Burger King Scholars
Created in memory of Burger King co-founder James W. McLamore, the Burger King Scholars program has awarded more than 17,000 scholarships—$17.6 million—to high school students, BK®employees and their children across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. This spring, thanks to the support of the BK® family and the McLamore Family Foundation, the Foundation awarded scholarships totaling more than $2.2 million, nearly doubling the amount of scholarships granted in 2011.
 
Scholarship grants range from $1,000 to $50,000, and are intended to help students offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school. Recipients are selected based on their grade point average, work experience, extracurricular activities and/or community service.
 
Scholarships are funded directly by the BURGER KING McLAMORESM Foundation and are made possible thanks to generous donors, including BK® employees, franchisees, vendors and guests. The largest annual fundraiser is the Fall Fundraiser in-restaurant promotion. Every dollar raised through this campaign is used to fund scholarships. Burger King hopes to soon award one scholarship for every BK® restaurant in North America.

The application period for the 2013 school year began on Nov. 15, 2012 and ends on Jan. 10, 2013.

Apply today at:  http://www.bkmclamorefoundation.org/whatwedo/scholarsprogram

LaSertoma Scholarship
The Roxboro LaSertoma Club is seeking to recognize high school seniors who are making a difference in their school and community through their activities and volunteer service.   Applicants will be judged first at the local level, then at the regional level, and then at the international level.  The student who is selected as the first place international winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.  Applications are available in the College Resource Room and must be submitted no later than Jan. 15, 2013.

SCAD Challenge Chat
High school seniors and juniors can participate in an online chat about the SCAD Challenge scholarship competition on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. The chat will include a presentation on contest guidelines and previous winning submissions. There will be a Q-and-A with challenge mentors.

ORU Scholarship
Any seniors interested in applying to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma (where Khari Johnson, RCS Class of 2012, is currently attending) should come by the College Resource Room to learn about the Whole Person Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes students committed to achieving excellence academically, physically and spiritually. The awards range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year and students must be nominated by their school counselor before applying.

Red Cross High School Heroes
The American Red Cross High School Heroes is a philanthropic leadership and scholarship program.  The top three fundraisers (individual or team) earn scholarships of $5,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.  Four other outstanding fundraisers earn $500 scholarships.  Heroes fundraise through the end of March (Red Cross Month) any way they would like – information packets and one-on-one planning sessions are provided to each candidate.  As a Hero, each candidate will be partnered with a graduated mentor and a successful business leader to support their campaign.  High School Heroes runs from January  to March 31, 2013, with an awards ceremony on April 12 to celebrate the success of our Heroes. Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 and are available in the guidance office or at www.TriangleRedCross.org. After completing the application, contact Blanch Hudon, the program coordinator for Person, Durham Orange, Granville, and Vance counties at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 919-489-6541 x 376.

Upcoming college rep visits
On Thursday, Nov. 29, from noon to 1 p.m., a rep from the Living Arts College will be on campus for students interested in tech design, game design, animation media design and filmmaking.
Financial Aid Myths
Don't Believe Everything You Hear
Literally billions of dollars in financial aid is available to those who need help paying for college, yet lots of misinformation clouds the facts about what type of aid is available and who is eligible. Here are some myths dispelled for students confronting the process of securing financial aid.

College Is Just Too Expensive for Our Family
Despite the media hype about rising college costs, a college education is more affordable than most people think, especially when you consider college graduates earn an average of $1 million more over their careers than do high school graduates. The average yearly cost of a four-year public school in 2002-2003 is just $4,081. There are some expensive schools, but high tuition is not a requirement for a good education.

There's Less Aid Available than There Used to Be
In fact, student financial aid in 2001-2002 rose to a record level of more than $90 billion. Most students receive some form of aid. Less of this aid now comes in the form of grants, however; most aid is awarded through low-interest loans or institutional and other grants. You should consider carefully the financing packages you've been offered by each college to determine which makes the most financial sense.

