National Practice Test Weekend
Take a free SAT vs. ACT Combo Test and see which exam is right for you. Join Kaplan on May 20 and 21 Live Online to try both tests. Register at www.kaptest.com/practicetestweekend.

Free Official SAT Practice through Khan Academy
Did you know that Khan Academy has partnered with the College Board to offer free “Official SAT Practice?”  Research shows students who prepare for the SAT using Official SAT Practice see substantial improvement in their scores. Twenty hours of Official SAT Practice is associated with an average 115-point increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT, nearly double the average gain compared to students who don’t use Official SAT Practice.  Click here to get started!

Ms. Megan Sutley
Athletic Trainer
May 15; Pds. 7 & 8

Beacon College (FL), Open House, May 20
Beacon College was the first in the nation accredited to award bachelor degrees exclusively to students with learning disabilities and ADHD. The College is committed to student success, offering academic and personal support services that help each student achieve his/her goals. Beacon College is truly a community, welcoming, accepting, and supporting each member of it. The best way to completely understand what the College has to offer is by visiting. 

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Open House, May 20

The Coast to Coast College Tour  is a joint travel partnership bringing together admissions representatives from Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Princeton University, the University of California-Berkeley, and Vanderbilt University. This program will provide students with the opportunity to learn about each individual institution, receive insight on navigating the selective admissions process, and the ability to connect with representatives from each institution. Click here to register for the Pittsburgh Information Session to be held on May 23 at 7:00 pm at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center.

Boston College “Eagle Eye Campus Visits”: June 2017- August 2017  Register

Ohio Independent College Visit Days:  June 27, 27 & 29. Students that visit two or more participating colleges during the event will be entered into a drawing for one of five $1,000 book scholarships.  For more information and a list of participating colleges, visit www.youcanohio.com/visitdays

“Spend a Summer Day” events at Penn State (available for every campus): June – August  Register

Regional College Visit Tours:  https://www.college-visits.com/home.html

Current juniors who plan to apply to the University of Pittsburgh should be aware of the following admissions timeline:

• May: Pitt will release the new Fall 2018 Short Answer Questions. Stay tuned in to social media for more information.
  
• July: The Fall 2018 Application will open. Pitt operates on rolling admission, but it’s to a student’s advantage to apply as early as possible. Applicants are encouraged to pay attention to deadlines for the university’s competitive scholarships and freshman guarantees.
  
• July-August: Summer programs will give students and families an up-close look at Pitt. (The application fee will be waived for summer visitors!)  Visit the Admission and Financial Aid website for details!

Robert Morris University's online application for fall 2018 admission goes live on June 1, 2017.  Apply at www.rmu.edu/apply.  To schedule a campus tour, go to www.rmu.edu/visit, call 412-397-5200 or email visits@rmu.edu.

The National Association of Black Accountants and Point Park University are once again sponsoring a FREE, in-residence, Accounting Career Awareness Program summer camp for high school students, June 25-30. Applicants for this program should have a minimum GPA of 3.0. To learn more or apply, click here. Deadline:  May 19, 2017

Current juniors are invited to register for the ever-popular Experience Christendom Summer Program (ECSP). Now in its eighteenth year, the ECSP offers rising high school seniors a unique educational, cultural, spiritual, and incredibly fun experience. Each summer, hundreds of participants leave Christendom College’s beautiful rural campus with a new appreciation for the liberal arts, Catholic culture, true friendship, and the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. They leave inspired by their experience and they rank the program very highly on their exit survey, many of them describing it as their “best week ever.” Six one-week sessions are offered.  Interested students should act quickly; some weeks already have waiting lists.  As of this writing, there are still 40 spots remaining overall.  Click here for more information or to register.

Based at Boston University, the 9th annual New England Center for Investigative Reporting’s Summer Investigative Reporting Workshop is a perfect opportunity for U.S. and international high school students to learn more about journalism and explore the exciting city of Boston. Three two-week workshops are being offered, beginning on June 26. During each session, students will participate in seminars and work alongside BU faculty and award-winning local and national journalists on investigative stories that could be published on the center's website or in regional and national publications. Students will live on the BU campus and gain hands-on experience in investigative reporting while developing critical thinking and writing skills.  Please click here for more information or to register. Students interested in financial aid or payment plans should apply early, as aid is first-come, first-served.Deadline: Two weeks prior to the start of each session (or until full).

The Miami University of Ohio Summer Scholars Program provides a rich, early college experience for academically-talented rising high school juniors and seniors from across the globe. Students will join an engaged community of learners for an intense, two-week residential program.  Two sessions are offered:  July 2-14 and July 16-28.  To learn more or register, click here. Deadline:  Rolling admission beginning April 15, 2017

Camp College West, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling, is a FREE, 2-day residential college preparation experience.  The Camp will be held on the campus of Allegheny College in Meadville, PA from July 18-20, 2017.  Topics that will be covered include the college application process, essay writing, financial aid, and much more.  There is no cost for selected students to attend.  Apply today at www.pacac.org/camp-college. Deadline:  May 22, 2017

Gain a competitive edge when applying to college by participating in The Bridge, a one-week, residential college preparation program hosted by the University of Pittsburgh. Open to rising high school juniors and seniors, The Bridge offers leadership development experience and college preparation workshops to provide the knowledge and skills students need to successfully navigate the college application process.  Participants will learn how to write outstanding personal statements and essays, prepare for college admissions interviews, apply to colleges, and take college admissions standardized tests. The Princeton Review will provide SAT/ACT test preparation as well as a practice test. The Bridge will take place from July 9-14, 2017. The program fee is $800, which covers room, meals, and social activities. Learn more and register for The Bridge here. Deadline:  June 1, 2017 

High school students with a strong interest in the visual arts are invited to participate in the Penn State School of Visual Arts' (SoVA) Summer Art Camp, Portfolio Thinking. The camp will take place June 25-30 at the University Park campus. Open to high school students entering grades 9 through 12 (and just-graduated seniors), the camp provides an intensive residential studio workshop program across various art media. The cost of the camp is $925.  However, a small number of partial and full-tuition scholarships are being offered. To learn more or register, click here. Deadline:  June 13, 2017 

The University of Pennsylvania delivers the challenge of an Ivy League curriculum to academically talented high school students seeking a pre-collegiate experience. Explore Penn's historic campus, engage with leading faculty and build intellectual connections within accelerated two, three or six week Penn Summer High School Programs. Available programs include the Penn Summer Prep Program, the Summer Academies, the Pre-College Program, and the Young Scholars Program. Click here to learn more and compare the four programs. Application deadlines vary by program.

