Chief Points Senior Newsletter #8

It's amazing to think that we are already well into the 3rd quarter. Now if things outside could continue to thaw and spring can begin to show, we would really feel like the end is in reach!

This edition of the newsletter of the Senior Newsletter is not much different from the last one. You will find some new scholarships.

Keep in mind that there are lots of scholarship deadlines approaching quickly. Don't miss out!

If you have any questions, please don't be afraid to reach out. Remember, I'm here for every one of you no matter what. Please know that I am here for anything you need - and that goes well beyond applying to college!

-Mrs. deQuevedo

As of January 8th:

• 62%% of our senior class has applied to college.
• They've completed 394 college applications for 139 different schools.
• So far 48.1% of those students have reported at least one college acceptance (but we know there's more!)
• 3 students have expressed interest in pursuing military service
• 15% of the senior class has indicated they will enter into the workforce upon graduation.
• 75 Letters of Recommendation have been written.

From all the numbers above, we have some "wins" to celebrate! This is simply just any indication that your next step is closer to being a reality. For those looking to go to college, this means a college acceptance. For those looking to go into the military, this means signing with your branch. For those looking to enter the workforce, this means getting a job.

Arisbelle Aquino

Anna Barrett

Olivia Basalyga

Kinsey Bello

Abigail Bertocki

Jayden Bucheri

Peter Casassa

Joselyn Cerra

Taliyah Chavies

Reese Colachino

Mia Cooper

We know there are more of you!! If you have a win to celebrate, please send it our way so we can celebrate it with you! Please send us the following:

• college acceptance letters (please also indicate acceptances in SCOIR)
• scholarships you have received
• signed military contracts
• signed work or apprenticeship contracts
• anything else you see as relevant

You can stop by and we will make a copy of your proof or feel free to send a picture or screenshot to me at ddequevedo@lakelandsd.org. Check out our student WINS! * indicates a new student on the list! Make sure to congratulate them when you see them!

All students are required to complete at least 10 hours of community service. You can access the tracking sheet below, and can hand completed hours in to Mrs. Weaver at any time. We know that many of you have already completed your hours, but we still need documentation of that on our end. If you are curious where you stand, you can email Mrs. Weaver or Mrs. deQuevedo to find your number!

This year, our district introduced a new requirement for graduation; Job Shadowing. You must complete at least 1 job shadow but there is no firm limit on the number of shadow experiences you do. The whole purpose is for you to explore what you might like to do in the future. Students are responsible to arranging their own shadow experience. There is a job shadow packet available for you to download using the link below or you can pick up a printed copy in the counseling office.

There is generally no more asked question than "how can I get a scholarship." If I had the answer to that, I promise I would share it, but unfortunately it isn't that simple. It's the time of year where local scholarships are being announced more frequently, so check back to this section often as I will continue to post new scholarships as they come in. You can also check out the Scholarships page of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. It has some scholarship sites that may provide you with some opportunities!

Please note that scholarships are listed by submission deadline date, and any scholarship that is new to this newsletter will be marked as **NEW**.

Scranton Area Community Foundation Scholarships

• The Scranton Area Community Foundation gives out a multitude of scholarships each year specifically to students in NEPA. If you click the link, you'll be taken to their scholarship home page that will prompt you to create an account.
• Once you do, you will fill out their Universal Application. The answers you provide will give create a list of their scholarships that you qualify for. Most of those will require additional information, an essay, a letter of recommendation, or any combination of those. Some examples that might apply to Lakeland students are the Joseph (Firp) and Charles Pacino Scholarship Fund and James F. Swift Scholarship Fund among others. For a full list of available scholarships, click here.
• Please be sure that you are filling out all information correctly!
• There will be a question about GPA. Lakeland only provides weighted GPA. On the Universal Application, please put 0.00 in when asked for unweighted GPA. If an additional application requires the unweighted GPA, please see Mrs deQuevedo.
• All applications are due no later than March 1st, 2026.
• If you are awarded a scholarship, there may still be additional information you need to provide.

• **NEW** Parent Pathways Initiative Grant The Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education launched the 2026-2027 Parent Pathways grant opportunity. The grant, earmarked to support parenting students through scholarships and programming for eligible postsecondary institutions, is made possible by Governor Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Legislature $1.61 million in the 2025-2026 budget. The grant period for this grant is June 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.
• **NEW** The Grow PA Scholarship Grant Application - Grow PA Scholarship Grants are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date a complete application is received.

