Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Jody Hansen December 13Th, 2016

Staff: Diane Ahlberg and Jody Hansen December 13th, 2016 (763) 569-7665 or (763) 569-7627 The CCRC newsletter is provided on a monthly or semi-monthly basis to provide information on activities and events that are helpful to Park Center students and their parents. This publication is also on Park Center’s website (www.district279.org/sec/pcsh (under Academics or under Quick Links at right of home page).

IMPORTANT!!! Attention seniors: When you are asked to indicate your school counselor on college applications note Diane Ahlberg, [email protected], as your counselor. She is the counselor for senior students who need a recommendation letter, Secondary School Report or any other college reference.

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)

February 11, 2017 January 13, 2017 January 14-20, 2017 April 8, 2017 March 3, 2017 March 4-17, 2017 June 10, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 6-19, 2017

TEST FEE PER TEST OPTION:  ACT (No Writing) $42.50  Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).

 ACT Plus Writing $58.50  Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request.

 5th & 6th college choice fee is $12 for each school.

 Late registration fee is $27.50.

 Standby testing is $51 in addition to the basic fee, if you missed registration.

 Test date change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.

 Test center change fee is $25 in addition to the basic fee.

 Test information release service is $20.

 International testing is $33.

Students need to register on-line at www.actstudent.org Students receiving free/reduced lunch can have their test fees waived TWICE by bringing a copy of the letter they received from Food Service to the CCRC to receive a waiver. Fee waivers do not include late fees.

Students can register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests at www.collegeboard.org

Preparing for the ACT Test booklets that include a full length practice test, including the writing test, strategies to prepare for the test and what to expect on test day are available in the CCRC.

You can take free ACT or SAT practice tests online at: www.princetonreview.com/practicetest and at www.mncis.intocareers.org.

Chegg offers ACT lessons, quizzes and practice tests. https://test-prep.chegg.com/#/dashboard.

Union Test Prep Free Practice Tests for the ACT: If passing the ACT is standing in the way of getting into the college of your dreams, there is help! A free ACT practice test to help you identify in which areas you are strong and which areas could use a little more work is available at https://uniontestprep.com/act/practice-test. Study only the subjects you are weak in, or dive in and test your skills in all four subject areas - it’s up to you!

 What if you don’t see a 4-year college in your future? For the third consecutive year, global employers report the biggest talent shortages in skilled trades. If you don’t see a 4-year college in your future the CCRC has some great apprenticeship, career and technical training, and on the job training opportunities to share with you. These opportunities lead to careers where you can take pride in what you are doing, make a great living, while doing something that you love. 12/19 10:00AM

 The "Build Your Future" initiative is all about connecting people with a career in the construction industry. On Tuesday, January 10th, at 1:00 a representative from Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota will be here to talk about the vast opportunities in the construction industry. Paid apprenticeships, internships and career and technical education may be in your future. Sign up in the CCRC to attend. 1/10 1:00PM

Yale University Friday, January 6th 11:30AM

The U.S. Department of Education announced on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, that participation in the federal student aid programs will end this month for Globe University (Globe) and Minnesota School of Business (MSB), two for-profit colleges under common ownership. This enforcement action is in keeping with the Department’s ongoing efforts to protect students, safeguard taxpayer dollars and increase accountability among postsecondary institutions. The University of Minnesota freshman application deadline of December 15th is here! Freshmen who apply after November 1st, but by December 15th will be considered for admission to the University and the University Honors program based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool, and the number of spaces available in the freshman class. Send in your applications today!

Congratulations to our 2016-17 Star Students who were honored by the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce. Awards were given for Career Advancement – recognizing career exploration through job shadowing, internships or externships; Employment Skills – recognizing a students’ success in his or her work experience; Volunteerism – recognizing volunteer efforts of a student in their school and community.

Career Advancement: Olalekan Oladeji, Charmie Vue, Oralyn Weah Employment Skills: Xavier Bonner, Otis Houston, Dana Tran Volunteerism: Haley Sjerven, Masaran Turay, Mandisa Vang, Cha Lee Yang

Xavier Bonner, Oralyn Weah, Olalekan Oladeji, Ms. Charmie Vue, Mandisa Vang Heather Miller-Cink, Cha Lee Yang, Masaran Otis Houston Turay, Haley Sjerven

In addition to academic merit-based scholarships awarded through the admissions process, the St. Cloud State University Foundation offers scholarships gifted by friends and alumni of the University to incoming, current, and graduate students. The General Scholarship Application process opens on January 9th. If you submit a General Scholarship Application before then, return to Huskies Scholarships after that date to apply for the many individual scholarships that will begin accepting applications.

