AMCS Soundbites Newsletter
March 2025
AMCS Support is Always Available
Just a reminder that the AMCS Den is open from 8 am until 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Students are always welcome to come in to work, study, and get homework done. Teachers are available to help students when they aren’t actively teaching.
AMCS & UAA Middle College Websites
Our websites are great resources for help if you need anything at all.
Class of 2025 Important Events
AMCS Senior Honors Night: April 29th, 2025
Wendy Williamson Auditorium, UAA 6 PM.
AMCS Graduation Practice: May 7, 2025
1 PM, Meeting Room 1 at King Tech High School
Graduation Ceremony: May 16, 2025
Alaska Airlines Center, 2 PM
Last Call to Order Your Cap & Gown
Last call to order your cap & gown for graduation. Deadline for ordering is March 7th to have it arrive in time.
Grad Regalia Pickup
Students will receive an email this week with the times to pick up their graduation gear. We are getting more in every week.
Yearbook
AMCS only as 18 yearbooks left!
If you would like to purchase a yearbook for the 24-25 school year, you can do so by purchasing from the online payments tab in ParentConnect, which is found in the ASD Quick Links section on the student's individual landing page. Each book costs $75 and they will available until sold out.
Join us for the Junior Symposium Series
What is the Common App? (Junior Symposium Series)
Get a head start on your
Common Application and have
it ready to go in the Fall of your
senior year. You’ll thank us later!
Friday, Mar 28, 2025, 12:30 PM
Alaska Middle College School, East Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, AK, USA
Withdrawal Deadline is Quickly Approaching
UAA Spring 2025 Course Withdrawal Deadline
If you currently have a D or F in one of your university courses, and you think that you can not improve it to a C or better by the end of the semester, you can withdraw from the class. The deadline to withdraw is March 28th by 5 pm. This is a hard deadline without flexibility.
HOW A COURSE WITHDRAWAL AFFECTS YOUR TRANSCRIPT:
On your high school transcript:
The course is removed from your schedule and will not appear on your high school transcript.
The course will not affect your high school grade point average.
On your college transcript:
A withdrawn course will appear on your UAA transcript with a grade of W – it indicates the course was withdrawn after the drop period.
The W grade does not affect your GPA.
THE EFFECTS OF A COURSE WITHDRAWAL:
Students will be placed on an Academic Success Plan for the following semester.
UAA course load is reduced by one course for every withdrawal for the next semester.
Students will be encouraged to retake the course they withdrew from the next semester.
Students will be required to add an advisory class the following semester.
It could affect future Satisfactory Academic Progress & financial aid status.
THE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS:
STEP 1: TALK TO YOUR PROFESSOR
Communicate with your professor to see what can be done to improve your grade in the class; if there is no or very little possibility of earning a grade above a D, it may be in your best interest to withdraw from the course. You can do this via email, by appointment, or by attending the office hours listed on your syllabus.
STEP 2: EMAIL OR MEET WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR (Sherwood or Utterback) to get withdrawal approval for your UAA class.
If you are a senior and need the course for graduation you will need to remain in the class to try to earn a D. You may be required to add an Advisory to your schedule to help ensure you meet your graduation requirement.
Your counselor will ensure that your parents and/or guardians are aware of your course withdrawal.
STEP 3: MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH A UAA ADVISOR (Mrs. Brekke or Mrs. Camacho) TO COMPLETE THE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS. DEADLINE: March 28th, 5 PM.
Student accounts are locked; students can not make this change without Counselor & Advisor approval and an advising appointment with UAA.
To schedule a Zoom meeting with Mrs. Brekke or Mrs. Camacho use Navigate360.
DEADLINE TO WITHDRAW: 5 PM March 28, 2025
Friday, Mar 28, 2025, 05:00 PM
Middle College Advising for Fall
Middle College Advising
Middle College Advising
Juniors - Look for the midterm progress & fall advising email on March 7, 2025.
Seniors - Look for the midterm progress & exit survey on March 7, 2025.
UAA is closed Friday, March 14, 2025.
For UAA questions or course concerns, email Ms. Camacho or Ms. Brekke, &/or schedule a Zoom appointment.
FA25 UAA Middle College advising appointments begin Monday, March 31, 2025.
