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• HRHS College Fair during Access, Thursday, March 13, 2025

As you receive your college acceptance letters, please let me know of any scholarship offers you receive. And that means EVERY scholarship offered....even if you don't accept the award. We report the total amount offered to our seniors. When you receive award letters, please forward the email, bring it in, snap a picture or email a typed summary....however it is easiest for you to send me the notification of the offer so that we can update our system.

• This includes any scholarship offered to you: need based, academic, athletic, etc.
• Please include the name of the scholarship, the total amount of $$ awarded and indicate if it is a one time scholarship or for all four years.
• Specific information (names, amounts) will not be published. The total $$ earned will be announced during our Honors Convocation ceremony in May and reported to the district.
• Please reach out with any questions you might have!

• Call or e-mail Post Grad (contact info on the Post Grad home page) or Register with RepVisits

THIS WEEK:

• 5-Nov, 12:30pm, Dean College, Franklin, MA

I've been able to attend the Colleges that Change Lives and Jesuit Educational Tour meet and greets in which schools gave a 5 minute presentation (a snapshot of their institution). I'll highlight some points of pride over the next few newsletters.

Goucher College points of pride include its 100% study abroad requirement for undergraduates, being named one of the most innovative colleges in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report, strong social mobility outcomes, and its location near Baltimore. Other notable aspects include strong creative writing and dance programs and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio.

Guilford College features strong Quaker-influenced values of equality, excellence, integrity, and justice, its commitment to a diverse and accepting community, its nationally recognized study abroad program, and its history of providing a liberal arts education rooted in community and service.

Regis University is known for its values-based Jesuit education, which combines rigorous academics with a focus on ethical development, social justice, and community service. The university offers small class sizes for more personal interaction, hands-on learning through modern facilities and projects, and a strong emphasis on preparing students for leadership roles and successful, impactful careers.

Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley, offers an education that is Jesuit-inspired academic excellence with small class sizes, and its strong emphasis on undergraduate research and professional advising. The university offers a supportive environment with a high retention rate and opportunities to connect with professors directly.

This free conference on Friday, February 6, 2026 is designed to help aspiring teachers learn more about the field, connect with peers and gather insights from Colorado’s leader in teacher education. We will also be welcoming back Steve Spangler as our keynote speaker to host an interactive start to our event that your students are sure to love!

Now in its 11th year, Future Teacher Conference features presentations and workshops facilitated by preservice teachers (current UNC students), early career teachers, veteran educators, and UNC Educator Preparation faculty. Anyone curious or exploring the field of teaching is encouraged to attend!

Registration will open November 3. In the meantime, you can learn more about the conference here. BONUS! Three Future Teacher Conference attendees will be selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend UNC in the fall of 2026.

Registration is now open for the 3rd annual CU Boulder High School New Venture Challenge (HSNVC)- powered by FirstBank. See attached flyer for more details and registration info.

The HSNVC is specifically designed to bring entrepreneurial learning and innovative mindsets to high school students across Colorado, with a particular focus on rural, underserved, and 1st generation students. This one-of-a-kind program offers:

• $25,000+ in scholarships to CU Boulder
• Hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and innovation
• Development of critical real-world problem-solving, strategic, and leadership skills

Whether you dream of starting a business, solving world challenges, or excelling in your future vocations - this challenge equips them with the tools, confidence, and mindset to succeed.

The initial registration is easy and all you need is a basic preliminary idea to sign up. It’s open now until Jan 31, 2026. Participants then have until March 25, 2026 to more fully develop the idea and prepare their competition materials (2-page executive summary + 4-minute video pitch).

Students REGISTER HERE

Learn More About HSNVC

• Check the Scholarship website on the HRHS website for scholarships and scholarship search engines to help you find scholarships that meet your qualifications.
• I update scholarships that are sent to HRHS seeking potential applicants weekly. It is sorted by application due date.
• I will also post some in this newsletter

The Road Home Exteriors Scholarship was created to honor local high school seniors in the Denver Metro area who truly live out our company motto: Do What Is Expected, Then Do More. We believe in rewarding students who go above and beyond - whether in academics, leadership, community service, or personal growth. As a locally owned company committed to integrity and excellence in every roofing, siding, and window project, we’re proud to invest in the next generation of leaders who share those same values. This scholarship reflects our dedication to both our craft and our community. The scholarship is divided between four chosen applicants who best exemplify our motto: Do What Is Expected, Then Do More.

