January 2012

This is our monthly email providing important information for Detroit Public School students, parents, teachers and staff, and others interested in preparing Detroit students for college.  Please forward this email to your friends and social networks.  

It's Time To Start Working On The FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most important financial aid application. This application is required in order to receive the Detroit College Promise Scholarship. It is now available online. Some helpful tips to assist you in filling out the form are:

1. Gather the documents you need, including your Social Security Number, driver's license, income tax returns, bank statements, and investment records

2. Print out a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet, write in your answers and gather your parents' information. When you are confident in the data, transfer it to FAFSA on the Web

3. Plan how to sign your FAFSA. You can sign electronically with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or by mailing in a signature page

4. Check your eligibility for federal student aid, and note important deadlines

We strongly urge all students to get a head start on this form as more aid is available to those students who fill out the forms first!

What Exactly Do I Need To Get The Detroit College Promise Scholarship?

In order to receive the DCP Scholarship, seniors must send us three forms together when they are all complete:

• A high school transcript (to confirm that they are attending a DPS school)
• A completed scholarship acceptance form (click here)
• A financial aid award letter from the college or university they will be attending.

For examples of what award letters look like click here, or here. They are also located on our website under the procedure tab, click here.

Save The Date

The Detroit College Promise along with the Michigan Area Health Education Center will be hosting a College and Career Expo March 17, 2012 at Wayne County Community College. Judge Mathis is tentatively scheduled to speak, and there will be several colleges and universities there to give information to students. There will also be information available on various health care careers.  This will be a great opportunity for students to get excited and motivated for college and to get exposure to different career opportunities. More information to follow.

College Goal Sunday Is Back!

College Goal Sunday is a great way to get free help completing the FAFSA.  There will be financial aid professionals on-site that you can talk to about resources and how to apply, and you can also get information about student services and requirements for college admission. The closest Detroit area locations and times are:

• Eastern Michigan University, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Sun. 2/12, 2pm-4pm
• Baker College of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills/Pontiac, Sun. 2/12, 2pm-4pm
• University of Michigan - Dearborn- Fairlane Center South, Sun. 2/12, 2pm-4pm
• Allen Academy, Detroit, Sun 2/12, 2pm-4pm 
• Urban League of Detroit & Southeastern Michigan, Detroit, Sun. 2/12, 2pm-4pm
• Focus HOPE, Detroit, Sun. 2/12, 2pm-4pm 
• Madonna University, Livonia, Sun. 2/12, 2pm-4pm    

 To get more information, visit their website at http://micollegegoal.org/Students/Home.aspx

NABS Scholarship

The mission of the National Association of Black Suppliers Scholarship Fund is to provide graduating high school seniors, in and around the inner-city areas, the financial, psychological and spiritual support to assist with their pursuit of higher education. Through the initiative of its members, it has provided over $1 million in scholarships to outstanding and deserving students to attend college via the NABS Scholarship Fund.

To be considered for the NABS Scholarship, potential scholars must meet the following criteria:

• Be a graduating African-American high school senior
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Plan to be enrolled in a full-time (12 credit hours or more) undergraduate engineering, technology, business, or a related curriculum of interest to NABS
• Posses a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale throughout your high school career

Click here for more information on deadlines and to download the application. 

Find Your Scholarship With One Click

There is a new scholarship search engine called College Resource Network (www.collegeresourcenetwork.com). It is a free scholarship search engine and college planning website specializing in minority scholarships. Currently they offer students:

• A free scholarship database
• Most minority scholarships on the internet
• Scholarships for Michigan residents
• Free college planning information and resources

Reading Is Fundamental

According to the Department of Education, there are three successful strategies parents can implement at home to ensure children continue to make progress in their reading:

1. Give your child time to read daily

2. Read with your child

3. Give your child an opportunity to discuss what they are  reading 

Lawrence Technological University Offers Science Programs For Students

Lawrence Technological University is offering two programs for high school students interested in exploring issues in science. Extreme Science Saturdays is a free program that allows students to obtain hands-on experience in exploring and examining a variety of topics. The Summer Science Institute gives students interested in biology, chemistry, and physics the chance to use state-of-the-art equipment to experiment with DNA fingerprinting, hair and fiber analysis, and other forensic issues. For more information, click here.

CAYF Scholars Program

Applications are currently being accepted until March 13, 2012 for the Coleman A. Young Foundation Scholars Program. CAYF awards scholarships of up to $5,000 annually for a maximum of $20,000 over 4 or 5 years to eligible graduating high school seniors. Funds must be used to pay for expenses related to attending college including tuition, fees, room and board, books, and transportation.

The application for the CAYF Scholars Program is complete and valid only when you have submitted all of the following materials:

• Statement of need declaration
• Proof of family income (2011 W-2 and 2011 Federal Tax Return, or a statement of welfare)
• Resident in the City of Detroit
• Resume
• Essay
• An official transcript of grades and either the ACT or SAT results
• Three letters of recommendation. At least one must be from the high school counselor or instructor on official letterhead and one must be from an individual who is not associated with the high school. 

You will be given the opportunity to upload electronic versions of these documents, or you will be able to mail them in to:

Thelma Bush, Scholarship Program Manager
Coleman A. Young Foundation
2111 Woodward Avenue, Suite 600
Detroit, MI 48201

For more information click here. 

Act Fast To Apply For The USDA Scholarship!

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. The program awards scholarships to students attending one of 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities, pursuing a bachelor degree in agriculture, natural resources, food science, nutrition, or related academic disciplines, and willing to work full-time in the USDA upon graduation.

Each award provides annual tuition, employment, employee benefits, use of a laptop computer, printer, and software while on scholarship, fees (lab and activity), books, and room & board for each academic year. Each annual scholarship renewal is contingent upon satisfactory performance and normal progress toward the bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the scholar's academic degree program, there is an obligation of one year of service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each year of financial support.

Applicants may apply for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program as graduating high school seniors up to rising college juniors attending any accredited university in the U.S., but must transfer to the 1890 University to receive the scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to applicants that meet the eligibility criteria, including minimum academic requirements, and demonstrating leadership and community service. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2012, so you need to act fast! Click here to download an application.

Contact Us:

The Detroit College Promise

30100 Telegraph Road, Suite 408

Bingham Farms, MI 48025

Telephone: (248) 646-3269

Fax: (248) 646-3119

Email:DetroitCollegePromise@gmail.com