  To qualify, students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are encouraged to complete the FAFSA before applying for a Grow PA Grant. The Grow PA Scholarship Grant provides up to $5,000 per year for students enrolled in eligible programs of study for a maximum of four academic years. Recipients must complete their program requirements and live and work in Pennsylvania for 12 months for each year they receive funding. Failure to meet these obligations will convert the scholarship grant to a loan that must be repaid.

  
  
• **NEW** PA Heritage Foundation Scholarship - Five scholarships of either $1,000 of $500 are available to students willing to write an essay about an underrecognized piece of Pennsylvania History. Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
• **NEW** PA School Counselors Association Scholarship - This $1,000 scholarship is available to college bound students in PA. An essay about the impact a school counselor has had on you is required. More details are available in the link. Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
• **NEW** Mike Munchak Community Service Scholarship - This $6,300 scholarship is for students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. More information can be found in the link. Application Deadline: April 24, 2026
• **NEW** Fraternal Order of Police Scholarship - This $500 scholarship is for any student who intends on majoring in criminal justice or entering the Act 120 police academy. Click the link for more information. Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
• **NEW** PSBA Trust Scholarship - This scholarship application is for a one time $2,500 or $5,000 scholarship for students in PSBA member districts (which Lakeland is). Application Deadline: March 13, 2026 at 4pm

• Paul T. Bordi Memorial Scholarship - This $1,000 scholarship targets students who played a varsity sport while in high school. Click the link for more information and criteria. Application Deadline: March 31st, 2026
• Hagan Scholarship Foundation - This scholarship provides up to $7,500 per semester to students and is based on financial need. It is competitive across the nation, but has awards for a large number of students. Application Deadline: March 15th, 2026
• Peoples Security Bank & Trust Scholarship - This program has ten, $1,000 scholarships available to students who are customers of Peoples Security Bank or children of customers. Click the link to learn more. Application Deadline: March 1st, 2026.
• Dana Rymer Battenberg Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship, offered through the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains (below) is specifically for a Lakeland School District Senior who displays high moral character and who will attend college outside of Lackawanna and Luzerne County. Application Deadline: March 15th, 2026
• Metzger Wickersham Scholarship - This scholarship is available for students who are willing to advertise the dangers of driving under the influence. Click the link for more information. Application Deadline: April 15th, 2026
• The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains Scholarships - There are a variety of scholarships, more than 150, available through the Community Foundation. Filling out one application should connect you with everything you are eligible for. Application Deadline: March 15th, 2026.
• Blaire E. Caboot Memorial Scholarship - The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics offers the $1000 Blaire E. Caboot Memorial Scholarship. Application, transcript and recommendation letter from a mathematics teacher are required. Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
• American Legion Scholarships - These scholarships generally target students who have family members who have served in the military, or students who are interested in civics and government. Application Deadlines: Vary
• ACCOUNTING MAJOR - Please notify me (Mrs. deQuevedo) if you plan on attending college for Accounting. I have a local family donating a small scholarship to a student who will be attending college for Accounting.
• Roy W. Piper Charitable Trust - 4-Year College - This scholarship fund is for students planning to attend a 4-year institution, with priority given to students who will attend Keystone College or its successor. Click the link for more information. Application Deadline: March 13th, 2026
• Roy W. Piper Charitable Trust - 2-Year College Or Trade School - This scholarship fund is for students planning to attend a 2-year institution or trade school, completing programs such as, but not limited to Accounting, Automotive, Business/IT, Computer Sciences, Cosmetology, Culinary, Health Sciences, Skilled Trades, Truck Driving. Click the link for more information. Application Deadline: March 13th, 2026
• Roy W. Piper Charitable Trust - Military - This scholarship fund is for students planning to pursue an education at a military-related institution. Click the link for more information. Application Deadline: March 13th, 2026
• America250PA's Semiquincentennial Scholarship Program - In commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary and to honor the legacy of Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will be awarding $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the 2026/2027 academic school year.

