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Published Fri, May 9, 2025 on collegewise.com

If your family has the means to send you to shear sheep in Tibet this summer, knock yourself out.

But please don’t do it because you think you need a splashy or expensive summer experience to get into college. One of the many ways the college admissions process has spun out of control is kids planning their summers based on what they think will be most impressive to colleges, often at great expense.

What colleges are really interested in is how you chose to spend your time, and a summer spent bagging groceries can have just as much meaning as one spent at Harvard Summer School.

In fact, one of the best essays I’ve ever read was a student who worked at a hamburger stand who began his essay, “I make a mean hamburger. In fact, I’m a professional.” In 2009, I started publishing a list of 50 ways to spend your summer, all of which are free (or almost free) and none of which require that you forgo hanging out with your friends, sleeping in occasionally, or goofing off with regularity. Pick one that looks interesting, or use it as motivation to think of your own way to carve out a great summer for yourself!

50 Ways to Spend Your Summer

1. Take an interesting class at your local community college.
   
2. Get a part-time job at the mall.
   
3. See how many books you can read this summer.
   
4. Work in your family's business. Consider doing so for free.
   
5. Think of ten people—teachers, coaches, family members, relatives—who deserve your thanks. Write them a handwritten letter expressing your appreciation and detail how they've impacted you. Tell them what you're going to do to make them proud and spend the summer doing it.
   
6. Take saxophone lessons.
   
7. Coach Little League. Or basketball. Or soccer.
   
8. Work at a summer camp.
   
9. Volunteer at the local mobile health clinic, or the animal shelter, or the public library.
   
10. Tutor kids.
    
11. Start a business with your friends.
    
12. Set a goal that you are 99% certain you won't be able to achieve this summer. Then go all out and try to achieve it as though your life depended on it. You'll either get there or get much, much closer than you were at the beginning of the summer.
    
13. Learn how to write computer programs.
    
14. Read to the blind.
    
15. Teach something.
    
16. Learn to paint.
    
17. Pick something that really interests you and see how far you can go with it.
    
18. Take classes to become an emergency medical technician.
    
19. Learn sign language.
    
20. Pick a cause in your community that you care about. Find groups who care about it, too. Organize people.
    
21. Offer to intern for free at someplace where the work seems interesting, like the city councilman's office, an advertising agency, or the local newspaper.
    
22. Play guitar at coffee shops and see how much money you can make this summer.
    
23. Learn CPR.
    
24. Cook dinner for your family once a week. Each time, learn a new dish that you prepare. Write your recipes down and make your own family cookbook.
    
25. Volunteer to lead tours of local state parks.
    
26. Buy a college guidebook and learn as much as you can about 20 colleges you know nothing about today.
    
27. Raise money for someone or something that needs it.
    
28. Learn something that is pure fun, like bongos or hip-hop dance or how to make your own purses. Check out your local community colleges' "community education" programs.
    
29. Pick something you love and figure out how to use it to make contributions to others, like playing piano in a jazz band, teaching residents at a retirement home how to use a computer, or helping run the lights for a play at the community theater.
    
30. Work full-time and give all the money to a charity of your choice at the end of the summer.
    
31. Pick a subject that fascinates you and challenge yourself to learn as much as possible about it.
    
32. Learn karate.
    
33. Teach karate.
    
34. Join a book club.
    
35. Organize a book club.
    
36. Go to your school principal and ask what you could do, for free, to improve the school. You could paint a classroom, clean lockers, or refurbish the lunch benches. Better yet, enlist five friends to do it with you. Don't just tell colleges you want to make an impact. Make one.
    
37. Set a goal to learn as many new things as possible this summer—facts, skills, concepts, etc. Write a blog about what you've learned.
    
38. Create an app.
    
39. Master one subject or skill you currently don't know anything about.
    
40. Hold informal soccer conditioning workouts or barbecues for the new student council members so you can get to know each other better. Meet at Starbucks with your co-editors to brainstorm story ideas for the school paper this fall. Show colleges you can organize people and lead them.
    
41. Have a neighborhood bake sale for the French Club in which all sales are conducted in French.
    
42. Get a group of kids from the drama club together and enroll in an improv class.
    
43. Pick a classic author and read all of his or her works. Find out why people really like Twain or Hemingway or Plath, or Dickinson.
    
44. Pick the hardest college class you can find and audit it so you can challenge yourself.
    
45. Visit as many colleges as you can within a 30-mile radius of your house. Take your friends with you. Write your own reviews of each school and share them with people.
    
