A Quarterly Newsletter Volume 19, Issue 4 Summer 2019 St. Olaf College TRIO Educational Talent Search EPORTER R Senior Banquets IN THIS ISSUE: By Gaonou Vang A Note from Our It has become a tradition for TRIO ETS to host an annual Senior Banquet at Director Washburn High School, Community of Peace Academy and Humboldt High page 2 School to honor our seniors and their accomplishments. Washburn’s banquet was on May 1st, Community of Peace’s on May 7th, and Humboldt’s on May 9th. During Summer Food the banquets, students shared their plans for after high school and their favorite Service Programs memories with ETS. We are happy to hear that so many students are planning on page 2 attending a 2-year or 4-year college! That same day, students also participated in a College Transitions workshop where Academic Advisors and ETS alumni talked Mentor Visit about the transition from high school to college. ETS Advisors provided seniors Photos with resources, personal advice, financial knowledge about credit cards, healthy page 2 habits, study tips and strategies they can use to overcome challenges they might Photo Highlights face as college students. from 2018/2019 page 3 ETS Advisors would like to say a final farewell to all of our seniors. You have all worked hard this year to finish your final year of high school. We are so proud of Post-Secondary you! Good luck on your next journey and even though you will be going on new Plans and Awards adventures, we are still here for you should you need anything. Please feel free to pages 4-6 contact your ETS Advisor(s) anytime via email or call us at 1-800-621-7601.

Seniors to Be: College Exploration page 7

Northeast Middle School Certificate of Excellence page 7

Scholarship Tips page 8

Summer Puzzle page 9

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 1 Summer Food Service Program St.Olaf TRIO ETS Looking for a free meal near you? Nutritious free meals are available for children and A Note from the Director, Heidi O’Hair teens 18 and younger at many locations throughout Congratulations to the class of 2019 on graduation and all other ETS the nation throughout the summer while school is out of session. Use the mapping tool at this website students on academic achievements this year! Seniors, we will be to find a site near you: calling you this summer to make sure your fall plans are set and offer https://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks help if not. Call us if you need us first! Summer Food Service Program Meal Finder App Hunger Impact Partners has created a Summer Food What are you doing this summer? If your answer is nothing, search Service Program Meal Finder App called “Summer Eats the MNEEP summer enrichment guide to see if there is a free .” To find summer meals near you download the program still open for you to apply: Summer Eats Minnesota App from Apple and Google Stores! Get a ride to free meals with the Metro Transit Summer https://mneep.org/resource/2019-academic-enrichment-guide-aeg/ Student Bus Pass! aeg-2019/ Use the Metro Transit Summer Student Pass all summer (Note: If link does not work, find the guide by contacting MNEEP long to get a ride to free meals near you. Click here to find at 651-645-7400) out more. See our website for online version of this Summer newsletter 2019 with clickable links: wp.stolaf.edu/ets/newsletters Spring Mentor Visits to St Olaf

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 2 Photo Highlights from 2018-2019

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 3 TRIO Educational Talent Search Humboldt Class of 2019 Post-Secondary Plans/Awards Mohamud Abdi Augsburg College Certificate of Excellence Morgan Behnke Century College Certificate of Excellence Fatumata ‘Fatima’ Bishop Concordia College Certificate of Excellence Maria Galarza Inver Hills Community College Certificate of Excellence Sufian Garnett Work/Job Corp Alyssa Gomez Work/Job Corp Daymond Haywood Work/Job Corp Kay Htoo St. Cloud State University Certificate of Excellence Kpay Htoo St. Paul College Certificate of Excellence Wah Htoo Metropolitan State University Certificate of Excellence Indira Kharel Hamline University Darnell King St. Cloud Technical College Arianna Klotz St. Paul College Kevin Lor Metropolitan State University Hser Gay Moo Work Ge Moua Real Estate Pan Myine Metropolitan University Certificate of Excellence Ubah Omar Hamline University Klu Sher St. Paul College Certificate of Excellence Andy Thao Unversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities Certificate of Excellence Yusanat Tway -Twin Cities Certificate of Excellence

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 4 TRIO Educational Talent Search Community of Peace Class of 2019

