you/will you learn about college?

How did you prepare in middle school and high school for college?

How and when will you apply for admission to ASU?

What supporting resources and people will help you transition from high school to college?

How will you choose your college major?

What advice do you have for current high school students considering college?

What advice do you have current high school students who never thought college was an option for them?

How will you pay for college?

What will be your biggest obstacle while preparing for college? How will you overcome it?

Entries must not exceed three (3) minutes. Please visit https://eadvisor.asu.edu/videocontest for more information.

Contest Deadline: September 30, 2014

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Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports over 1,400 college students each year, with annual scholarships of $3.45

million, through two nationally recognized programs. With the 25th class in 2013, the Foundation has provided over 5,250

Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $51 million in scholarships.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school

seniors each year. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, and their commitment to making a

significant impact on their schools and communities.

Applications are due October 31st

The Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation proudly continues its

support of Two Year Colleges through the Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Program by providing up to

$237,500 in stipends. 200 stipends are awarded annually across four tiers of recipients in varying amounts: Fifty New

Century Gold Scholars are awarded $1,500, fifty Silver Scholars are awarded $1,250, and fifty Bronze Scholars are

awarded $1,000. This scholarship is administered by Phi Theta Kappa, and application details can be found on their

website, www.ptk.org.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must be:

Current high school (or home-schooled) seniors attending school in the United States (or select DoD schools);

U.S. Citizens; U.S. Nationals; U.S. Permanent Residents; Refugees; Asylees; Cuban-Haitian Entrants; or

Humanitarian Parolees;

Anticipating completion of high school diploma at the time of application;

Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution;

Carrying a minimum 3.00 GPA at the end of their junior year of high school.

http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/applicants/#page

The Gates Millennium Scholarship

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 14, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST

NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS: 1000 per year

INDIVIDUAL AWARD: Support for the cost of education by covering unmet need and self-help aid, including graduate

school funding for continuing Scholars in the areas of computer science, education, engineering, library science,

mathematics, public health or science.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Minimum GPA of 3.3

ETHNICITIES: African American, American Indian - Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, Hispanic

American

RESIDENCY STATUS: U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident / Foreign National

ACADEMIC CLASSIFICATION: High School Senior, GED, High School Graduate https://scholarships.gmsp.org/Program/Details/0fb486dd-d32c-4a4f-a0c5-d911d7d89cb7

MyProjectorLamps Scholarship This organization offers a biannual scholarship that awards $500 to two students who best explore a topic selected by the

company. This company is a leading online retailer of projector lamps, bulbs, and TV projection lamps. Please visit

http://www.myprojectorlamps.com/scholarships.html for application and further information. Applications must be

postmarked no later than October 13th, 2014.

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Christian Connector Scholarship The Christian Connector is a "one-stop-shop" for receiving free information from Christian colleges. We have about 100

Christian colleges and Bible colleges ready to send you information! Completing the free information request form is like

attending a huge Christian college fair without ever leaving home. We also offer a $2,500.00 Christian college

scholarship drawing. The site has dozens of links to Christian colleges, as well as admissions and financial aid tips and

more. All of our information services are offered absolutely free! U.S. students considering undergraduate Christian

colleges can also take advantage of our free Christian College Scholarship Resource Program. For more information, please

visit our web site at www.ChristianConnector.com.

53rd

Annual U.S. Senate Youth Program As the coordinator of the 53rd Annual U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program, I would like to invite your

students to complete our student application by Monday, October 20, 2014. Applications available in the

Counseling Office. This program will provide two outstanding Arizona high school juniors or seniors with

a $5,000 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet their nation's leaders. Winners

will be chosen by a panel of prominent government representatives following a detailed civics exam and an

interview with the panel. For more information and to access the program application, please visit our web site

at http://www.azed.gov/constituent-services/us-youth/.

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY

Wendy’s offers the High School Heisman Award to honor both male and female high school students who excel

in academics, athletics and student leadership. Applications are available at www.wendysheisman.com and are

due by October 3, 2014. Up to two winners could be named per high school.

The AES Engineers Scholarship is available to students who submit an essay on the following topic:

“Reflecting on your personal experiences and/or circumstances, tell us something about yourself that

distinguishes you as a potential scholarship candidate.” Please visit www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm

for more information. The deadline to apply is October 6, 2014 and the scholarship is valued at $500.

The Horatio Alger Association offers scholarships to students who have financial need and who have exhibited

integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. The scholarships range in value from $5,000 to

$20,000. Apply online at www.horatioalger.com/scholarships. The deadline is October 25, 2014.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are available to students who have taken part in community service

activities over the past year. Interested students must fill out an application at spirit.prudential.com.