46. Learn to cut and style hair. You'll be a savior during prom season.
    
47. Vow not to watch any TV this summer. Not one single second. Pick something cool and fun and productive to do instead.
    
48. Take an online class
    
49. Train to run a 10k, a half-marathon, a marathon, or to do a triathlon. Get your friends to join and train with you. Consider raising money with your efforts and donate to a worthy cause.
    
50. Pick the five most exciting things on this list and do them.

Registration is now open for GoGetMath@CSU, a free weeklong, non-residential summer math camp in the Department of Mathematics at Colorado State University – Fort Collins campus! The camp will run June 8-12, 2026, Monday-Thursday 9am-3:00pm and Friday 9am-5pm. Students will explore a variety of topics in mathematics (such as cryptography, data science, image processing, fractals, and graph theory) in a collaborative and inclusive learning environment where they engage with hands-on activities and computer labs. During the camp, students will also take a campus tour, eat lunch in dining halls, and hear from successful mentors in STEM careers. There is no cost to attend the summer camp, and we will provide all materials, daily snacks, lunch, and a camp t-shirt.

Please direct any interested students to https://mathematics.colostate.edu/go-get-math/ where they can fill out a short application to attend the camp. The deadline is Tuesday, March 31.

For any students interested in Law Enforcement ot Criminal Justice/Law as a career pathway, here is a great opportunity to get some experience/training in the field! Applications are due March 30.

High School Juniors and Seniors: Dive into a paid internship program and gain some serious job experience! Apply online at aacu.com/internship

Immerse yourself in a transformative journey meticulously designed to empower young leaders, foster cross-cultural understanding, and equip students with the tools to make a meaningful global impact. Guided by Yale mentors and alumni, students will sharpen their leadership skills, broaden their worldview, and build lifelong networks within one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

What Will Participants Gain?

• Rigorous Academic Engagement – Learn directly from Yale mentors through sessions in leadership, diplomacy, public speaking, conflict resolution, and policy writing.
• Global Impact Challenge – Collaborate in teams to tackle pressing world issues and present innovative solutions to peers and mentors.
• Exclusive Cultural Immersion – Explore Yale’s historic campus, museums, and landmarks, while connecting with peers through cultural exchanges and community-building activities.
• Mentorship & Networking – Small-group mentor circles, fireside conversations with Yale alumni, and networking opportunities designed to inspire future academic and professional pathways.
• Certificate of Completion – Awarded by the Yale International Relations Association, recognizing your achievement and leadership potential.

The Yale Experience

• Venue: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
• Dates: May 25 to 29, 2026
• Eligibility: Grades 8 to 12
• Cohort Size: Limited to 50 students globally
• Meals & Accommodations: Daily lunch will be provided as part of the programme. Students are responsible for arranging and covering their own accommodation.
• Programme Fee:
• Early Bird Fee: 1500 USD (valid until 28th February 2026)
• Regular Fee: 1800 USD
  (Fee covers the academic program, mentor sessions, campus activities, and lunch on all program days. Accommodation, visa, and travel costs are not included.)

Applications are now open, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the limited cohort size, early applications are strongly encouraged.

Program Page: https://www.learnwithleaders.com/camps/yale-diplomacy-summercamp/

Apply Here: https://forms.gle/JwyJovycfQESQghp9

Programme Brochure: Click Here

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to able part of the first Yale Global Diplomacy Summer Programme by YIRA, where only 50 students will represent their countries and cultures on a global stage. Spaces are limited, and the opportunity to be among the founding cohort of this historic program is right here!

• 3/24/26 10:00am Hult Internal Business School, Cambridge, MA
• 3/24/26 11:30am CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange, Portland, ME
• 3/31/26 1:00pm Baylor University Waco, TX

Please stop by post grad to sign up (or follow the link in Naviance) to attend so that I can call you out of class, if the visit is not during your lunch/off period.

Tips for Students when meeting with Reps:

• Do your research ahead of time
• Introduce yourself
• Be attentive
• Keep cellphones and headphones in your backpack/pocket
• Ask thoughtful questions
• Say thank you

· Tickets start at $12 for most games.

· Click Here for full schedule, pricing, and additional details.

No time to visit campus in person? Try watching The College Tours. Each episode of the award-winning TV series shares the story of a single college or university through the authentic lens of its current students. Learn from real students about their real experiences on campus. This TV series is a comprehensive guide to aid your college research, helping you answer the ultimate question: ‘Which college is best for me?’ Take the ultimate campus tour now by watching episodes of this informative TV series. The College Tour at High Point University

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!