Nathan Job Corps Wilbur Cartajena Saint Paul College David Her Minnesota State University, Mankato Certificate of Excellence Jazmaria Herron Saint Paul College Dida Jarso Ali University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Certificate of Excellence Elizabeth Lee Century College Keng Chu Lee Saint Paul College Certificate of Excellence Korina Lee University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Certificate of Excellence Ainne Moua University of Minnesota, Duluth Dawson Platzer University of Wisconsin – Superior Certificate of Excellence Hannah Rood Century College Lizet Royaceli-Guierrez Century College Monserrat Sanchez Century College Andy Vang University of Wisconson, Superior Certificate of Excellence Billy Vang University of Minnesota, Duluth Sky Vang Saint Olaf College Certificate of Excellence Arina Vue Saint Catherine University Certificate of Excellence Joshua Xiong Century College Certificate of Excellence Nkauj Ia Yang Saint Paul College Pang Zong Yang Metropolitan State University Certificate of Excellence

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 5 TRIO Educational Talent Search Washburn Class of 2019

Abdullahi Abdirizak Halima Hassan Augsburg University St. Thomas Dougherty Scholarship Recipient Family College Leylo Abdirizak Certificate of Excellence St. Kate’s University Zeeshan Hassan Asma Abdisamed Normandale Community St. Kate’s University College Certificate of Excellence Joshua Hauver Upton Hill Scholarship College Dannae Aguilar-Escandon Phillip James Normandale Community Work College Ami Koudaya Certificate of Excellence Minnesota State Mohamed Ali University – Mankato Normandale Community Certificate of Excellence College Jason Monterroso Otis Anderson Gomez Gustavus Adolphus College Marines Latrell Bible Gersom Noble University of Wyoming Concordia University – Certificate of Excellence St. Paul Kylei Burge Certificate of Excellence Normandale Community Chris Pesantez College Minneapolis College Yessenia Caballero Rubio Rosheen Pettis Minneapolis College Normandale Community Jarumi Camacho Landa College Normandale Community Certificate of Excellence College August Rian Kevin Carmona Quiterio Work Minneapolis College Shelton Stirgus- D’Yona Carpenter-Cooper Brantley Clark Atlanta University Normandale Community Certificate of Excellence College Dajion Dawson Yusra Yusuf Minneapolis College University of Minnesota Certificate of Excellence - Rochester Laura Gonzalez Certificate of Excellence Normandale Community Greiling Scholarship College MN TRIO Scholarship Certificate of Excellence Joshua Hansen University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 6 Seniors-to-be: Do some college exploration! By Kitana Holland Getting to college isn’t easy – but it’s totally doable if you put in the effort and use your resources! And the earlier you start preparing, the less stressful your senior year will be. Here are some things you can start doing right now: First: Do some research on the colleges you would like to attend and try to answer the following questions: A. What are three majors this college has that interests me? B. Does the college have a Career Counseling or Career Services Center? If so what sorts of services do they offer? C.Is there a TRIO Student Support Services Program (or similar programs) in the college? What sorts of services do they offer? You can start your college search by going to these websites: http://www.minnstate.edu/ http://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/ Second: Look at each of the college’s application process to try to find out if there is an essay requirement. If there is, start writing a draft to answer the question. Don’t stress about making it perfect! Your ETS advisors will help you fine tune it in the fall. Remember, you want to make the reader cry and/ or laugh as they read your essay. Third: Visit some of the colleges that you are interested in. Follow these steps to schedule a visit: 1. Call the admissions office at the college you want to visit 2. Ask to meet with an Advisor to discuss your future at the school. If possible, ask to meet with a professor in the department of your intended major. 3. Attend the visit! They may even remember you when reading your application in the fall. If you cannot keep the appointment make sure you let them know in advance and reschedule. These are three simple things you can do to help your senior year be less stressful. And REMEMBER that your ETS advisors will be helping you through all this process in the fall.

Parents Can Help too!

If your student is headed into their senior year, these are a few things you can do, either this summer or during the school year, to support them in their college planning: 1. Ask your senior student about the three colleges they are applying to and encourage them to finish all parts of ETS Certificates of Excellence their applications (including recommendation letters and transcripts) by November 30. 2. Encourage them to talk with their high school counselor to 8th grade: 7th grade: make sure they will graduate on time. Michael Alvarado May Carson 3. Ask them if they have started writing their personal essay Dakota Bicknell Kevion Gray (for college applications) and encourage them to ask Miranda Eisenzimmer Denise Guaman Marquez others for feedback Josephine Hartman Dakota Johnson 4. Help them search for scholarships. Ask people at work, your Gold Lee Senniya Nerayo place of worship, the bank and in the community if they Michael Penafiel know of any local scholarships. Jeffery Linzy 5. Encourage your student to save some of their summer job Jeffery Mejia Shacora Smith earnings to help pay for college deposit fees Lindey Olson Ella Swafford Veronica Petersen Sienna Thao If You Have Questions: Rachel Walton Makayla Trepania 1. Talk to a TRIO Educational Talent Search Academic Advisor or the school counselors. 2. During the summer, you can contact ETS Director Heidi O’Hair at 800-621-7601. We are here to help!