My first few newsletters focused a great deal on the college application process because there's just so much to know. In an effort to limit the length of this newsletter, I am not going to repeat all of that information. Rather, you will find links to the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website as well as the presentation that was given in your classes earlier in the year. If you haven't, please be sure to go through that website. I promise any information you need will be in there. Take your time to explore it all, and let me know what questions might come up! Previous newsletters can also be found at the very bottom of this newsletter. The pages you'll find are:

Career Exploration Information

College Application Guide

Decision Types

Types of Applications

Information about SCOIR

How to Request Letters of Recommendation

How to Send Transcripts to Schools

College Essays

Scholarships

Testing Information (SAT/ACT)

Financial Aid Information

For the Military Bound Student:

• Keep an eye out at lunch. Our military recruiters love to come by and meet with students.
• If you haven't seen a recruiter from a branch of the military you are interested in, let us know and we can help set something up.
• Lunch is only one time to meet with recruiters. If you need a 1-1 meeting, I can get that set up for you as well. Stop by or email me to let me know!
• Be very mindful if you are signing any contracts! Make sure that some people you trust look it over with you before you sign your name.
• Students who are also considering college should be mindful that ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) is also an option. Learn more here.
• If you officially enlist in any branch of the military, please let me know!

For the College Bound Student:

• Most Early Action and Early Decision deadlines have passed. The regular application deadlines are looming. If you want to apply to college but haven't submitted applications, I would highly recommend getting those in ASAP!
• Priority Item: The FAFSA opened on October 1st! There's more information about that below. Every college bound student should complete the FAFSA and all deadlines are now approaching. Each school handles this a little differently so make sure you are reading all of the correspondence they send you! Learn more in the financial aid section below!!!
• As you start to receive acceptances to schools, please send those my way! There's more information on that below.

For the Workforce Bound Student:

• Check out the information on apprenticeships below. This is an excellent pathway towards a career. You continue to learn, but this doesn't include all of what college also entails.
• Unions are a great way to build a career. Access PA Union websites below.
• Take pride in entering the workforce. College is not for everyone, and there is absolutely no shame in getting out there to work. You'll be way ahead of your peers in a lot of different ways. The world needs workers!

For the Undecided Student:

• We're nearly a third of the way through the school year, but you may be feeling the pressure to make a decision. This is normal!! It's just important that you take some steps now so the pressure doesn't keep building. Don't ignore it. Read through this newsletter. Come talk to me. Discuss options with your family and friends. Shadow. Explore. The answer is out there, you just need to find it.
• If you continue to question whether college is right for you, then the simplest answer is that it might not be right for you now. Gap Year is a thing. It's a semester or year that you take to learn through experience. You can go see different careers, work, make some money, and find your path. At the very least, you can continue to cross some things off your list that you know you don't want to do. There is even a Gap Year Association. You can check them out if you are looking for formal experiences, but it doesn't have to be that official. If you want some suggestions, come see me!
• While I am supportive to anyone who wants to attend college, I also need to point out that college is not for everyone. It can be an expensive burden, especially if you aren't sure what you want to do yet. If you are considering college and concerned about the cost, there will always be opportunities for loans and for scholarships. Keep looking around, and come see me when you have questions!
• Get a job. See what it's like. Listen to the people who already have the job. Learn what their training has been or what they wish they had done. Learn about what they like, and what they don't like too. Talk with your parents and other important people in your life - they've all had experiences that they value or regret. Everyone has a different path. And don't be afraid to come see me. I'm happy to give you my perspective, or to just listen as you process things on your own.

The FAFSA Application opened on October 1st ! The Financial Aid Information section of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website has plenty of pertinent information.You will find information such as:

Why financial aid is important

What financial aid is

Tips to get you started

The different financial aid applications

When you apply for financial aid

Who fills out the applications

What the different types of applications look like

With the FAFSA released on October 1st, please be mindful of the resources below that will help you be ready to complete it. Every student who has applied to college should complete the FAFSA!

The Guide to Filling Out The FAFSA will walk you step by step through the different sections and how to complete each.

FAFSA Tips & FAFSA News & Updates are good resources to stay up to date on everything you need to know about the document.

In addition, the sections below are all local opportunities to gain more insight about filling out the FAFSA. It can be a scary and complicated thing to complete, but there are countless resources available to you. You are not in it alone!