Sachs Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship grants are typically awarded in amounts of $10,000 to $12,500 per year (disbursed evenly each term) and are renewable for up to four years, resulting in a total potential award of up to $40,000 to $50,000. Scholarships can be applied to any accredited institution where the student is enrolled full-time.

All students who fit the criteria below are encouraged to apply. Applications are available each year from January 1-March 15.

CRITERIA:

In order to apply for a Sachs Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship, applicants must fit the following, qualifying criteria:

• A Black high school student in their senior year
• A full-time Colorado resident for a minimum of three years. Residence due to military orders to Colorado may be accepted on a case-by-case basis

INSTRUCTIONS:

Applications will be available online through the link below between January 1st and March 15th of each year. As part of your application, you will be asked to submit the following, required materials:

• Your full high school transcript
• Two letters of recommendation from persons not related to you
• A one-page personal statement and an additional essay response (350-500 words)
• Your Student Aid Report (SAR). You can obtain your SAR by filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you haven’t already done so, at www.fafsa.gov
• Information from your household’s latest tax return
• An additional educational, artistic, or professional file personal to you (optional)

Please note: Completed applications, with all materials, must be received by the Sachs Foundation by March 15th of the year you are applying. Letters of Recommendation must be received by March 31st. Applications submitted past the deadline will not be considered. Any incomplete or incorrect statement will directly impact any consideration of your scholarship application.

Students who are identified as finalists for a scholarship will be notified in late April. Finalists will be required to attend a program in Colorado Springs in June. Final approval of an award will be made at that time.

A program of the Rocky Mountain Court System Inc., this foundation was created to award scholarships to ALL Colorado residents, enabling them to continue their college education. The money is donated directly to the schools with the stipulation that the scholarship award is to be used for tuition or to purchase textbooks. The eligibility criteria are that the applicant must reside in Colorado and attend an accredited higher learning institution. Application due January 14. See website for more details.

The Visionary Scholarship is a bi-annual award. There are five (5) awards given with each bi-annual deadline - with a total of ten (10) college scholarships awarded for each school year. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 each. Click here for more award details on award availability for your students.
Next bi-annual award deadline: December 1, 2025
Eligible grades: 2026, 2027, 2028, & 2029
ACF Visionary Scholarship complete details.
The application is free and the student does NOT need to demonstrate financial need in order to qualify.

Juniors will have the opportunity to take a Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test October 8 at HRHS. This is an excellent practice test for the SAT given in the Spring. This student guide provides a helpful overview of what to expect.

Digital SAT practice is free and available to all students through the Bluebook™ testing app. Students can take a full-length digital practice test, view their results, and get linked to additional instructional materials, resources, and lessons on Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy®.

• Register for the National SAT
• Register by November 21 for December 6 test
• Register for the National ACT
• Register by November 7 for December 13 test
• Register by January 9 for February 14 test

SAT Prep Course at DU (or live online). There will be a high-quality SAT prep course this fall hosted at the University of Denver, taught by a Harvard grad. There is also a live online version of the course. You will choose between the in-person and virtual courses. Campus Prep has provided these popular courses at the University of Denver for the past 7 years and has been the official SAT provider for the Boulder Valley School District.

• Both courses are open to Juniors and Seniors.
• 27-hour comprehensive course, including 3 proctored practice exams
• Starts in October and runs for 7 weeks
• Taught live by a 99th percentile expert instructor
• Costs $195
• Students who complete the course often increase their score by over 200 points.
• The courses fill up fast. Apply at https://www.campusprep.org/sat (it takes 60 seconds to apply)
• Visit https://www.campusprep.org/sat to see the schedules and to apply for the course.

This is available for free in the Library every Access period, after school Mon-Thurs from 2:45-3:30, before school on silver days from 7:15-8:10!

Students sign up online for tutoring using this google form: Sign up for NHS Tutoring

What kind of help can you get from a tutoring session?

• One-on-One tutoring session -- specific skill or assignment

• A study buddy -- study and review for a test

• A homework helper -- while you work on your homework

• A writing coach -- organize your thoughts/edit your written work

• A reading buddy -- help you with your assigned reading

General Reminder: All seniors need to complete and turn in 20 hours of community service. Your completed hours are posted on your unofficial transcript. Need ideas?

We are continuing to prepare for the Shredders Ski Team season and are looking for passionate, enthusiastic volunteers to support individuals with Down Syndrome during their full-day ski lessons as part of the Shredders Ski Team with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) at Winter Park Resort!

