College & Career Center Newsletter

Thank you to all of the community members who graciously donated their time and knowledge to our students at Sam Barlow HS. We had around 50 people from various careers represented. Career Day provides students with exposure to a wide range of professions, helping them connect classroom learning to real-world careers and identify future opportunities. It allows students to interact directly with professionals to ask questions and gain motivation. Thanks to Midge Collins for another successful event. Looking forward to the next one in 2027! Community professionals interested in participating, please email Midge Collins at collins53@gresham.k12.or.us.

The Voice of Democracy scholarship is an audio-essay contest for high school students (9th-12th grade) sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its auxiliary. Participants record themselves reciting a patriotic-themed essay, with the top national winner receiving a $35,000 scholarship. The competition has multiple levels, starting at the local VFW Post and moving to state and national levels. We are excited to announce that Barlow had three award winners this year!

Evelyn Vowell, first place Post 180

Peyton Gaffney, second place Post 180 and second place District

Lauren Gayken, third place Post 180

Read more at: https://theoutlookonline.com/2025/12/02/local-students-win-veterans-of-foreign-wars-hosted-contest/

Apply next year here: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber due Jan 12

APIA Scholarship (seniors) due Jan 15

Rose Festival Court (junior or senior) due Jan 20

Bezos Scholars (juniors) due Jan. 15

Grieg Lodge Scholarship(seniors) due Jan 30
Alexander Hamilton Scholars (juniors) due Jan 31

Sister Adele / CASA Scholarship for Oregon farmworker families TBD

Al Forthan Scholarship (seniors) due Feb. 2

McDonalds Hacer Scholarship (Hispanic heritage/senior) due Feb. 17

Bruin Pride Scholarship (seniors) due Feb. 6

ACPE Technology Careers Scholarship (seniors) due Feb 15

Ford Family Foundation Scholarship (seniors)-due March 2

PCC Foundation Scholarships (seniors) due Feb. 1st

AFO Scholarships (seniors) due various Feb dates

Multnomah Athletic Foundation Scholarship (seniors) due March 1

PCC Future Connect-(seniors) due March 1

OSAC Scholarship (seniors)-due March 2 (early bird deadline Feb 17)

Diversity in Leadership in Oregon Scholarship (seniors) due March 2

Horatio Alger Scholarship (juniors, seniors) due various deadlines

Other Horatio Alger Scholarships (trades, target major or state scholarships) due various deadlines

OSEA Guy Davis Scholarship (seniors) due March 1 Must have a parent in OSEA union

Gresham Rotary (seniors) due April 9 - for student planning to attend MHCC

Gresham Lions Supper Club (seniors) April 17

Legitimate Scholarship Search Sites

• Fastweb: www.fastweb.com
• College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org
• Going Merry: www.goingmerry.com
• Appily: www.appily.com/scholarships
• Bold.org: https://bold.org
• Unigo: www.unigo.com
• U.S. Department of Labor:
  https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-scholarships.aspx

Barlow Scholarship Lists:

SBHS Local Scholarship List: this is being updated now. Keep checking for current due dates.

Local Scholarship List: keep checking for current due dates.

Deadline: March 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
Early Bird Deadline: February 17, 2026 11:59 PM PT
Over 600 scholarships in one application!
Students can start now at https://oregonstudentaid.gov/scholarships/
Pro tip: Submit by Feb 15 for early review (and fewer last-minute tech glitches).

OSAC will host sessions to support applicants for FAFSA/ORSAA and/or Scholarships 101 Webinars. All sessions are on Zoom. No registration necessary – use the links below to join.

• Scholarships 101 - a presentation where students can learn about OSAC scholarships and how to create a competitive application.
• Jan 6th, 12-1
• January 22nd, 5-6
• February 17th, 3-4
• February 25th, 4-5

Students can join a zoom meeting with The College Place and get info/help with Oregon Promise, OSAC, Ford scholarships and more. If you miss the live meeting, you can watch the playback at a later date. Unfortunately, students cannot access zoom on their school-issued chromebooks so they will need to use their phone or other personal device.

Wednesdays, 6:00–6:30 PM PT
https://ecmc.zoom.us/j/5033181521

Videos posted the next afternoon if students can’t join live.
https://sites.google.com/view/next-stop-wednesdays/home

Here’s the lineup:

• Jan 14: Creating your OSAC Account & Applying for Oregon Promise
• Jan 21: Applying for OSAC Scholarships
• Jan 28: Applying for The Ford Family Scholars
• Feb 4: Personal Statements for OSAC & Ford
• Feb 11: Activities Charts for OSAC & Ford
• Feb 18 & 25: Drop-In Help – Personal Statements & Activities Chart

Students who applied Early Action or Early Decision may begin receiving admissions and aid notifications around December 15. Please remember to:

• Check college portals and email (including spam folders!)
• Review financial aid offers carefully—especially merit aid, which may arrive separately
• Ask for help comparing offers—we’re happy to assist!

How to compare financial aid letter: https://oregongoestocollege.org/pay/compare

Understanding your financial aid award letter, help from Schoolinks

Here’s what’s coming up for Oregon and beyond:
University of Oregon (UO): Regular Decision – Jan 15
Oregon State University (OSU): Priority Deadline – Feb 2
Private Colleges/Universities: Many fall between Jan 15–Feb 15 (check individual schools!) Students going further away? Confirm deadlines NOW—some are as early as mid-January.

This local scholarship is a great one! Students must have Hispanic heritage and have a 3.0 GPA to apply.

This scholarship is due Jan 12. Don't miss it!

Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Scholarship application

The HSF is a great way for our Latino students to apply to scholarships, receive support, find colleges that are a great fit and more. Take a look here.

Seniors, the HSF scholarship deadline is Feb 15.

The 2026-27 MHCC scholarship application is now open! Applying is easy – complete only ONE application, and you’ll be automatically matched to the scholarships you qualify for. Visit https://www.mhcc.edu/tuition-admission/scholarships to learn more and apply.

Due March 31

The PCC Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships every year to students who may not otherwise be able to afford an education. Due Feb 1

Planning on attending an Oregon college or university? Check out this list of community colleges, public and private universities, cosmetology, tattoo, real estate schools in Oregon from Oregon Goes to College and learn a bit more about what each one has to offer. Click on the photo for the link!

Seniors:

NOW is the time to get your Oregon Promise application and your FAFSA or ORSAA done. No matter what your plans are for life after Barlow, do these steps just in case. Keep your options open!

Go here for the steps.

What do you need to apply? https://oregongoestocollege.org/pay/financial-aid

Please attend one of these virtual sessions from The HECC Office of Student Access and Completion for individualized help or come see Mrs. Molony in the college and career center.

• 1/15/26- 4-5pm
• 1/28/26- 5-6pm
• 2/12/26- 4-5pm

🚀 ACT Exam: Optional Testing Opportunity for Grades 10–12

on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 7:30 am in the SBHS Library

Please contact Lynn Hollenbeck Hollenbeck5@gresham.k12.or.us, if you have any questions.

Overwhelmed by the college-search process? U.S. News & World Report has given our school community access to a free resource – the digital edition of its Best Colleges 2026 guidebook. This book features profiles of more than 1,600 colleges, a variety of college rankings, and advice articles for every step of the process, from entrance exams to financial aid. Just click here to access the entire book, no strings attached.

Midge Collins (she/her) - Career Coordinator

collins53@gresham.k12.or.us 503-258-4885

Tia Molony (she/her) - College Coordinator

molony5@gresham.k12.or.us 503-258-4890