Midterm progress must be submitted before students schedule their appointment.
Seniors
Senior Middle College advising holds will be removed after the withdrawal deadline.
UAA FA25 registration for pending degree-seeking students begins April 9 or 10, 2025.
If you are going to UAA, the address to send your high school transcript: UAA Office of Admissions, Enrollment Services Center, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508.
If you are attending another institution, go to their admission's website for the address to send your ASD and UAA transcript.
To complete your college/university admission, you will need to send your final high school transcript after graduation.
ASD Opportunities
Seal of Biliteracy
2025 Seal of Biliteracy Application
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by the Anchorage School District to qualifying juniors or seniors** in recognition of students who have attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. The Seal also recognizes, supports, and endorses students' first/home languages. The Seal is open to any student in grades 11 or 12 who qualifies, including immersion and non-immersion students, ELL students, and exchange students. The Seal encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills our students attain, and can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices. It takes the form of a seal that appears on the diploma of the graduating senior and is also documented on their official transcript.
All comprehensive high schools have a building coordinator for the Seal of Biliteracy; please contact this individual for any questions regarding the Seal of Biliteracy at these schools:
Bartlett: Nicole Ayers
Chugiak: Zach Bloom
Dimond: Aline Hopkins
Eagle River: Jennifer Riksen
East: Kyra Kingsbery
Polaris K-12: Ilana Kerschbaum
Service: Fauna Reynvaan
South: Elizabeth Dick
Steller: Julia Stutzer
West: Will Kimball
Students attending an alternative or charter school not listed above should contact their neighborhood high school's Seal of Biliteracy building coordinator to make an appointment to schedule a test.
Opportunity to take the ASVAB
KTHS & AMCS is administering the ASVAB on Friday, March 21st (Tentative date)
Please fill out this sign up form if you are interested in taking it.
It is free of charge.
Looking for a Summer Job?
Connect with AMCS & KTHS's Workforce Development Coordinator for summer (or year round employment opportunities).
Stop by Student Services any day to meet with Sean Schubert, Workforce Development Coordinator or email him at schubert_sean@asdk12.org
The Gifted Mentorship Program is for exceptional high school juniors and seniors who are self-disciplined and interested in pursuing an independent study under the direction of a professional/expert in a field of great interest to the student. The program is for high-ability, high-achieving students who have completed advanced coursework. The program gives motivated, mature high school students an idea of what it is like to work in a field of their interest by being teamed with a professional who acts as their mentor. Students spend 45-60 hours with their mentor and earn half an elective credit for the mentorship when they successfully complete several assignments, including a final project.
To be considered for a mentorship, a student must complete the online application and qualify according to the Applicant Evaluation Matrix.
There are two application windows for the 2025-2026 school year:
Applications for the 2025/26 school year are open and available.
Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted and deadlines will not be extended.
- February 2, 2025-April 10, 2025 at midnight. Students who apply in the first application window will know if they are accepted before the school year ends.
- April 11, 2025-August 18, 2025 at midnight (If spaces are still available.)
- Two Teacher/Counselor Recommendation forms are required. Provide this link to your teachers or counselor:
Events at UAA
UAA Events
Date: Tuesday March 4th
Time: 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Location: UAA Student Union
Registration: UAA 2025 Spring STEM Career Fair
Date: Wednesday March 5th
Time: 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Location: UAA Student Union
Registration: UAA 2025 Spring Business, Health, and Liberal Arts Career Fair
Date: Thursday March 6th
Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Registration: SON Info Session Registration (right hand of screen)
Date: Saturday, March 22nd
Time: 10:00 AM-2:30 PM
Registration: AK Brain Bee Registration
Date: March 7th, March 21st, March 28th
Time: 2:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Registration: FAFSA Friday Registration
Real Estate Management & Investment Workshop at UAA this Summer
UAA’s Real Estate Management + Investment (REM+I) Workshop is a three-day, interactive event for high school students to explore career and educational opportunities in real estate management and learn how and why people invest in income-producing real estate. Two days will be spent learning the fundamentals of real estate investing and the skills and practices needed to manage these assets. Students will be able to calculate investment cash flows and returns, and even practice running an analysis on a property of their choosing. Day three will involve a series of building tours, exploring different property types and learning from professionals in the field.