NSCD Shredders Ski Team Season Details:

• Participants: Individuals with Down Syndrome, ages 5+

• Dates: Saturdays, February 21, 28, March 7, and 14, 2026

• Location: National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park Resort

• Volunteer positions start at age 16 and up

Interested in becoming a volunteer? The NSCD Winter Volunteer Application is Open!

https://nscd.org/winter-volunteer/

We are now in our eighth year of organizing the Weekend of Action—a remarkable community volunteer event taking place November 6-9. During this weekend, hundreds of volunteers come together to participate in hands-on projects that support individuals in need throughout the Denver metro area. This is an incredible opportunity for groups such as yours to volunteer together! Every year we have groups of kids from Student Councils to Eagle Scouts to National Honor Society volunteer as a team. The feedback we have received has been remarkable from the youth and from the adults who organize the teams.

Opportunities to volunteer with Operation Christmas Child from Class 101 at the Processing Center in Englewood. These spots are open to any student. Students can earn from 4 hours to 25 community service hours depending on how many shifts they choose to work. Details will be emailed after you sign up.

Need community service hours? Volunteer to be a Teen Reading Buddy at Douglas County Libraries. Click here for more information. Check out more volunteer opportunities at DCL here.

The Douglas County Healthy Youth Coalition (DCHYC) is currently accepting applications for our Youth Leadership Board for the 2025–2026 school year.

The Youth Leadership Board brings together high school students from across the county to:

• Strengthen leadership skills through real-world projects

• Work alongside community leaders, schools, and parents to improve youth health and well-being

• Lead peer-driven initiatives focused on prevention, connection, and advocacy.

• RescueMinds Medical Learning- student-led nonprofit organization committed to increasing access to CPR and Narcan training in high school and college students. Apply to volunteer.

• Denver Museum of Nature & Science Guest Engagement Volunteer program. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer at the information desk, ticket scanning and greeting, while creating a friendlier and more convenient Museum space by serving as gallery guides and performing wayfinding assignments during special events and programs.

• The Aspen Effect offers leadership and volunteer services hours through Ranch Hand Jobs. Visit www.theaspeneffect.org to sign up (limited spaces).

Army:

• November 5

Marines:

• November 12

• November 18

To honor the dedication and bravery of former HRHS students serving in the military, we have a recognition wall for service members at HRHS. If you know of a former student enlisted with the military, I would like to include them in our display case. It is an opportunity for our school community to express gratitude and support for these individuals. Please email me the contact info and I can reach out to them to include their name, branch of the military and a photo/write up if available.

Employers considering candidates to fill job openings are looking for evidence that college graduates can—or, with further development, will be able to—do the job. With this in mind, college students from the Class of 2025 entering the job market should highlight on their resumes the attributes and skills they developed in their classwork and through their various experiential assignments. But which attributes and skills are most important to employers?

Specifically, when asked what attributes they are looking for on resumes, nearly 90% of employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2025 survey indicated they are seeking evidence of a student’s ability to solve problems and nearly 80% are seeking candidates who have strong teamwork skills. Written communication skills, initiative, strong work ethic, and technical skills are important to at least 70% of responding employers. In addition, more than two-thirds seek verbal communication skills, flexibility/adaptability and analytical/quantitative skills in the candidates they recruit.

Both colleges and employers can help students address and develop these skills and attributes through classroom presentations, in campus programming, during internships, and more. However, it’s important for students to indicate these skills and attributes on their resume so they can have the opportunity to further articulate their proficiency during an interview.

Data for the Job Outlook 2025 survey were collected from August 5, 2024, through September 16, 2024. Of the 237 total respondents, 162 were NACE employer members, representing 19.2% of eligible member respondents. The Job Outlook 2025 survey was also distributed to nonmember companies, from which an additional 75 responses were received. The Job Outlook 2025 report is presented in slide format; slides can be downloaded and used as is, or adapted with permission.

• Waterworks Aquatics Swim Schools is hiring for Swim Instructor positions starting at an average of $20.00 - $28.50. They are a local swim school, looking to train and hire PART-TIME (YEAR-ROUND) SWIM INSTRUCTORS! They are looking for energetic people that are open to learning and have the ability to make learning fun. If you know of anyone that has a strong passion for working with children and enjoys being in the water, then this is the job for them! Students can apply at the link: https://waterworks-aquatics.careerplug.com/jobs/1027610/apps/new
• Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) is currently hiring for year-round staff. Check out HRCAonline.org/Jobs for more details.

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