Summer 2019 St Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 7 10 Tips for Securing $cholarship$ By Kitana Holland College is expensive, no one will deny this. However, one way to pay for college is through scholarships. Scholarships are funds for college that are based off a variety of things including, but not limited to: academics, extra-curricular activities, ACT score, cultural background, place of employment and more. The trick is to actually find college scholarships. Where do you look? How do you get started? With thousands of scholarships available, it can be overwhelming. Here are 10 tips to help you find scholarships so that you can keep your college costs down.

1. Start early. The search for college scholarships should begin before the start of your senior year. You need to begin early as it provides many more options. As you get further into your school year, many scholarships are already awarded (to other students). That may mean fewer opportunities to cash in and receive scholarships.

2. Check with your College & Career Center or Counseling office. This is a great resource to find scholarships. They may even have applications on hand for you to complete.

3. Check the college website. Many times, schools will list the current scholarships available. If you have a specific school in mind that you know you’d like to attend refer to their website and financial aid office for scholarships specifically for students who plan to attend that school.

4. Check with local organizations and businesses. Check with local organizations or business. Many community establishments have scholarships available for residents in their neighborhood and/ or patrons of their business.

5. Get online. This is probably the easiest way to find scholarships. Do searches on the various areas of interest you may have. Keep in mind that since these are online there may be a lot of competition, so you may not receive as many as you would like, but it is still worth it to try!

6. Visit local foundations. Check with the charitable organizations in your area as they often have scholarships. These are not as widely publicized so you may have better Check out these online resources luck securing one of them. for scholarship assistance! • www.finaid.org/scholarships 7. Make sure you are eligible. You would not receive a • www.collegegreenlight.org soccer scholarship if you couldn’t kick a ball. Make sure you • www.fastweb.org meet all of the eligibility requirements before applying. That • www.knowhow2go.com means reading the fine print before you fill out your application.

8. Ask others. Check with friends or their parents about scholarships which they have found. You might get some great insight or ideas on where to find scholarships.

9. Look beyond academics. There are plenty of scholarships for students who may not have the highest GPA. So, don’t be discouraged if you are not a 4.0, there are still tons of scholarships available!

10. Don’t quit. Finding scholarships takes time. In fact, it can take a lot of time. Dedicate time every day or week to search and apply. You won’t find them by spending only a few minutes of searching. You need to apply for lots of scholarships, in hopes that you get a few of them. Don’t give up! (Source: http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/how-to-find-scholarships/)

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 8 Summer Puzzle Created using Discovery Puzzlemaker http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free- puzzlemaker/

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BARBEQUES RELAX SANDALS BOATING SANDCASTLE CAMPING SLEEPOVERS FAMILY SUMMER FIREWORKS SUNGLASSES FRIENDS SUNSCREEN GARDENING PLAYING VACATION POPSICLE WATERMELON WATERPARK

Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 9

1. Sleep 2. Sports 3. Swimming 5. Friends 6. Camping 7. June 8. Beach 9. Vacation 12. Park 12. Vacation 9. Beach 8. June 7. Camping 6. Friends 5. Swimming 3. Sports 2. Sleep 1. Down: Garden 13. Sun 11. Day Independence 10. Popsicle 3. Across: - Key Answer TRIO Educational Talent Search NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST OLAF COLLEGE St. Olaf College 1520 St. Olaf Avenue Northfield, MN 55057-1098 (507) 786-6241 TOLL FREE: (800) 621-7601

https://wp.stolaf.edu/ets

Ellen Larsen, Summer Office Asst. Office Summer Larsen, Ellen School, and Minneapolis Washburn High School. School. High Washburn Minneapolis and School,

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Rebekah Pitassi, Academic Advisor Advisor Academic Pitassi, Rebekah

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Kitana Holland, Academic Advisor Advisor Academic Holland, Kitana

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Rachel Enright, Academic Advisor Advisor Academic Enright, Rachel

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Summer 2019 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 10