After submitting your General Scholarship Application, view your recommended opportunities and also search the list using keywords to find specific scholarships for which you may qualify.

You must meet minimum enrollment requirements during the upcoming academic year to receive scholarships. Submit a new General Scholarship Application annually.

PITCH TO PROTOTYPE IN 3 DAYS: Attention students who want to pitch a great start up idea! Twin Cities Startup Weekend Youth Event is on January 13 - 15, 2017. Powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, Carlson School of Management, Target and Best Buy. Startup Weekend is a 54 hour event that brings together the Twin Cities’ designers, developers, entrepreneurs, and experts from all domains to do amazing things. Budding entrepreneurs in their sophomore, junior and senior year in high school, as well as freshmen, sophomores and juniors in college are invited to participate. Startup Weekend will propel students to launch creative business ideas by implementing the “Lean Startup” process. Students will pitch ideas, form teams around the top ideas, research their customers, and work intensely as teams to build a prototype that demonstrates the potential of their business. The event culminates in a “SHARK TANK” style pitch competition where teams present their business and demonstrate their prototype to a panel of local entrepreneurs. In just 54 hours, you will experience the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life at a startup. As you learn how to create a real company, you'll meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders, and sponsors who are ready to help you get started. To register go to http://www.up.co/communities/usa/twincities/startup-weekend/10325.

Are you interested in Metropolitan State College? Since their student population at Metro State is 97% transfer students and they have strong partnerships with the area community colleges, they don't make routine high school visits like many colleges and universities do. However, they absolutely have Admissions Counselors available for phone or face-to-face appointments should a student have questions or want information. Any interested students can fill out a visit request form at metrostate.edu, or call 651-793-1302 for an appointment, and they're happy to help. Are you interested in a health care career? Check out the Health Career Explorer: Everything you want to know about a wide variety of health careers.

 Allied Health Professions Arts and Humanities in Health  Chiropractic Medicine Complementary and Integrative Medicine  Dentistry Environmental Health  Forensic Science Geriatrics  Health Administration/Management Informatics  Medicine Mental Health  Nursing Nutrition/Dietetics  Occupational Therapy Optometry  Pharmacy Physical Therapy  Podiatric Medicine Public Health  Speech-Language-Hearing Sports Medicine  Veterinary Medicine

The University of St. Thomas is Opening a New Two-Year College in 2017! According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only one-third of adults attain a four-year degree, despite the benefits of increased employment and income. To help change this, particularly for those from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the University of St. Thomas Board of Trustees voted today to establish a first-of-its-kind two-year college in Minnesota on its Minneapolis campus. The Dougherty Family College, named after lead benefactors Mike and Kathy Dougherty, is intended to be a first step toward a four-year degree and will provide intensive, wrap-around education services designed to accommodate promising students who may not succeed at existing higher education offerings in the community. Starting in the fall of 2017, the college will offer students an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts, with courses that meet Minnesota Transfer Curriculum guidelines, which will allow graduates to have a seamless transition to public as well as private four-year institutions in Minnesota. The college plans to admit about 150 students to its inaugural college class, and St. Thomas is now applying for approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer the Associate of Arts degree. Upon receiving this approval, the college will begin accepting applications. Through a program called Raise.me, students can guarantee micro scholarships from 200+ colleges as early as 9th grade, making it easier to plan financially for school. As an example: - Get an A in a course ($100 - $1,000) - Get a B in a course ($50 - $600) - Participate in a school club or sport ($25 - $250) - And much more! This program was launched with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and U.S. colleges. Several of your classmates have already begun collecting scholarship money for grades that they’ve received while in high school. Raise.me has proven to be a great tool to motivate students in high schools throughout the U.S., as the site immediately rewards students with scholarships for their hard work in and outside of high school. The following tools will help you: 1) Create an account at www.raise.me. 2) Regularly add good grades, community service, extracurricular activities, and other achievements to your raise.me “Portfolio” to earn “Micro-Scholarships” from colleges. 3) PARENTS: Visit www.raise.me/parents for more information. North Dakota State University is pleased to offer the Cultural Diversity Tuition Discount to qualified students. For the purpose of the Cultural Diversity Tuition Discount, cultural diversity is defined as anyone who comes from the following underrepresented groups: Native American/American Indian (priority given to enrolled members of a tribe), Alaska Native (priority given to enrolled members of a village), African American/Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Multiracial/Multiethnic (from the above categories), Refugee Diversity Discount Procedures To be considered for the Cultural Diversity Tuition Discount, you must: • Be admitted to North Dakota State University by Feb. 1, 2017. • Submit the Cultural Diversity Tuition Discount Application in Academic Works (ndsu.academicworks.com) by Feb. 1, 2017. • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), indicating NDSU’s school code of 002997. Information from the FAFSA is used in the awarding of the Cultural Diversity Tuition Discount. To be considered, you must submit your FAFSA free of errors by Feb. 1, 2017.

NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA!!!!! Here’s a surprising number: Only 45 percent of high school seniors complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), missing out on billions of dollars in financial aid every year. NCAN, an America’s Promise Alliance partner, discovered that many students have misconceptions about financial aid, misconceptions that ultimately keep them from applying. Here are three big myths about financial aid:

1. Most students aren’t eligible for financial aid. In fact, “nearly all students would receive money for college, if they applied for it,” NCAN found. In 2014, about 1.4 million students missed out on billions of dollars simply because they didn’t apply.

2. Not enough aid is available. Far from it. Every year, NCAN says, more than $2 billion of financial aid doesn’t get claimed. “To get this money for college, all students need to do is fill out one form: the FAFSA.”

3. Only the students who really need the money apply. Not exactly. The students who would most benefit from financial aid, including students from low-income families and students who would be the first in their family to go to college, are often less likely to apply.

“Nearly all students (92 percent) with a household income of less than $50,000 who applied for federal student aid received a Pell Grant, worth up to $5,815 in 2016-17, which unlike a loan, does not need to be repaid,” NCAN found. Go to www.fafsa. gov and complete your FAFSA today! Are you planning to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering? Consider the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. UWM is ranked in the top 2% of universities in the nation for research. They've received R1 recognition from the Carnegie Foundation and the Princeton Review 2016 Top Midwestern University based on academic excellence and student reviews. Their College of Engineering & Applied Science offers an attractive Engineering Excellence Scholarship for those with a GPA of 3.5 and above, 25 and above ACT Composite and 28 and above ACT Math score. This year they started a Biomedical Undergraduate Degree program. With world-renowned faculty researchers, a strong biomedical graduate program in place, employer demand up and expansive industry connections, here students will get the perfect start on a rewarding profession. A 23-percent projected job growth over the next several years is one of many reasons biomedical engineering has captured the attention of high achieving, STEM-enriched students. Biomedical engineers have limitless options and enjoy self-satisfaction of improving lives and health of people every day. Biomedical engineering is also an excellent gateway to medical school.

Under the Manitoba-Minnesota Reciprocity Agreement, any student who is a resident of the state of Minnesota, as defined by the Canadian university, is granted reciprocity fee status following application, submission of required documentation, and confirmation by the Registrar’s Office. This status grants students’ the right to pay the same tuition and fee rates as Canadian Citizens.

Who's Eligible for Tuition Reciprocity Benefits? If you are a Minnesota resident you're eligible for reciprocity benefits if you enroll at one of the eight participating universities and community colleges in Manitoba. If you're a Manitoba resident, you're eligible if you attend any public college or university in Minnesota. Students should apply directly to the college they choose to attend.

What Rate Do You Pay? Minnesota students who attend participating schools in Manitoba pay the resident tuition rate for that school. To determine the exact tuition rate, students should directly contact the school(s) they're interested in attending.

What Are the Participating Manitoba Schools? Assiniboine Community College, Brandon University, Booth University College , Canadian Mennonite University, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, Providence University College, Red River Community College, Université de Saint- Boniface, University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg Access the Minnesota Reciprocity form at: http://umanitoba.ca/student/records/media/Minnesota_Reciprocity.pdf

Community colleges require freshman students to take the ACCUPLACER if they scored lower than a 21 on the reading part of the ACT, scored lower than an 18 on the English part of the ACT, scored lower than a 22 on the Math part of the ACT, or did not take the ACT at all. It is important to score high enough to be placed in college English and college math and not a developmental class to get you to college level in each of these. If you are assigned a developmental English or math class in college you have to pay the same as any other credit, but this credit does not go toward your diploma or degree. There is a free web based practice app for the Accuplacer with sample questions in each subject. Students can use this tool to explore the format and content of the tests, and get immediate explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. Go to https://accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org/login to download the app.

