STUDENT RECRUITMENT & OUTREACH EVENTS
NACAC Spring 2024 National College Fair. 2/18-Virtual, 3/24-Virtual, 4/21-Virtual.
Registration Open! Students of Color Career Conference. This one-of-a-kind conference brings MS &HS students from across Western WA to network with professionals of color to discuss college and career readiness. Mar. 21 at Everett CC.
PNACAC Spring College Fair. 4/19-Spokane, 4/22-Seattle, 4/30-Portland.
uAspire Virtual Financial Aid Help Events. Free virtual events to walk students and families. Topics include CCS profile, FAFSA Walkthrough, Next Steps Post-FAFSA, Financial Aid Offer Review, and Summer Financial Aid Steps.
12th Year Campaign Financial Aid Information & Filing Events. Most events are virtual. Spanish events are available.
OPTIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Registration Open! 2024 National GEAR UP Academy (Virtual) Join a national group of peers to explore ideas, re-energize your GU programming, and walk away with tools you can use. Feb. 12-15
Webinar: Better FAFSA: One Month Out, What We Know Now. By NCAN. Free and open to all. Feb 14, 10 AM.
2024 WSCA Conference. Mar. 6-8, SeaTac.
Virtual: Spring Learning Labs. By NCCEP. For GU professionals. Virtual and asynchronous online courses. Apply by Mar. 15.
Webinar: Introduction to Apprenticeships. By OSPI/WSAC. Mar. 20, 9:00-10:30
PNACAC Conference: Where It All Began. May 22 - 24, Salem, OR.
NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference. July 21-24, Washington, DC.
RESOURCES
WAGU Featured Resource: College Knowledge Games & Activities for Students and Families. Use this collection of college knowledge and cooperative learning games with students or during family events.
National School Counseling Week. #NSCW is February 5th - 9th. Find images, templates, and signs you can download and use to bring attention to the important work you perform daily.
Five Things to Know About Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is the most common way people apply to have their student loans forgiven.
Explore National Runaway Safeline's Free Educational Materials. Empower your peers and help create a safe place at your school! Find flyers to spread awareness, and palm cards that can be discreetly shared with anyone who you think can benefit from contacting NRS.
High School To Postsecondary Collaborative. Case study: Eisenhower HS wanted to understand how student enrollment in dual credit programs during high school correlated with their enrollment and completion of postsecondary programs. They partnered with WA STEM and Yakima’s South-Central STEM network to access and analyze course-taking data and postsecondary enrollment data from the past five years.
EdTip from AVID Open Access. Explore strategies to promote and maintain academic integrity in classrooms where students have access to generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
The Washington State Social Emotional Learning Standards and Benchmarks x ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success Crosswalk is now available! Please Note: When choosing the appropriate learning standard for students, it is important to ensure that the standards are directly aligned with the learning objective(s) for the lesson or intervention and the developmental level of the student(s). Refer to Washington Social Emotional Learning Indicators for more information.
IN THE NEWS
Exclusive: The Education Department Says It Will Fix Its $1.8 Billion FAFSA Mistake
A New Partnership Paves The Way For Greater Use Of AI In Higher Ed
Bill Before Congress Would Provide Foster Youth With Guaranteed Income
Nearly $5M In New Grant Funding Will Go Toward Services For Homeless Youth In Washington
WA Intercepts Millions In Child Support For Low-Income Families
WA Could Require Public Schools Teach LGBTQ+ History Under Proposed Bill
WA Schools Nearing Paraeducator ‘Labor Crisis.’ What Lawmakers, Inslee Are Proposing
New FAFSA Simpler For Some, But Thousands Of Students From Immigrant Families Are Locked Out
To Help These School Kids Deal With Trauma, Mindfulness Lessons Over The Loudspeaker
Tacoma Public Schools Program Builds Pipeline To Future Careers In Health Care
As Book Battles Rage, WA Senate Votes To Make It Harder To Shut Down A Library
One School District Just Pulled 1,600 Books From Its Shelves—Including The Dictionary
SCHOLARSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES
Find more opportunities at: https://gearup.wa.gov/educators/scholarships.
Scholarship Junkies’ Free Scholarship Bank. Scholarship Junkies has launched their brand-new Scholarship Bank! This organization is a reputable and safe source to search for scholarships.
WSECU Scholarships. For members of all ages. $2,000 is awarded for two-year colleges and vocational schools. $3,000 is awarded for four-year undergraduate programs and graduate programs. Due Feb. 12.
Common App Student Advisory Committee. For HS juniors and seniors and those in their first year of college. Due Mar. 1.
College Scholarship, Brief Description, and Due Date
For WA State HS students with disabilities planning to continue their education after they graduate. Scholars prepare for their transition to college—which includes exploring careers, independence, self-advocacy, and leadership. Is open to high school sophomores or juniors.