Applications will kick off in September, with a November 5, 2014, deadline to submit the application to the

Counseling Office for final selection.

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Teen Wellness

Be of Good Cheer

The Power of Positive Thinking

By: Cindy Atoji

Maybe you remember the tale of the Little Engine Who

Could. It’s an old children’s story about the value

of optimism and hard work, and also the power of “I

Think I Can,” the motto that the determined blue engine

repeated as it chugged its way slowly up a mountainside,

succeeding where bigger, stronger engines failed: “I

Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can.”

The power of positive thinking is an age-old truism. It

only makes sense that you are what you think. “Most

folks are about as happy as they’ve made up their minds

to be,” said Abraham Lincoln – and who wants to argue

with wise old Abe? After all, it’s the American way to

believe in yourself and to achieve big dreams. And many

studies show a possible connection between positive

thinking and health. General feelings of happiness and

optimism can play a protective role in both emotional

and physical well-being. Scientists speculate that the

immune system (which helps protects you against

illness) communicates with the brain (center of

emotions), and there is even evidence, for example, that

anger and depression can be correlated with a

predisposition for having a second heart attack for

patients who are already suffering from coronary

disease.

The 1952 classic, The Power of Positive Thinking, by

Protestant preacher and author Norman Vincent Peale,

long ago set the framework for believing that positive

thoughts can bring about positive realities. And more

recently, the runaway bestseller The Secret by Rhonda

Byrne says the most powerful law in the universe can be

summed up as: “You are the most powerful magnet in

the universe . . . so as you think a thought, you are also

attracting like thoughts to you.”

But let’s be honest. Who hasn’t struggled with the blues,

or felt discouraged, negative, sad, or depressed?

Thinking positive doesn’t mean squishing or ignoring

your real feelings, or being inauthentically upbeat;

rather, it's about acknowledging your thoughts and

emotions and trying to replace them with constructive

thinking. It’s a change of inner dialogue, from, “You

idiot!! Why did you say that?” to “It’s OK, everyone

makes mistakes.”

So – whether it’s telling yourself “I’m doing the best I

can” or “You go, girl!” – here are some tips for positive

self-talk:

Use Affirmations Frequently: Experts say it

takes around 30 days to form a new habit. It

takes time to change mental grooves – change

doesn’t happen overnight. So be patient and kind

with yourself, like a baby learning to walk.

You’ll stumble and fall, but with time, new,

positive thoughts will emerge (“I’m trying my

very best to lose weight.”)

Belief Comes with Time: It might feel totally

weird and fake to start to play happy inner tapes

when you’re used to negative internal messages.

But after while it can become second nature.

Reinforce Affirmations by Journaling: Take a

few minutes every day to write in a journal and

get to know yourself by expressing your inner

thoughts. Seeing your words on paper has an

amazing self-affirming quality. You can use the

private Journal feature in My Page.

Talk to Yourself Aloud: Some suggest the

mirror technique – stand in front of a mirror and

say nice things to yourself. But if this feels too

strange, try saying affirmations out loud while

driving or walking to school.

Repetition is Calming: Chanting mantras, or

positive affirmations, are used during meditation

in some eastern religions. Mantras get their

power from both the meaning of the words and

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the sound (such as “peace and calm”), and the

repeated chanting can lead to an alternative state

of awareness and relaxation. You can try

chanting your affirmations as well.

So, be like the Little Engine Who Could: “I Think I

Can,” “I Think I Can,” “I Think I Can.”

And whatever it is you strive for – yes, you can!

Goal Setting in Seven Easy Steps

Tips for Teenagers

By: Tara Cousineau, PhD

Attention teens! Is it possible to accomplish anything you set your mind to? Yes! But life has a way of throwing

curveballs. Even so, research shows that those who succeed have a plan and an advocate. Here are 7 steps to

achieving your goals:

1. FOCUS: Identify the long-term goal or aspiration.

2. PURPOSE: Determine small, achievable steps that can be completed weekly, and monthly for next 3 to 6

months. The more specific, the better.

3. SUPPORT: Find an advocate who will be a mentor or friend–someone to whom you are accountable to. Check in

with them daily or weekly.

4. INSPIRATION: Enlist supporters who know what you going for and can cheer you on.

5. ASPIRE: Set mini-rewards along the way.

6. COMMITMENT: If you fail to meet short term goals, re-evaluate. Was the goal achievable given the tasks,

timing and other demands?