FREE: A total of 20 students will be admitted for this workshop by application. Lunch service will be
provided each day and t-shirts will be ordered for students at no cost – all thanks to the generous support of industry members.
$1,000 Scholarships: Upon completion of the workshop, students interested in attending UAA and pursuing this academic track will be eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Up to six (6) awards will be issued to participants from this workshop.
WHEN: JULY 15-17, 2025
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Alaska Performance Scholarship
https://acpe.alaska.gov/Portals/0/OTHER/Pubs/2024_APS_Checklist_8.20.pdf
After meeting APS eligibility requirements, a student has 8 years to utilize the APS award after high school graduation, unless a student qualifies for an extension.
APS is paid directly to schools in two payments each year, once a student is admitted and enrolled in a program. Students can monitor their status in their Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) account.
An APS award may not exceed qualifying costs of attendance (which typically include tuition; fees; required books, supplies, and equipment; room and board; and transportation) remaining after considering all other non-loan aid the student is eligible for. Students may remain eligible for up to 8 semesters, but must fully use the APS within eight years of high school graduation. (see APS FAQs for full details)
To receive the first APS award, students must:
Submit the FAFSA by June 30th deadline for the academic year you plan to attend
Be admitted to a qualifying degree or certificate program at a participating Alaska institution;
Notify your institution before the enrollment certification deadline that you plan to attend using an APS award;
Enroll in at least 12 credits per term to receive a full-time award (6 credits per term for a reduced half-time award); or a qualifying clock-hour CTE program
Have unmet costs of attendance of $500 or more after considering all other non-loan aid, such as grants and other scholarships.
Create an Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) account and check it frequently to verify your application has been received
Senator Murkowski Internship
Do you know a graduating high school senior who is independent, inquisitive, and mature who is looking for a valuable and interesting experience? Then please pass this opportunity along. Senator Murkowski is accepting applications for her 2025 Summer High School Internship Program. This year’s Summer High School Internship Program will be held in two sessions: June 2-27, 2025 and July 7-August 1, 2025. Ten interns will be selected for each of the two sessions. Interns shadow the Senator for a day, attend hearings and briefings, assist staff, and explore Washington, D.C. on their free time. There is a $4,000 stipend to help cover transportation and housing costs. More information is available in the attached letter and at https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/assistance/students/internships. The application can be found at https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025_high_school_intern_application.pdf.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Alaska time on Monday, March 24, 2025. It is preferred that applications be emailed to Angelina_burney@murkowski.senate.gov. While applications may be mailed, the Senate’s mail screening procedures are likely to significantly delay delivery. No late applications will be considered. Applicants will be notified whether they’ve been selected or not in mid-April.
American Legion: Girls State (Weeklong leadership opportunity)
Female high school students who have completed their junior year are competitively selected and sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary units for this program, where they learn about the political process by electing officials for all levels of state government and actively running a mock government. Assistance from dedicated ALA volunteers ensures the program’s nonpartisan governmental, patriotic, and civic objectives are carried out through interactive learning. Though the week is filled with many learning opportunities, there is always time for fun and the formation of long-term friendships.
https://alaskalegionauxiliary.org/ala-girls-state-application/
Please note: Applications must be received no later than Friday, April 11, 2025, in order for student names to be recognized in high school graduation programs. Applications received after this date will still be processed until June 30, 2025.
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
Alaska Community Foundation
Scholarship Program Overview
ACF post-secondary scholarship application opportunities will open on January 15th and run through March 15th. There is ONE login for all of ACF’s scholarship opportunities: login here to apply now!
We have over 60 scholarships available, it’s likely that you’re eligible for at least one, and maybe many more! Our system will assess what opportunities you are eligible for after you answer some basic questions about your education and experience. Get started by creating an account at the link above.
Scholarships at the Alaska Community Foundation are made possible by passionate donors who are committed to helping Alaska’s students pursue their educational dreams.
Herbert Lehman Scholarship
- $12,000 - 3 Awards (Deadline: April 1, 2025)
To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: A) Demonstrate financial need (combined family income of $70,000 or less). B) Be a graduating high school senior, a first-year student in an accredited four-year college, or a student transferring into an accredited four-year college. Applications can be found by going to:
ttps://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/15814/herbert-lehman-scholarship