A successful college career begins with CIEE Gap Year Abroad! A growing number of recent high school graduates are choosing to defer college for a semester or year, and research shows that taking a gap year offers multiple benefits, including improved graduation rates, stronger GPAs, and more fulfilling careers after college. On CIEE European Tour Programs students immerse themselves in three iconic European cities, alongside a small cohort of CIEE students, and expand their understanding of history, art, politics, cuisine, and culture through carefully selected lectures, cultural activities, and excursions.

Apply to 2026 CIEE College First Year Abroad or Gap Year Abroad program by Friday, May 1, and be automatically entered to win a free flight in our College Decision Countdown Giveaway.
Want to boost your chances? Apply early:

• March 1 = 3 entries
• April 1 = 2 entries
• May 1 = 1 entry

CU’s TRiO Student Support Services (TRiO SSS) is a comprehensive and holistic academic excellence program for first-generation, low-income, veteran and disabled students. We cultivate each student’s sense of community, achievement, and leadership while valuing their individuality and unique needs. TRiO SSS strives to maximize student involvement and success in CU’s academic community through mentorship, academic programs, and one-on-one counseling.

We also provide:

• Peer Mentors

• Free Tutoring

• Smaller class sizes (provided by Student Academic Success Center)

• Lounges and Private Study Rooms

• Career, Financial and community building workshops

We will be admitting 25 incoming freshman that meet our requirements and are interested in participating in our Summer Ready program. We serve undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who meet at least one or more of the following criteria:

• First-Generation - neither parent graduated from a four-year college in United States

• qualify as low-income under federal income guidelines.

• have a documented disability on-file with CU's Office of Disability Services.

• Is a US Veteran

In addition to the above criteria, we also serve students who:

• foster youth, unaccompanied, and/or independent status; (Guardian Scholars)

• Mckinney Vento designation

• FosterEd Student (part of the foster care system by the age of 13)

• Are homeless; (Guardian Scholars)

How to Apply: TRiO SSS 2026-2027 Application due: March 22nd, 2026.Students who apply by the deadline will be put in consideration for a LEADS Scholarship if selected for TRiO SSS.

• ACT's "My Journey" is a free series of live and on-demand webinars designed for high school students and families to navigate college planning, admissions, and career readiness. Led by Collegewise experts, these sessions cover topics like building application roadmaps, finding scholarships, and selecting colleges.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it on time. Your registration includes a recording of the event delivered straight to your inbox.

• 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

Scholarships to Empower Student Success in the Natural Sciences (S4) Program at UNC.

As an S4 Scholar, students receive:

• Up to $15,000 per year for up to four years

• A Summer Bridge Program designed to help students begin their first year with confidence

• Faculty and peer mentoring to support students throughout their academic journey

• Research and internship opportunities that strengthen academic and career preparation

• STEM workshops and events that build skills, community, and professional networks

Eligible students include:

• Prospective UNC students majoring in: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Climate Science, Environmental Earth Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science and Statistics

• Students with demonstrated financial need (must be Pell-eligible)

• Motivated, curious learners eager to explore, grow, and lead in STEM disciplines

Important application dates:

• Final Application Deadline: May 1, 2026

Air Academy Credit Union (AACU) is NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for its 2026 AAFCU Foundation Scholarship Program! AACU established the Air Academy Federal Credit Union Foundation in 2002, to promote financial education and wellness within the community. In the spirit of the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People," the Foundation scholarship aims to promote education and lifelong financial responsibility. The scholarship program promotes high school students to unlock their potential and encourage growth! Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to high school seniors. All majors are accepted. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on academic merit, application questions, essay response, and community involvement. Awarded scholarships will be sent directly to the student's accredited institution.
Qualifications:

• High School Senior
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Eligible to attend a 2- or 4-year college or university
• Applicant will enroll and attend an accredited institution in the academic year after selection
• One of the following applies:
• Applicant has a parent who is an AACU member or Applicant is a current AACU member themselves or Applicant is enrolled in one of our 15 school districts
• Applications will be accepted through March 27, 2026.