If the goal was not achievable, break down steps even further, and reset your goal.

If the goal was achievable, what will you give up or commit to for not meeting your goal?

7. SUCCESS: Acknowledge and reward. Track the small steps. This helps to pave the way for the end goal AND

you’ve had a mini-cheering squad all along: your parent or advocate and a bunch of friends and supporters

witnessing your journey. That’s enough for a small party!

Teens: Get your parents or mentors on board with healthy rewards for healthy behaviors. You follow through on

your goals; they follow through on rewards. Win-Win!

Thinking Ahead

Smart Planning for the Future

By: Kim Keough

Once you become a teenager, you start hearing the

familiar question, “What do you want to do with your

life?” or, “What do you want to study in college?” It’s

great to have a sense of direction regarding your future

but these can be loaded questions. All too often adults

think teenagers should already know exactly what they

want to do with the rest of their life. Not too much

pressure! This is Gen-Y we are talking

about. Millennials. Things are different than your

parents’ or grandparents’ youthful days. Today’s teens

are more creative and self-confident – and even more

entitled – than older generations. Things come easier and

faster. At the same time, expectations are greater and

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high achievement seems to be the norm rather than the

exception. Disappointments can be harder to bear.

Thinking ahead, though, is not a bad idea. You don’t

need to have all of the answers about the future but some

planning might help you at least figure out some options.

Three helpful and practical ways are: Know your

strengths, know your options, and observe others.

Know Your Strengths

What you want to do with your life? That’s the million-

dollar question. To help answer this question, it's good to

know your strengths – these include things that you are

good at and passionate about. Writing down your skills

and abilities may help, especially if you have many

interests. And since exploring your natural talents is a

good place to start, try to figure out what careers would

best suit your abilities.

Some examples:

If by nature you are compassionate and active,

are good at biology, and love animals you may

be interested in veterinary medicine.

If you are a math whiz, excellent at drawing, and

have good analytical skills you might want to

consider architecture as a career path.

If you are energetic, like working with your

hands, and enjoy the outdoors, you might think

about landscaping as a path suitable for you.

If you’re unsure, or having trouble narrowing your

focus, feel you are sinking into depression about the

unknown future, talk to your guidance or career

counselor; they have different aptitude tests you can take

that will help teens explore what they might want to do

with their lives.

Know Your Options

Thinking about life after high school for most teens is a

hurdle. You might be thinking, “Can’t I just get through

graduation first?!” But whether you want to go to

college or start off on a career immediately after high

school without pursuing further education, it’s smart to

think ahead.

When investigating the options you have regarding your

future, try to explore all possible opportunities. For

many teens, college is the next logical step after high

school, but then there’s the question of what you want to

major in, where you want to attend college, and how you

will pay for it. Visit schools, talk to your advisers and

students who have already graduated, and look into

financial aid options.

For some teens going to college is not the right fit. It’s

OK to explore other options more suitable to your

interests. Technical and vocational schools have become

very popular these days, especially with the rising costs

of colleges. These are institutions that will help you

develop a trade or job-specific skill set such as

hairdressing, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, or

welding.

Another option for teens not interested in college is

joining the military. Many who join do so directly out of

high school. There is a wealth of information online for

the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force,

or National Guard. Be sure to include your parents in

your decision making.

Ask For Help

Many adults say that spending a day with someone in a

particular profession helped them pick that career. One

chiropractor, for example, said that he knew he wanted

to go into a health field but wasn’t sure which one to

pick – until he shadowed a chiropractor for day on the

job. As he watched patients feel better from alignments

and adjustments, he decided that career was for him. So

consider asking some professionals if you can spend a

day watching them do their job. That might help you

decide what you’d like to do in the future.

The future is a puzzle. Many adults even have a hard

time putting all the pieces of their lives together. Plus,

the average adult holds about seven jobs over a lifespan.

So ask for help, use your resources and abilities, and

even though you may feel pressure from parents, family,

or friends to have the future all figured out, only you are

the creator of your destiny. Select a path that will make

you proud, not what you think others want you to do.

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Staying in Balance

Life Doesn't Have to Be a Juggling Act

By: Mia Simonsen

Busy, busy, busy. Does that describe your life? It’s a struggle for most teens to balance their busy lives. For many teens,

there’s constant pressure to keep up with school, extracurricular activities, sports, part-time jobs and responsibilities at

home. It’s a constant juggling act and it’s easy to become overwhelmed when there are so many demands on your time.

