Student Success Update

As we enter this season of gratitude and honor Native American Heritage Month and National Career Development Month, we are committed to ensuring every student feels truly seen and valued.

This issue highlights culturally responsive career counseling strategies for BIPOC students, upcoming professional learning and networking opportunities, and actionable resources to share with your school community—including tuition-free pathways, direct admissions through MI College Match, and major scholarship and FAFSA initiatives.

Thank you for all you do to support our students every day!

College & Career Student Success Counselor & Consultant

As we enter this season of gratitude, our goal is to move beyond a simple "thank you" to ensure every member of our community feels truly seen, supported, and valued—living out our commitment to our value, "Leading, Learning for ALL."

In alignment with Native American Heritage Month, we are invited to deepen this commitment. Truly seeing one another means acknowledging the rich histories, enduring cultures, and vibrant contemporary voices of Indigenous peoples—not just during a single month but embedded within our learning and community year-round.

Let’s take this moment to listen deeply, celebrate diverse lived experiences, and build a culture where everyone has the space and support to thrive.

Here is the link for our November Equity Moment.

The Schoolcraft College Counselor Workshop highlights short-term certificate and associate degree programs as viable, high-paying alternatives to traditional apprenticeships, which often have long waitlists or strict prerequisites. Students can apply credits earned through hands-on programs like welding directly to formal apprenticeship pathways later on. These programs can be completed tuition-free through the Michigan Community College Guarantee, FAFSA, and Schoolcraft scholarships. You can read more about these opportunities on Schoolcraft College's website.

Hear from Professionals from a diverse array of occupations across Detroit and Wayne County. Learn about the road to that career and gain valuable advice from the people living it every day. the people living it every day.

2 Years Free is a promotional campaign where teachers, counselors and admin can pull assets/flyers/social media to spread the word about the CC guarantee and achievement scholarships in MI. https://www.2yearsfree.com/toolkit

This article by Melissa Mallory and Dr. Linda J. M. Holloway explores how Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) can be used to empower Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) high school students. Highlighting the systemic barriers and socioeconomic factors that often limit students' perceived potential, the authors emphasize the need for culturally responsive career counseling. By leveraging SCCT's core focus on self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goal-setting, career professionals can implement targeted strategies—such as fostering career confidence, encouraging identity exploration, connecting students with BIPOC mentors, facilitating family engagement, and advocating for critical postsecondary resources—to help young people translate their aspirations into achievable futures.

Your high school seniors can now get admitted to college without filling out a single application. Through MI College Match, students spend 15–20 minutes building one free profile and uploading a transcript with three years of grades. They then receive real admission offers from up to 26 participating Michigan colleges and universities, with scholarship information attached.

Michigan students have already received more than 43,000 offers and over $2 billion in state and institutional scholarship awards. Offers are sent monthly throughout the school year, so it's never too late to join. Students become admitted by simply saying "I'm interested" after receiving an offer.

MI College Match is designed with high school counselors in mind, providing a digital dashboard to review student progress, see any action step delays, and assist with transcript uploads (and it’s FERPA compliant!). MI College Match is completely free for schools, students, and families to use. Get started at micollegematch.com.

The application window for the third round of the Universal FAFSA Challenge is officially open through the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). This $10 million initiative provides vital funding to local school districts and public school academies to help make Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion an intentional part of high school graduation requirements—complete with a simple opt-out provision. Participating schools can leverage these funds to implement evidence-based strategies that guide students toward securing post-secondary financial aid.

To help interested districts navigate the process, MiLEAP is hosting informational webinars on November 12 at 1:00 p.m., November 18 at 11:00 a.m., and November 20 at 3:00 p.m. (applicants should choose one). Applications are due by midnight on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Eligible districts can review full criteria and submit their paperwork directly by visiting the Universal FAFSA Challenge webpage.

Happy November! Our latest monthly counselor newsletter is here, packed with upcoming professional learning, seasonal awareness resources, and student support tools.

Before you dive in, I want to thank you. Whether you welcomed me into your building this fall, invited me to join your college and career fairs, stopped to chat at events, or sent a quick note of appreciation, it means the world to me. Supporting the incredible work you do every day is an honor, and I am truly grateful for each of you!

https://app.smore.com/n/hdwjc

Stacia Weeks

Career Readiness and Counselor Consultant

Great news! Registration for our 2026–2027 professional learning sessions is now open, featuring SCECH opportunities in career, college, military, and SEL.

New this year, we’re excited to offer quarterly Counselor Networking Sessions to foster connection, collaboration, and shared learning across our counselor community.

Take a look at the offerings and secure your spot today!

Consider adding RESA's Financial Aid and Scholarships section to your school's website or newsletter.

The Michigan Elks Gold Key Scholarship for Special Needs Students

The Michigan Elks Charitable Grant Fund is offering the Gold Key Scholarship Program to support students with physical, medical, or learning challenges pursuing post-secondary education. Young adults ages 18–26 who receive special education services, have an IEP or 504 Plan, or are approved by the Gold Key Scholarship Commissioners are eligible to apply. Recipients can receive up to $2,000 per academic year, renewable for up to three additional years (a potential total of $8,000), which can be applied toward accredited colleges, universities, trade schools, or vocational and transitional programs.

The selection process evaluates a student's perseverance, extracurricular involvement, future goals, and program completion potential alongside traditional measures. Applications are accepted quarterly to accommodate varied educational timelines, with upcoming cycles open for Quarter 4 of 2026 (closing December 1, 2026) through Quarter 3 of 2027. Full eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and the online portal are available on the Michigan Elks Gold Key Applications Page.

The American Legion, Department of Michigan provides opportunities for high school students to apply for scholarships or prize money for college through the programs we offer. Awards vary by program and qualifications

Students and families interested in learning about financial aid basics are encouraged to register for a virtual presentation provided by the Student Aid and Access outreach team.

Participants will be able to gather information on the following financial aid topics:

• FAFSA application information
• Federal financial aid programs
• State financial aid programs
• Scholarship searching resources

Sessions are free and open to the public. We hope you will join us!

Share this 4 minute video with your students on the growing need for Marine and Boating Technicians.

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