My Parents' Income Is Too High to Qualify for Aid
Aid is intended to make a college education available for students of families in many financial situations. College financial aid administrators often take into account not only income but also other family members in college, home mortgage costs, and other factors. Aid is awarded to many families with incomes they thought would disqualify them.

My Parents Saved for College, So We Won't Qualify for Aid
Saving for college is always a good idea. Since most financial aid comes in the form of loans, the aid you are likely to receive will need to be repaid. Tucking away money could mean you have fewer loans to repay, and it won't mean you're not eligible for aid if you need it. A family's share of college costs is calculated based mostly on income, not assets such as savings.

I'm Not a Straight "A" Student, So I Won't Get Aid
It's true that many scholarships reward merit, but the vast majority of federal aid is based on financial need and does not even consider grades.

If I Apply for a Loan, I Have to Take It
Families are not obligated to accept a low-interest loan if it is awarded to them. "In my opinion, everybody should apply for financial aid," says Tally Hart, director of Student Financial Aid at Ohio State University. "Student loans are at all-time low interest rates." She recommends applying and comparing the loan awards with other debt instruments and assets to determine the best financial deal.

Working Will Hurt My Academic Success
Students who attempt to juggle full-time work and full-time studies do struggle. But research shows that students who work a moderate amount often do better academically. Securing an on-campus job related to career goals is a good way to help pay college costs, get experience, and create new ties with the university.

I Should Live at Home to Cut Costs
It's wise to study every avenue for reducing college costs, but living at home may not be the best way. Be sure to consider commuting and parking costs when you do this calculation. Living on campus may create more opportunities for work and other benefits.

Private Schools Are Out of Reach for My Family
Experts recommend deferring cost considerations until late in the college-selection process. Most important is finding a school that meets your academic, career, and personal needs. In fact, you might have a better chance of receiving aid from a private school. Private colleges often offer more financial aid to attract students from every income level. Higher college expenses also mean a better chance of demonstrating financial need.

Millions of Dollars in Scholarships Go Unused Every Year
Professional scholarship search services often tout this statistic. In fact, most unclaimed money is slated for a few eligible candidates, such as employees of a specific corporation or members of a certain organization. Most financial aid comes from the federal government, though it's also a good idea to research nonfederal sources of aid.

My Folks Will Have to Sell Their House to Pay for College
Home value is not considered in calculations for federal financial aid. Colleges may take home equity into account when determining how much you are expected to contribute to college costs, but income is a far greater factor in this determination. No college will expect your parents to sell their house to pay for your education.

We Can Negotiate a Better Deal
Many colleges will be sensitive to a family's specific financial situation, especially if certain nondiscretionary costs, such as unusually high medical bills, have been overlooked. But most colleges adhere to specific financial aid-award guidelines and will not adjust an award for a family that feels it got a better deal at another school. "We won't bargain, but we want to make sure we know the family's full financial picture," said Tally Hart, director of Student Financial Aid at Ohio State University.

Scholarship and Aid Links:

www.fastweb.com (Best known scholarship database)
www.gocollege.com (Free scholarship search, plus college search)
www.CFNC.org (the comprehensive college planning site of the College Foundation of North Carolina)
www.scholarshipplus.com/wake (the Online Scholarship Guide of the Wake County Public School System, with an excellent listing of scholarships)
www.finaid.org (Very comprehensive financial aid site.)
www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml (Scholarship Scams)
http://studentaid.ed.gov (Federal Student Aid Information for students)
www.fafsa.ed.gov/complete001.htm (Help in completing the FAFSA)
www.fafsa.ed.gov (FAFSA on the Web and Federal School Codes)
http://moneycentral.msn.com/family/home.asp (Paying for College)

Web Sites with Expected Family Contribution Worksheets:

http://www.CFNC.org
http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp
www.finaid.org
http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/apply_student_loan/understanding/efc/


For more information, please contact Mr. Bettendorf or Ms. Hawkins in Guidance, or one of the parent volunteers in the College Resource Room.