Viking College & Career Newsletter

Thank you to everyone that came out to the FAFSA Completion Workshop! If you have not started on your college applications and/or FAFSA, now is the time to get started!

A few reminders:

• Requesting Transcripts / Teacher Letters of Recommendation: All transcripts for a November 1 deadline should be requested BEFORE October 28th to make sure that they get to your college on time. A letter of recommendation from a teacher needs to be requested at least 3 weeks ahead of time. If you need one from a teacher before November 1 you MUST request it in SchooLinks. Instructions on Requesting Transcripts & Letters
• Counselor Letters of Recommendation: If you need a counselor letter of recommendation remember to complete the Brag Sheet in SchooLinks (on your main dashboard) and email me with your first deadline. I need at least 2 weeks to work on this. I will only write letters for colleges that require a counselor letter.
• STLCC Application Workshop: November 6th - AC Lab MOD 2: Seniors wanting help applying to STLCC can email me or sign up in Responsive Scheduling to get assistance with their STLCC application.

Have questions? Check the "How To Guide" for frequently asked questions!

Need help with a college essay? Watch the below video for some ideas on getting started!

The 2027–2028 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now open for senior students!

The FAFSA is required to apply for federal, state, and institutional need-based aid. Don't panic, most college's priority deadline is December 1.

Before starting the FAFSA, both the student and one parent/contributor should create an FSA ID:

1. Go to StudentAid.gov and select Create Account.

2. Create an FSA ID using a unique personal email address (NOT Parkway) and mobile phone number.

3. Login to the STUDENT'S FAFSA account and fill in important information including what colleges should receive their FAFSA.

4. Student will invite their "contributor" (parent) to complete their parental section of the FAFSA.
   
   

SLU shared information about financial aid at the Senior Parent Meeting in September. If you missed the presentation, you can view it here.

If you are in an AP class, remember that your deadline to REGISTER and PAY for the AP exam is on November 1. Registration and payment instructions can be found HERE.

Important PNH AP Dates and Deadlines 2026-2027:

• November 1 - Registration and Payment Deadline
• Before Winter Break - Accommodation Request Deadline (Email this consent to Ms. Hartfield)
• May 3-14, 2027: Testing Exam Schedule

Students that register for their exam in their MyAP account by Thursday, will have a payment posted to their Infinite Campus account the following Monday. If a student does not register for the exam, there will not be a payment available to pay.

Exam Costs:

• $100 (Reduced rates also available for students with free or reduced lunch.)
• $40 additional late fee if you order a first semester or full year exam after November 1.
• $40 cancellation fee if you cancel your exam after March 1.

Questions? Reach out to Katie Hartfield at khartfield@parkwayschools.net

Juniors and Seniors may sign up in SchooLinks to receive a pass to come to the counseling office to meet with the admissions rep. Admissions reps will go over admissions criteria, campus life, scholarships, financial aid, and important deadlines.

Scholarships are always posted on SchooLinks!

Login and follow these instructions:

College → Scholarship Matching → Type in your Zip Code → Click Next (You do not have to fill out the boxes.) → View Matches → District Posted (Top Right Corner)

Below are some scholarships that have upcoming deadlines.
Click on the flier to go to the website to learn more about the opportunity!

Provided to a high school senior, undergraduate or graduate student with definite plans to pursue a career in the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) fields.

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
• The applicant must have the intention of pursuing a career in the STEM fields and plan to attend an accredited U.S. college or university to follow a course of study to pursue a career in the STEM field, with a preference for those with space-related interests.
• The applicant can only use the $20,000.00 scholarship towards tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year.
• The applicant must not have previously spoken at the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner.

APPLY HERE!

Applicants to the Chick-fil-A Community Scholars Program must:

• Be 18 years of age by July 15, 2027
• Currently reside* in the United States (U.S.)
• Be a current High school senior/student in their final year of upper or higher secondary school
• Planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study for the 2027-2028 academic year at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school.
• Be involved in community service, extracurricular activities and/or a leadership role in the twelve (12) months prior to application deadline.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent)
• Be willing to participate in the Chick-fil-A Scholars Program (a one-year engagement that includes mentoring and leadership development alongside our $25k Remarkable Futures Scholars), if selected.
• Chick-fil-A employees and dependents/spouses of employees or Operators are not eligible to apply.

Apply HERE!

The Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Awards vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Senior standing – Complete 4 years of high school in the U.S. and graduate in spring 2027.
• Fall College Enrollment – Intend to enroll in a four-year college beginning in fall 2027.
• GPA – Earn a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75 or above.
• Test Scores — Submit standardized test score(s) from one of the following: SAT, ACT, or AP exams. There is no minimum score requirement to apply, however, applicants must have taken one (or more) of these tests and submit the score.
• Demonstrate Unmet Financial Need – We will consider applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000.

Apply using Common App (website linked above to explain the process)!

The 2027 MVS application is now open. Applications can be found online at enf.elks.org/MVS. The application deadline is November 12, 2026.

The Elks National Foundation awards 500 four-year scholarships based on academics, leadership, and financial need. National awards range from $1,000 to $7,500 per year. The national awards will be announced in April 2027. MVS scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to pursue a four-year degree on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), at a U.S. college or university starting in 2027-28. Some important applicant details include:

• Current high school seniors (or equivalent) who are citizens of the United States.
• Applicants do not have to be related to a member of the Elks.
• Male and female students compete separately.
• Applicants select from a list of the Lodges closest to their home address zip code. Please have your students choose St. Louis #9 as their sponsoring Lodge. The top three male applicants and the top three female applicants to St. Louis #9 will be awarded $200 each.

Legacy Awards – The Legacy Awards contest opens on September 1, 2026. Legacy Awards provide $6,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of dues-paying Elk members. The ENF offers a total of 400 national awards. The application deadline is February 1, 2027. Please visit enf.elks.org/Leg for more details and the application link.

For any questions, please contact me at Beth Schnettler, Scholarship Chair at Beth12523@gmail.com.

Application is for seniors who are members of National Honors Society. Opens Sept 8 and closes Nov 24.

To be eligible, a student must be:

• A high school senior and/or expecting to receive a high school diploma during the current academic year.
• An active member in good standing of a National Honor Society chapter, meeting all membership requirements and obligations of the local chapter.
• An NHS student account holder, verified by the NHS chapter adviser.
• Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. college or university. Each year, scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstration of the four pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

APPLY HERE!

Scholarships range from $1,000 to $60,000 and are intended to offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school. Recipients are selected through an application process that takes into consideration their grade point average (GPA), work experience, extracurricular activities, community service, and financial need. In 2026 alone, the Foundation awarded over $4.8 million in scholarships to over 4,400 students.

Apply HERE!

The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Bertha Black Rhoda Section is offering two legacy award scholarships. In addition to the $500 scholarships, students will be paired with a mentor who will support them through college.

Eligibility

• Must be a female of African descent high school senior graduating in 2027
• Live in St. Louis City or St. Louis County
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• May not be a family member of a member of NCNW-BBR

APPLY HERE!

The GP M.A.D.E. Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) started by Coach Gary Pinkel, is a non-profit 501©(3) organization, established to provide financial assistance to young people facing difficult challenges.

To be eligible for a scholarship, an individual must:

1. Show financial need.
2. Possess the motivation to succeed
3. Be of good character.

Additionally, students must:

1. Be under the age of 20
2. Be a Missouri resident
3. Attend college/trade school in the state of Missouri
4. Be a US Citizen

Applicants may be invited to interview with the scholarship committee.

Apply HERE!