NOTE TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS: The CCRC publishes the Scholarship Bulletin and Newsletter approximately every two weeks. The Scholarship Bulletin lists all the scholarships that we have received information on, including scholarships that are offered by local organizations which are available to residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center or students who attend a District 279 school. Because these programs have restricted criteria, there is less competition and better “odds” for the student to be awarded scholarship monies. The CCRC Newsletter has information on events that are occurring in the area, testing information, and special programs that are being offered at Park Center PLUS helpful “Tidbits from the CCRC Staff”. These publications are distributed to the students’ advisory classes and are published on Park Center’s web site. If students and/or parents would like to have a copy of the Scholarship Bulletin (12th grade) and/or the Newsletter (all grade levels) sent directly to their e-mail, we are asking that you send a request to Jody Hansen at [email protected] and we will add you to our distribution list.

Anoka Ramsey Community College will be hosting Latino Information Nights on Wednesdays, January 25 th, February 22nd, March 8th and April 19 th from 5:00 – 6:00PM. RSVP to Fabiola Diaz at 763-433-1303

Energy Explorers Great River Energy participates in the Northern Star Council’s “Exploring and Learning for Life” career program. The purpose of Great River Energy’s program is to provide high school students with information and experience in a variety of career fields possible in the energy industry. Students will explore technical careers related to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of utility power systems. These include generation, transmission, telecommunications network, and information technology systems. On Tuesday, January 17th: “INTERVIEW SKILLS – How to get a great energy job!” There are many great jobs in the energy industry. But, what does it take to land the position you want? Interviewing skills are critical and they have an “insider” (GRE’s human resources specialist) who will coach you on the special techniques that will make YOU the successful job candidate. The presentation runs from 6:30PM – 8:00PM at the Great River Energy headquarters, 12300 Elm Creek Blvd in Maple Grove. The first 45 minutes consist of a professional, qualified man or woman talking about their career. The second 45 minutes will include a hands-on activity for students to experience that type of career. For more information and to register go to http://greatriverenergy.com/company/careers/a-rewarding-career- choice/energy-explorers/. Augustana University is hosting Junior Visit Day on April 7th and 28th. To register for a visit event or to schedule an individual visit go to www.augie.edu/visit. The University of Wisconsin - River Falls offers College Visit Days as follows: February 10th, March 24th, April 7th and 28th. Schedule your visit at www.uwrf.edu/visit. Minnesota State University - Moorhead invites you to their Preview Days on January 27th & 28th, February 16th, 17th & 18th, March 17th & 18th, and April 4th & 22nd. Campus Preview Days include a campus tour, student panel, visit with faculty, and a complimentary lunch. Register to attend at https://www.mnstate.edu/visit/#previewday. Summer at Duke – 2017: Use your summer to prepare for college, learn from renowned professors, and experience a truly international program. Last Summer over 500 lucky high school students spent the month of July at Duke University taking classes, going on excursions, enjoying great residential activities, and making friends from around the world! Visit http://summersession.duke.edu/high-school-students to review the 2017 programs dates and details. If you are currently in grades 10 or 11, you can take classes with Duke Professors and earn college credit through Summer College. If you are currently in grades 9 -12, you can enjoy personal enrichment classes with a global perspective through Summer Academy. HOW TO SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPT: For the second year, Osseo School District is offering FREE electronic transcripts for current students. Students needing a transcript should go to www.parchment.com, set up a personal profile using an e-mail address that is not their school apps e-mail address and then request their transcript to be sent electronically. Transcripts will be processed within two school days with the following exceptions – weekends, holidays, during processing of final transcript grades and two days before and three days after trimester end. Former students will be charged a $5.00 processing fee for this service. Note: When putting in your school, put in “Park Center” only and a drop down menu will come up and then choose “Park Center IB World”.

HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE APPLICANTS…. IMPORTANT TRANSCRIPT INFORMATION When sending your transcript through Parchment to Hennepin Technical College you must use the following e-mail address as the recipient’s address: [email protected]

North Memorial health care teams strive to inspire each other to give patients and their families compassionate, remarkable care. North Memorial volunteers generously donate their time and talents to help fulfill that mission and are recognized as the backbone of the North Memorial community dedicated to patient and family experience. Benefits of being North Memorial volunteer are limitless on many levels. In addition to making a difference in the lives of patients and their loved ones, North volunteers:

 receive a complimentary meal while volunteering  get free parking  have access to workshops and trainings  receive recognition for their work through events, awards and more  enjoy socializing and networking while staying active in their community

*Junior Volunteers Our Junior Volunteers are 16-18 years of age and still attending high school. Junior applicants must read, complete and submit the following information as required to apply:

 Why I Want to Volunteer  Junior Volunteer Reference Form  Junior Volunteer Application  Applicant Background

*Junior Volunteers earn special consideration for our North Memorial scholarships.

4 STEM Careers You Should Consider Excerpt from Kyle Martin. “4 Stem Careers You Should Consider.” LINK for Counselors 30, Nov. 2016

a The 21st century is the age of unprecedented growth, discovery and advancements in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Consider this as proof: In the last year alone, we confirmed water exists on Mars, we created the first laboratory-grown muscle and we tested drone-delivered burritos. The future of STEM is bright and brimming with possibilities, and the next generation of students will play a pivotal role in how these fields take shape. Below are four STEM careers in which students can transform high school hobbies into lifelong passions.

Students Interested in Robots: Consider Machine Intelligence - From intuitive spam filters and plugins that analyze emails to powerful virtual assistants like Siri and Cortana, machine intelligence is no longer the plot of a science fiction movie. It’s here, and it’s growing rapidly.

Students excited about the way robots, computers and technology are reshaping the world should consider a future in machine intelligence. Because machine intelligence requires a deep understanding of computational systems, many universities offer computer science degree programs with machine intelligence as a specialization.

Students Interested in Medicine and Science: Consider Nanotechnology - Who knew that by manipulating and building objects at the molecular and atomic level we could revolutionize health care? From pinpointing and eradicating cancer cells to building artificial kidneys, advancements in nanotechnology have enabled scientists and doctors to make incredible medical progress. The nanotechnology market has received billions in federal investments; The U.S. market value of products using nanotechnology is estimated to be $1 trillion, or five percent of GDP by 2020. In health care specifically, demand for nanotechnology engineers is rising, with 15,000 jobs expected to be filled by 2018, according to Recruiter.com.

Students interested in the intersection of technology and medicine should consider a nanotechnology degree. Since it is an emerging field, many universities offer nanotechnology as a concentration of physics, chemistry and engineering programs.

Students Interested in Innovating Solutions: Consider a Career in Engineering - The next few decades will present unique challenges we haven’t seen in any other point in history. Energy, sanitation and the world’s food supply are a few of the obstacles we will need to overcome to support a global population of 7 billion. But for engineering students, these challenges are seen as opportunities to develop safer, faster, more efficient and environment-friendly solutions and systems. According to Forbes, job demand for engineers has grown seven percent yearly for the last four years. More specifically, the geological, biomedical and industrial engineering fields are growing because renewable energy, water management and bioengineering are an increasing concern worldwide.

Students interested in logical problem solving and systematically devising solutions have plenty of options to explore in engineering. Most universities offer a variety of engineering degree programs that allow students to specialize in a specific engineering field as their curriculum progresses.

Students Interested in Analytics and Statistics: Consider a Career in Big Data - The steep increase in internet-enabled devices means an incredible amount of data and information is being created and transmitted worldwide. Global organizations are realizing they can improve their businesses if they properly understand and use insights from this “big data.” The demand for data scientists outnumbers supply by 60 percent. From retail to health care to the public sector, there are big data career opportunities in nearly every industry and job growth is promising.

Students interested in using statistics and mathematics to transform organizations into well-informed decision makers have ample opportunity to do so in the big data industry. Universities offering big data analytics degree programs provide in-depth courses that teach students how to identify correlations, trends and patterns and use them to make informative business decisions.

Bold ideas move the world forward, and in STEM, there’s endless opportunity for innovation. Whether it’s using big data to guide business strategy, or using nanotechnology to eradicate disease, there are countless ways for students to transform the world with a STEM career.