College Counseling Newsletter

The start of a new school year is here—and with it comes fresh opportunities, new goals, and exciting milestones. Whether you're a senior preparing for life after high school or just starting to explore your path, this is your time to set the tone for a successful year.

Seniors, this is it! The final stretch. The choices you make this year—academically, personally, and beyond—will shape your journey after graduation. Stay organized, stay focused, and lean on your counselors for support every step of the way.

We’re thrilled to walk this journey with you. Let’s make this a year to remember!

— The College Counseling Office

Welcome Back, Seniors!

Your final year starts NOW—let’s make it a strong one! September is all about getting organized and taking those first steps toward life after graduation. Here’s your to-do list:

• Meal Application = Free Stuff!

If your parent/guardian hasn’t filled out the meal application yet, remind them to do it. Qualifying students get free ACT & SAT test fee waivers + free college application fees. Huge savings! [Meal Application Link]

• Start to applying colleges

Log in, refresh your profile, and start building your college list. Goal: Apply to at least 3 colleges by Dec. 1st.

• Find Scholarships.

On SchooLinks, go to College → Scholarship Matching and complete your profile to see scholarships that fit YOU. Create account on goingmerry.com and at fastweb.com for scholarship search.

• Build Your Resume.

Use SchooLinks to start your resume—it’ll make college apps, scholarships, and rec letters way easier.

• Set Up Common App.

If you’re using Common App, go ahead and make your account. Start adding colleges now so you’re not rushed later.

• Plan Your Tests.

Check ACT/SAT dates and register early if you’re retaking. Tip: Talk to your counselor before signing up for the ACT. Reminder: all juniors and seniors will take the ACT at school in October.

• Line Up Recommendation Letters.

Think about which teachers/counselors to ask and give them plenty of notice—they’ll appreciate it!

• Volunteer Hours Check.

Don’t wait—finish your 75 required hours before the first week of 2nd semester.

• Get Organized.

Make a folder (digital or paper) to keep track of deadlines, logins, essays, and other important info.

A strong start sets the tone for a successful senior year. You’ve got this—we’re here to help every step of the way!

— The College Counseling Office

Application Deadline - Scholarship and application link - Scholarship amount

August 31 - Arkansas APPI scholarship - $500-$2000

September 15- The Gates Scholarship - up tp $300,000

September 30th- Questbridge National College Match - $300,000-$450,000

September 30th- Coca Cola Scholars - $20,000

October 31th - One Korean Scholarship - $1000

Juniors!

As part of the graduation requirements, you must earn at least a 19 on the ACT this year in order to graduate on time.

• Students who do not reach a 19 will be required to attend Summer ACT Prep Camp (June 1–12).

• All juniors will take the ACT for free at school in both October and April.

• To view your ACT scores, log in to SchooLinks → Student → Scores and Performance.

Let’s stay focused and get it done! 🎓✍️

Congratulations to the following students for receiving a very prestigious award from the College Board!

AP Scholars with Distinction

• Jayden A. Branch , Yusuf T. Guven, Jil Patel , William H. Prine , Jacory Romes

AP Scholars with Honor

• Thomas H. Eggebrecht, Bhavi P. Mehta, Jason L. Rapier, Dafne V. Reyes Sanchez, Cohen I. Schroeder

AP Scholars

• Isamary L. Ajcuc, Peyton T. Besaw, Christian M. Carroll, Priscila Estrada-Alva, Logan N. Evans, David E. Flores-Hernandez, Yosselyn N. Hernandez, Graham V. Martin, Neema A. Patel, Mya D. Pighee, Gabrielle L. Poolem Sam M. Pyburn, William Z. Robinson, Liam V. Sanders, Daniel I. Saucedo, Raven N. Smith, Kyle S. Stewart, Karina M. Thompson, Edel Torres, Malachi J. Ward, Elif B. Zengin

AP Scholars with Distinction

Fatima Cibrian-Esparza, Quinton L. King, Landon M. Queen, Madeline C. Ramsey, Czarlotte R. Torino

AP Scholar with Honor

• David F. Montalbo

AP Scholars

• Marquis L. Allen, Hector E. Arzola, Nidiana Bernal, Taylor N. Callaway-Davis, Jordan M. Clayton, Fresia A. Coronel, Evelyn M. Ellis, Xander S. Estupin, Emma N. Foshee, Lauryn K. Hill, Amalah L. Hollis, Emily L. Landin, Irelan K. Latimer, Gavienne R. Medrano, Cindy N. Menjivar, Damian Morales, Axel U. Ramos, Jonah M. Reid, Theodore J. Rozenski, Israel E. Salas, Lisandro I. Salas, Rianne Maureen S. San Mateo, Esther A. Simmons, Grabiela Valadez-Rizo, Cristian Villarruel Valadez, Anthony Q. White

AP Scholar with Honor

Juakeen Soriano

AP Scholar

Leslie Martinez

All students in grades 9–12 are required to complete 75 hours of community service at LISA Academy–approved non-profit organizations.

• [Click here] to view the list of approved community service sites.

• [Click here] to see all approved locations on Google Maps.

• [Click here] to learn how to record your volunteer hours in SchooLinks.

Are you passionate about public service? The North Little Rock Mayor's Youth Council is a dynamic service learning program designed for teens in grades 9-12.

Some Of What NLR MYC Offer:

- A unique opportunity to develop leadership skills

- Connect with your community

- Make a meaningful impact through various volunteer efforts

This program is open to students residing in the metro area. As a member, you'll assist nonprofits, schools, city events, and local organizations.

Commitment: Members must attend one of our monthly meetings and complete four hours of public service each month.