From the nation's earliest days, the promise of America has been rooted in the idea that all people are equal under the law. The 2026 Law Day theme, "The Rule of Law and the American Dream," highlights how our constitutional framework protects the rights and freedoms that allow each person to pursue their own path. By ensuring that no one is above the law, our system promotes fairness, stability, and opportunity. This year, we invite students to consider how the rule of law helps turn aspirations into reality. Essay Question – All entries must address the prompt: Essay entries should reflect the student’s interpretation of the 2026 Law Day theme by responding to one of the following prompts: 2026 Law Day Essay Contest Page

1) How does the rule of law protect individual rights and ensure that everyone has a fair chance to pursue the American Dream?

2) What challenges threaten the rule of law today, and how might those challenges affect opportunities for future generations?

3) What responsibilities do citizens have to help uphold the rule of law, and how do those responsibilities support the American Dream?

Come by post grad for an entry form. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 5 p.m.

For 2025 the Kit Faragher Foundation will offer three $12,000 scholarships to graduating Colorado high school seniors, with one of those scholarships dedicated to a graduating senior from a Montrose County High School due to the generosity of that community during our fundraisers there over the past several years. These scholarships will support high school seniors who have earned cumulative 2.5 GPAs, are in strong need of financial assistance for college, university or technical school, and who demonstrate positive attitudes, strong commitments and drives towards accomplishment. The applications for 2025 are now available! The application deadline is Friday, April 17, 2026, 5:00 P.M.

The Student-View Scholarship is a unique opportunity for high school seniors.

Student Insights will award the following prizes: (Select your state below to apply)

• One (1) individual prize of a $10,000 scholarship.
• Two (2) individual prize of a $1,000 scholarship.
• Three (3) individual prizes, consisting of $500 scholarships each

This scholarship offered by Colorado Garden Foundation is a four-year full-ride scholarship available to an incoming freshman resident from Colorado at a publicly funded Colorado college or university. Applicants must be majoring in one of these fields of study: • Agriculture Business • Agriculture Education • Horticulture • Floriculture • Landscape Architecture • Botany • Plant Biology • Plant Pathology/Science • Nursery & Landscape Management • Environmental Horticulture • Agronomy. Applications must be mailed and received by the Colorado Garden Foundation office by March 15th. No applications received after that date will be considered.

If you are a student living in the Littleton Post Service Area (South of Hampden, Ave, West of I-25 and NE of C470) and are a descendent of a Veteran, you qualify to apply for the $5,000 George C. Evans Post 103 Scholarship. Please email Mrs. Sadler for details. April 9 deadline.

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.

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®.

There are several tutors hoping to help students with various subjects or testing. A list can be found on the post grad website.

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?

• Lone Tree Elementary is holding its spring fundraiser on April 17th and is looking for volunteers. The event is from 5:30-8:00 pm, and volunteers need to arrive by 4:45 pm. They need help with registration, mini-golf, face painting, food/snack station, and cleaning up afterwards. Please contact Sara Hammerbeck at hammerbecks@gmail.com, if interested.

• 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:

• March 10 College Fair

US Air Force:

• March 10 College Fair

Marines:

• March 10 College Fair

• March 10 College Fair

The West Point Societies of Denver and the Pikes Peak Region (C. Springs) cordially invite you and your school to attend the 6th Annual West Point Leadership & Ethics Conference of Colorado. The one-day conference for high school juniors (rising seniors) will be held from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm on Friday, 10 April at the auditorium and classroom facilities of Fellowship Denver - 1990 South Broadway, Denver CO 80210.

Instructional materials, snacks, and lunch are provided free of charge – there is no cost to attend our event. Specific agenda and parking details will be provided at a later date to conference attendees.

Similar to community outreach programs being held this spring across the US, our WPLEC program is designed for current high school juniors who are emerging leaders among their peers. Your deliberately selected students will return to their school and communities armed with an expanded understanding of ethics and leadership philosophies that successful women and men will employ throughout their high school, college, and adult lives. The curriculum is designed for top academic performers and those individuals across your student body in leadership roles who are interested in further education and careers in community engagement, public policy, or public service. Past participants have occupied lead roles in high school as you might find within your student government, elective/club & extracurricular activities, national honor societies, and/or sports programs. Our featured keynote speaker is still to be determined, but a short introduction video of a recent seminar can be seen here.

The majority of students sign up individually with parental consent.

Sign up below. If this hard link does not work, then copy and paste URL into your browser.

https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/networks/events/201183

If you have any questions, contact Jace Johnson '81, former VP, West Point Society of Denver, at 720.428.0196 or at jacerwjohnson@gmail.com

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.

Follow the HRHS Postgrad Instagram Page!