Free Resource:  Everything You Need to Know about Winning Scholarships

$30,000 Scholarship Still Available! - A scholarship to Ave Maria University in Florida, offered at the OLSH Gala, is still available for bidding.  This scholarship is valued at over $30,000!  Anyone interested in bidding on the scholarship should contact OLSH Director of Advancement Jenna Sheetz at 412-269-7726 or jsheetz@olsh.org

The PA Chamber Educational Foundation has teamed up with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to give scholarships to Pennsylvanians interested in pursuing a career in the skilled trades.  Over $70,000 in scholarship money is available to Pennsylvanians through the 2017 Work Ethic Scholarship Program!  Click here for a list of eligible skilled trade programs.  Apply now at www.mikeroweworks.org/scholarship.  Deadline:  May 19, 2017

The winner of the B. Davis Scholarship contest will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. This contest is open to current high school junior and seniors.  To enter, you must submit an essay of 1,000 words or less on the following topic: Describe the three characteristics of leadership you value most.  Discuss why you believe that these traits are so important and how you feel that they are developed in an individual.  Essays should be submitted to:  awards@studentawardsearch.com.  Click here to learn more.  Deadline:  May 22, 2017

Scholarships totaling up to $3,000 will be awarded by the Flag Manufacturers Association of America this year.  High school seniors who are planning to continue their education in a degree program are eligible to enter the 2017 FMAA Scholarship Contest.  Students must submit a video of 90 seconds to two minutes in length, answering the following question:  What does the American flag mean to you as a young American in a post 9/11 world?  Videos will be judged on content, original thought, visual imagery, and patriotic expression.  To learn more, click http://www.fmaa-usa.com/about/scholarship.php.
Deadline:  May 30, 2017

The Black Female Leadership Development Institute (BFLDI) program engages African American girls (aged 13 – 18) in Allegheny County, encouraging them to envision a future of their own making, to embrace the responsibility of leadership in their homes and communities, and to practice the positive self-care needed in order to create and maintain a healthy and satisfying life.  BFLDI is co-sponsored by Penn State University and begins with a week-long residential summer program at Penn State University’s Greater Allegheny campus.  The program continues through 2019, with monthly meetings and other events which will take place at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s headquarters and Penn State University’s Greater Allegheny campus.  You can learn more about BFLDI and download an application here:  http://ulpgh.org/programs/youth-leadership-development/bfldi/.  Application Deadline:  extended to May 26, 2017

The Black Male Leadership Development Institute (BMLDI) is a program that brings African American boys in grades nine through twelve together to participate in year-long activities.  The program increases educational and leadership opportunities for selected young African American men to expand their leadership skills to make an impact in their local communities. BMLDI, which is co-sponsored by Robert Morris University, begins with a weeklong residential summer program on the RMU campus, followed by monthly Saturday Institutes and programs throughout the school year.  You can learn more about BMLDI and download an application here:  http://ulpgh.org/programs/youth-leadership-development/bmldi/.  Application Deadline:  extended to May 26, 2017

The International Union of Elevator Constructors Local #6 Joint Apprenticeship Committee will be accepting applications to the Elevator Constructor Apprenticeship Program from May 12, 2017 – May 26, 2017.  Applications may be completed online by visiting www.neiep.org/careers.aspx (beginning May 12th) and clicking the link for Apprenticeship Opportunities.  Applicants must be 18 years of age. 

Applications are now being accepted for the fall 2017 Allegheny Intermediate Unit Apprenticeship Programs.  The AIU Apprenticeship Program gives students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to work alongside professionals in a chosen career field, gaining knowledge and experience that will help them make informed decisions about their future education and career path.  Students spend one half-day or daylong learning experience per month over a six or seven month period during the school year. During these experiences, they meet and work with professionals who share their experience, expertise, enthusiasm and zeal for what they do for a living.  Approximately thirty different programs are available, in careers ranging from Architecture to Zoo Animal Care. Click here to learn more and view the complete list of available programs. Students who would like to register for a program must create an account, complete an online application, get one teacher to complete an online recommendation, and mail the signature page and fee of $75 to the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.  Many programs fill quickly, so students are advised to apply as soon as possible. Students and parents who have questions about the program or the application process may contact the school counselors.  Deadline:  May 26, 2017

The Chatham University College for Continuing and Professional Studies is offering Reading Skills and Speed Reading programs for adults and high school students this summer. In the program for students entering the 9th-11th grades, students will improve comprehension in both fiction and non-fiction and learn to read twice as fast. They will also learn the best way to read and study textbooks and take notes. Students will complete homework more quickly and easily and enjoy reading more. In the program for adults, rising 12th graders, and college students, students will learn to read twice as fast in materials ranging from novels to non-fiction.  The comprehension, concentration and retention techniques taught in this course will enable students to get more and retain more from everything they read. Classes are offered at multiple locations in and around Pittsburgh. Click here to view a flyer or call 1-800-978-9596 for more details.