Try Making a Balanced Life Guide

A “Balanced Life Chart” is a simple and useful tool you can use to manage your life. Start by filling in each block with

the nine most important things you value in your life. The goal of the chart is to help you keep track of and balance

everything in your life.

For the areas that are full, simply be mindful if one area seems to overshadow another. You may have an abundance

of friends, let’s say, or work, but family or hobbies may be pushed to the side. Here are some tips.

Making Priorities and Managing Your Time

Family – OK, we know your family can be aggravating at times. But it’s important to spend time with your

family. They’re a big part of who you are. Having a family that loves and supports you during good times and bad

can be essential to overall happiness.

Friends – As the old saying goes, “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold,” it's

important to work on maintaining strong relationships and making new friends along the way. Try not to burn

bridges because you never know when you may need someone’s help in the future; it’s much better to have

friends than enemies.

Hobbies and Sports – Take time every day to do something fun for yourself, like going for a run or just reading a

book. This time will rejuvenate you and make it easier to go back to work or get ready for exams.

Mental – We’re all works in progress and we can always benefit from learning. Knowledge is not limited to what

you learn at school, but is an accumulation of your life’s experiences. No matter what it is, as long as it stimulates

your mind, you are learning.

Spirituality – Having a strong faith can carry you through difficult times. Some people may find that in the form

of religion, but others can find spiritual growth through meditation and other forms of spiritual enlightenment.

Health – Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.

Work – Whether you have a part-time job after school or do volunteer work, try to find something that you enjoy

doing. You could gain valuable experience, make new friends, and it could possibly lead to a future career.

Financial – Save and invest your money to plan for the future. Even though you’re young, these days it makes

more sense than ever to learn about how to safeguard your money.

Goals – Think about some realistic short-term goals that you can see yourself achieving within a month, such as

getting a part-time job or finishing a big project. Then think about some long-term goals, such as being an

architect, performing at Carnegie Hall or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Choose goals that ignite your passion and

shoot for the stars. Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, whose father taught him to set goals too big to accomplish in

a lifetime, says “You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for.”

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Set Priorities

In today’s busy world, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to be popular and getting distracted by messages portrayed in

the media, but your life will be more meaningful if you follow the path that is right for you. But remember, having a

balanced life or being well-rounded does not mean that you should become an overachiever. You don’t have to be class

president, captain of the football team or the smartest person in your class.

Follow a Roadmap

Staying in balance is more about enjoying your life while managing your time so you know when to filter out things or

people that throw you off balance. You will be able to carry these strategies and tools with you for the rest of your life.

Think of the Balanced Life Guide as a roadmap for your life. So grab onto the steering wheel with your map as a guide,

live in the moment, and enjoy the journey that lies ahead of you.

Teen Brain Can Influence Attitude

Playing Molecular Mind Games

By: Karen Feldscher

Have you recently stayed up so late that you were tired

in school the next day? Have you ever taken a ride from

a friend whose driving made you nervous? Have you

ever lashed out at your parents or siblings — then

regretted it later? Have you ever wolfed down a fast-

food meal, then felt sick afterwards and wish you hadn’t

eaten it? Do you tend to procrastinate on your

homework, then realize you don’t have enough time to

finish it?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions,

take a minute to play out the pros and cons of decisions

before you make them. After all, as a teenager, your teen

brain is still on the move. Researchers say that

teenagers’ brains are simply not fully developed. That’s

why teens sometimes make snap decisions, that in

hindsight, seem like not the best decisions.

If you sometimes wonder why your attitude isn’t the

greatest, or your thoughts feel a bit jumbled, it may be

because you’re not thinking clearly. Literally.

Here’s what the researchers say:

• Key areas of the adolescent brain — especially the

prefrontal cortex, which is the part that controls higher

order skills — are not fully mature until the early to mid-

twenties.

• The prefrontal cortex governs things like planning,

impulse control, and reasoning — like when to act on

anger or whether or not to eat a second piece of dessert.

• More 17-year-olds commit crimes than any other age

group — and this may have a lot to do with the fact that

teens’ brains haven’t fully matured.

• When adults resist impulses, their prefrontal cortexes

are highly active. But in kids’ brains, this doesn’t

happen. Brain development is not yet fully matured.

• When faced with risky vs. non-risky choices, teens

often pick the riskier ones — even though they know

they’re riskier.

What does all this mean? That, as a teen, it would be a

good idea to push yourself to think about your

choices carefully, even it doesn’t feel that important in

the moment. So — before you take that second piece of

cake — think about your brain power. Will you regret

the cake later, when you step on the scale? Slow down,

take a deep breath, and weigh your choices, and watch

your attitude.