1/30
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship
Full tuition, book stipend, educational fees, and other financial benefits at many of the country's leading colleges and universities. Upon graduation, midshipmen are commissioned as officers in the unrestricted line Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve.
1/31
Naomi Winston Scholarship in Art
For visual artists, aged 16 to 22. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success.
2/1
This essay contest is for K12 students – in grades 3-12. Must write an original essay on a given topic related to engineering.
2/1
John F. & Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund for Art Education
($500-$5,000) - For students ages 18 -35, pursuing a profession in visual arts & be skilled & devoted to the classical or conservative tradition.
2/1
($2,500-$25,000) - For HS seniors who plan to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year college or university for the upcoming school year. Must submit a detailed essay that describes one outstanding, non-academic achievement they have accomplished.
2/1
For HS seniors who plan to go to a 2- or 4-year college or university. Must have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage, have a min. 3.0 GPA, and be a legal resident.
2/5
CORE's Que Llueva Café Scholarship
For college-bound undocumented students, can earn their college education and allow for all their hard work and sacrifice to persevere. $500-1,000.
2/10
John Lennon Scholarship - BMI Foundation
($20,000) – For student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres including alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental.
2/15
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Free residential journalism and college preparatory program for high-achieving current juniors from low-income backgrounds interested in journalism. All program expenses, including meals, housing, and transportation covered.
2/15
Association of Computer Professionals in Education (ACPE) Scholarship
($2,000) – For HS seniors who plan to study technology. Successful applicants have studied and used technology innovatively throughout high school and can demonstrate their work through a project. The project itself can take many forms, including but not limited to a website, app, video, podcast, webcast, etc., produced sometime during their high school years.
2/16
The Christophers’ Poster Contest
Open to 9-12 graders. Must create an original poster that interprets the theme "You Can Make a Difference” & illustrates the idea that one person can change the world for the better. $100-$1,000.
2/16
Gordon A. Rich Memorial Scholarship
($12,500) – For HS students with demonstrated financial need whose parents or guardians have, or had, a career in the financial services industry.
2/20
Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities.
2/20
Indian Health Services Scholarships
Scholarships for qualified American Indian and Alaska Native students who plan to enter or are pursuing degrees in the health profession.
2/28
Washington Opportunity Scholarship- Baccalaureate
For low- and middle-income students pursuing eligible high-demand majors in STEM or health care and encourages recipients to work in WA once they complete their degrees.
2/29
($100-$1,000) -This contest is open to students in grades 9-12 worldwide and asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics.
3/1
American Chemical Society Scholars Award
($5,000) - Renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields.
3/1
Sound Credit Union Scholarship
$1,000 individual scholarships. Must be a graduating HS senior who plans to attend a 2- or 4-year college, w/ a min. 3.0 GPS, & be a member of Sound Credit Union on or before January 31, 2021.
3/1
WAEF Tree Fruit Industry Scholarships
Multiple sources of scholarships for students raised in families with direct ties to Washington's tree fruit industry.
3/1
Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships
Scholarships are for students under 21 years of age, about to attend their first year of higher education, and who meet the height requirements of TCI— 5' 10" (178 cm) for women, and 6' 2" (188 cm) for men. Annually, TCI Foundation awards multiple student scholarship(s) of up to $1000 each.
3/1
Washington State PTA Scholarship
For graduating seniors from WA public high schools with an active PTA, who will be starting college (either two-year or four-year) in the fall.
3/1
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation-UNDERGRADUATE/ASSOCIATE SCHOLARSHIP
Need-based scholarships to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen who attend college or career training. Before applying, verify your eligibility. CTE Version--Application available all year. Applications are processed monthly.
3/1
Create a Greeting Card Scholarship
($10,000) - Submit original photo, artwork, or computer graphics for the front of a greeting card.
3/1
Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship
($20,000) – For HS seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and target a career in the technology industry. The scholarships are renewable – each winner who continues to meet the criteria is eligible to receive an annual award of $5,000 for up to four (4) consecutive years for a potential total $20,000 scholarship.
3/13
$100,000 in scholarships available especially for students with strong academics & whose parents are in the military or veterans of the armed forces.
3/15
($200-$1,000) - For K-12 students. Submit an original piece of artwork depicting a North American waterfowl species.
3/15
Horatio Alger Scholarship - State Scholarships
($10,000) - The program specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.
3/15
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program
For students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. Must be accepted to an accredited 4-year institution. Up to $20,000 per year. Renewable for 4 years.
3/29
National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program
($3,000-$12,000) – For blind scholars. All scholarships awarded are based on academic excellence, community service, and leadership.
3/31
LULAC National Scholarship Fund
Designed to help youth in underserved communities make the dream of college enrollment a reality.
3/31
Scholarship Poetry Contest - Summer Issue
Open to all U.S. HS students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less. Up to $500.
3/31