**We offer two meetings each month, allowing students to choose the one that best fits their schedule.

Kickoff Event: Join us on Saturday, September 6th at the First United Methodist Church on JFK from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Applications are available upon request: Email JillMillsNLRMYC@yahoo.com

9th-12th grade level students can join this civic engagement and leadership program. Click here to learn more about the LISA Rock Mayor's Youth Council.

Juniors!

Senator John Boozman’s Congressional Youth Cabinet will provide selected high school students in Arkansas with an opportunity to influence the policymaking process and better understand how Congress works.

The goal of this program is to foster a lifetime commitment to civic engagement and public service. Senator Boozman feels very strongly that we should all be “givers” in our towns and cities where we live.

This Congressional Youth Cabinet is a nonpartisan initiative that will expose students to the importance of the legislative process and ways that citizens can get involved. Members of the cabinet will also have the opportunity to provide Senator Boozman with their own ideas about solving current issues facing young Americans.

Youth cabinet members will serve a one-year term which begins in the fall. Their term will be served with other selected students within their Congressional District.

There will be two meetings during the board term that will take place in the fall and spring in Little Rock. In addition to the physical meetings, there will also be one Congressional Youth Cabinet conference call meeting with the Senator.

Apply by September 12th. Click here to apply.

North Little Rock Youth Leadership (for juniors who live in NLR) is a program sponsored by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. The program focuses on personal leadership skills as well as sessions designed to better acquaint students with learning how local businesses work and make decisions to be their best. The program is designed to encourage young people to make North Little Rock their home and be active participants in the community as adults. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION: SEPTEMBER 10 Click here to apply.

No students at College of the Ozarks pay tuition. Each student participates in the on-campus work program for 15 hours per week and two forty-hour work weeks per school year. Students can also work during summer so that they don't pay any tuition or housing fee to College of the Ozarks. College of the Ozarks is in Branson Missouri. Click here for more information.

University of Central Arkansas: Free tuition for families making under $100,000.

University of Arkansas - Little Rock- Free tuition for Pell Eligible students who have 19 ACT score.

Arkansas State University - Free Tuition and housing for for families making under $70,000 (19 ACT score is required)

Harvard University -Free tuition for families making under $200,000. All expenses paid for students from families making less than $100,000

MIT - Free tuition for families making under $200,000. All expenses paid for students from families making less than $100,000

Stanford University - Free tuition for families earning $150,000.

Columbia University - Free tuition for families earning $150,000. $0 expected parent contribution for students coming from families with annual incomes of less than $66,000 .

Dartmouth University - $0 Parent Contribution and No Loans for Families with Annual Income Below $125,000

Brown University - Free tuition for families making under $125,000. All expenses paid for students from families making less than $60,000

Princeton University - Free Tuition, room and board for students whose families earn up to $100,000

New York University - Free Tuition for students whose families earn up to $100,000

Cornell University - Free tuition for families earning up to $75,000.

Yale University - Free tuition for families earning up to $75,000.

Vanderbilt : Full-tuition scholarship for all households with income of $150K or less.

The University of Pennsylvania - Free tuition for families making under $200,000. All expenses paid for students from families making less than $75,000

Carnegie Mellon - Free tuition for families making under $75,000

Brandeis University- Free tuition for families making under $75,000. Students from families earning less than $200,000 a year receive 50% off their tuition.

Berea College - Free tuition to all student.

Rice University: Families earning less than $75,000 annually will receive grants covering all tuition, mandatory fees, and living expenses. Families earning between $75,000 and $140,000 annually will receive at least a full-tuition scholarship. Families earning between $140,000 and $200,000 annually will receive at least a half-tuition scholarship.

USC : U.S. families with an annual income of $80,000 or less will attend USC tuition free.

University of Chicago : UChicago will guarantee free tuition for families with incomes under $125,000 per year. Families earning less than $60,000 per year will have tuition, fees, and standard room and meals covered by financial aid.

Colgate University - Students with an annual family income of $80,000 or less will attend Colgate tuition-free.

Haverford College: Students with family income below $60,000/year will not have loans included in their financial aid package.

Hollins University : Students with a family income of approximately $65,000 or less can attend Hollins with the direct cost of tuition, food, housing, and fees fully covered with no loans.

Lafayette College : Families with total family incomes of up to $200,000 and typical assets for families in this income group will meet their financial needs through grants and work-study without any loans.

Tufts University : Students with an annual family income of less than $60,000 typically receive a financial aid package with no student loans.

National Guard recruiter visiting Seniors at WEST HIGH - August 29

UALR Recruiter visit and admission presentation at WEST HIGH - September 26

UCA Recruiter visit and admission presentation at the WEST HIGH- Oct. 10

College Fair for Central Arkansas High School Seniors - September 24

Volunteering at the Arkansas Food Bank -Central Arkansas - September 22

UALR Recruiter visit and admission presentation at NORTH HIGH - September 9

US Army & National Guard Visit and presentation at NORTH HIGH - September 12

UCA Recruiter visit and admission presentation at the NORTH HIGH- September 26

Missouri S&T Recruiter visit and admission presentation at the NORTH HIGH- September 26

On Parent-Teacher Conference Day, September 22, we will host a volunteer day at the Food Bank from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students who are interested in participating can sign up using the link here.

We are here to support families through the college process. Reach out to us with questions or for a meeting.

Email:

District office -Mr. Elkan delkan@lisaacademy.org

LISA North -Mr. Dundar gdundar@lisaacademy.org Mrs. Lovelday tlovelady@lisaacademy.org

LISA Online School Mrs. Guven hguven@lisaacademy.org

LISA West - Mr. Bilal bacikgoz@lisaacademy.org Mr. Unal eunal@lisaacademy.org

LISA Rogers-Bentonville -Mrs.Tuna ytuna@lisaacademy.org