The free FAFSA Helpline is another helpful resource. You can text the help desk at 313-723-2372 with questions at any time!

Each month, PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) hosts webinars aimed to help families looking for financial assistance to help pay for college. We will share the upcoming topics here each time they are updated. You can access a flyer below with links to register!

A tip - even if you can't attend the webinar at the time its scheduled, registering for the event should give you access to a recording of the event so you can watch it at your leisure.

Upcoming topics include:

• Searching for Scholarships and affording the balance
• The Financial Aid Timeline
• Borrowing For Education - Which Loan Is Right For Me?
• The Two-Step Approach To Finding An Affordable Higher Education
• Understanding The Offer Letter and Balances
• Covering the Gap - Pieces of the Puzzle To Help Pay Your Education Bill

In addition to their webinars, PHEAA offers a variety of resources to help through the college application process. It's long, but the PHEAA Financial Aid Resource Manual linked below is a really excellent guide for all things financial aid. You can also reach out to someone at PHEAA who can meet with you to help you make sense of it all.

The EOC is a local service whose purpose is to help students who are interested in continuing their education. They offer a great many services, and specifically, they can offer 1 on 1 appointments with students or families to help complete the FAFSA, college applications, or more. Best of all - services from the EOC are completely FREE.

It cannot be emphasized enough how wonderful this resource is! If you are struggling with anything at all, you are strongly recommended to utilize it!

Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a nationally-recognized, portable credential. Essentially, you go through specific training in your field, and are able to officially advance up the ranks to higher employment and salaries.

College isn't for everyone. This is one of those pathways that exist to help you advance without going to college. Apprenticeships are paid. You earn a competitive wage while going through your learning. You can visit the links below to learn more.

Click the links below to visit the websites for many different trades and apprenticeships in Pennsylvania!

The Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council

International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers

International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

International Union of Elevator Constructors

International Union of Operating Engineers

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Laborers International Union of North America

Operative Plasterers and Cement Mason's International Union

Sheet Metal Workers International Association

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers

Many jobs that you hold will give you the opportunity to work for your education. Some may even pay your entire tuition if you work a certain amount of hours per week. Lackawanna College has many of those partnerships. Check out the link below to learn more!

The SCCTC Practical Nursing Program program is designed and committed to helping students achieve their academic and professional goals. They provide a direct path for those looking to start their nursing careers. Successful completion of the program can start them on the path of career success and open doors to new roles and career advancements throughout their nursing career.SCCTC is accepting applications for the July 2026 Class. The program is designed to enhance student skills and knowledge to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The program is a one-year, full-time program that will prepare students to apply for the NCLEX-PN examination to obtain licensure as a practical nurse. Eligible students can receive financial assistance, and there is a Financial Aid Coordinator is available to discuss individual tuition needs and available financial support programs.

See the attachments below to learn more about the upcoming program and Kaplan Entrance Examination dates.To find out more about the eligibility requirements, application process, and for any specific questions, please contact Mrs. Denise Gieski, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator at 570-278-6759 or denise.gieski@scctc-school.org

For students currently enrolled in AP exams, the exam schedule is listed below. All students enrolled in an AP test are required to sit for the AP exam. You have automatically been scheduled to take your exam. If you have any questions or concerns, please see me asap!

• Biology - May 4, 2026, 8-noon

• Chemistry - May 5, 2026, 8-noon

• US Gov’t & Politics - May 5, 2026, noon-4pm

• English Literature & Comp.- May 6, 2026, 8-noon

• Statistics - May 7, 2026, noon-4pm

• Calculus AB - May 11, 2026 8-noon

• English Language & Comp - May 13, 2026, 8-noon

• Computer Science Principles - May 14, 2026 noon-4pm

• Computer Science A - May 15,2026, noon-4

I hope you all just take a breath because the next 3 months will go quickly. Make sure you are keeping up on your grades but don't forget to enjoy yourself!!

Regards,

Mrs. deQuevedo

Classes of 2026, 2028, & 2030

Click Here to Make an Appointment

Mrs. Wengert - ewengert@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2027, 2029 & 2031

Click Here to Make an Appointment

Location: 1355 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA, United States

Email: lhscounseling@lakelandsd.org | Phone: 570-254-9485

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