Class of 2026
Senior Year Information - Quick Reference
Seward High School Counseling Center
Final Dates for Term 4
Dates / Deadlines
April 2 - Graduation Speaker application due to Counseling Center
April 6, 7, 8 - Community Scholarship Interviews
April 8 - Big Deal Day - do not report to school unless for an interview
April 29 - Community Service 30 Hours - verified and approved on MobileServe
April 29 - FAFSA completed for graduation or opt out form signed
May 2 - Prom
May 11 - Senior Last School Day
May 11 - Honors Night for all seniors - 7pm Auditorium
May 13 - Graduation practice 9am in cap, gown, tassel
May 17 - Graduation 2pm
Take care of college credit transcript requests - scroll all the way down for those links!
Meetings - August & September
Counselor Meetings
Ms. Rickert's English classrooms - August
Those not in English this term - August - 5th period - in auditorium
Financial Aid Night with EducationQuest
The FAFSA completion is now a graduation requirement per the state of Nebraska.
Sept 15th - 6pm - EducationQuest will be in the auditorium presenting on how to complete the application and answering your questions.
The FAFSA application should open October 1, so this meeting will help you prepare and be ready!
Parent/Guardian Meeting with Counselors
Did you miss the meeting?
Senior Parent/Guardian Meeting
Wed, Sept 17th
Parent and Guardian / Teacher Conferences
Meeting 5:45pm in the auditorium
Remind
REMIND Class of 2026
Students A - K text @shs2026a-k to 81010
Students L - Z text @shs2026l-z to 81010
Parents/Guardians text @shs2026pg to 81010
Senior Deadlines - such as Senior Banner, Cap & Gown
Senior Banner
You may choose to order a senior banner through Middle Creek Printing. Please note the link for senior banners - Activities Director Mr. Curry coordinates this.
Order by August 25 - Hung up 2nd Week of September
Order by September 22 - Hung up 2nd Week of October
Order by October 20 - Hung up 2nd Week of November
Order by November 22 - Hung up 2nd Week of Decmeber
Final Chance:
Order by December 12 - Hung up 1st Week of January
Cap, Gown, Tassel order through Jostens
If you are not wearing a sibling's cap and gown, you will need to order one from Jostens. You will need a '26 basic tassel. This information will be handed out at the first Parent/Teacher Conferences. Carmen puts together a great handout to explain what you need and how to order.
If this is cost prohibitive, please let a counselor know.
Scholarships
Scholarships
EducationQuest - Senior Guide to Scholarships.
Seward High School Scholarship Listing Page. Check this page weekly. Set a calendar reminder to do this.
EducationQuest ScholarshipQuest. Make or update your ScholarshipQuest account. Check this listing weekly. Don't hesitate to sign up for email alerts with EducationQuest.
Here are some national sites that have the green light:
Free internet sites are a resource for national scholarships.
FAFSA - Financial Aid Night Monday - Sept 15th - 6pm
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Completion of the FAFSA is a graduation requirement for all students in the Class of 2026, as per Nebraska state law. You will be completing the 26-27 FAFSA.
A great resource for help is EducationQuest. You can call and set up a free appointment with EducationQuest.
Did you miss this night?
Check out the FAFSA Tools from EducationQuest.
Seward High School will have Financial Aid Night:
Monday, September 15th - 6pm.
A presenter from EducationQuest will be in the auditorium to present information about the FAFSA and answer individual questions. We highly encourage your attendance.
Accuplacer / ASVAB / ACT - Apply2College Day - Tuesday - October 22nd
Accuplacer / ASVAB / ACT
Accuplacer - the placement test for community college - will be offered at Seward High School on Apply2College Day. Be sure your counselor has you on the list!
ASVAB - the miliary entrance examine and aptitude battery - will be offered at Seward High School on Apply2College Day. Be sure your counselor has you on the list!
You must log on to your account and sign yourself up.
Apply2College Day - Tuesday - October 22nd
We will complete college applications on Tuesday, October 22nd. College representatives will be here to assist and answer questions..
You may need to request your transcript after you complete your application.
Remember: Carmen Johnson is our registrar and is in charge of sending high school transcripts.
High School Transcript Request Form
College Visits
College Visits
Set up a college visit to get on campus. Seeing yourself on campus is huge for transition success.
Use the college/university website - most are in a morning or afternoon. You can even get two in one day, for example, Doane and UNL or Wayne and Northeast.
Community Service
MobileServe
Be sure you have your minimum of 30 hours recorded, verified, and approved by the deadline April 30th to attend prom and to graduate. Be sure to log in using your school Google account!
Additional hours help with scholarship applications, so be sure to record all hours.
Need ideas?
Concessions work at the high school
Mr. Kolterman
FoodNet Methodist Church
Blood donations
City Council / School Board Meeting / Seward County Commissioners Meeting - attendance
See Jenny Heaston in the library for other opportunities
College Athletics
College Athletics
Career Exploration Tool
Career Exploration Tool
Still not sure - or maybe you want confirmation - enjoy this free career exploration tool provided by SCC.
Transfer Credits - Dual Credit
Dual Credit - SCC, CUNE, Doane, NEWesleyan
Did you enroll in dual credit courses here at Seward High School?
This document is a guide to give you an idea of how those credits will transfer to where you may attend.
**Always remember, the colleges determine how credits transfer and that may differ from this guide!**
Request your College Transcript - in May
If you complete college credits during high school, then you will need to send those college transcripts to where you plan to attend. You want to do this in May before graduation.
We highly recommend that you request a copy sent to you at your address for your records.
We can't do this part for you, as we do not have access to your college account.
End of Year Information
Graduation Speaker Application - Monday, April 7th
Do you want to have one last moment to address your classmates? Do you want to challenge yourself? Do you want an awesome opportunity?
Click the button below to access the application (the application is not live yet!). Please return the application by the due date of April 7th. Your speech does not have to be submitted at the time of application. Your speech must be ready for tryout time the week of April 13th.
Don't let this chance pass you by!
Each senior graduating and walking with your class has the same opportunity to be chosen as one of the two speakers.
Senior Wellness Bootcamp - Wednesday, April 1st
Senior Wellness Bootcamp is a great day for seniors from a keynote speaker on Mental Health, to a selection of sessions on Money Matters, College Next Steps, Leadership Moving Forward, Self-Defense, Dorms Do's and Don'ts, Breathe and Chill to Lunch Etiquette and Physical Health.
Big Deal Day - Wednesday, April 8th
A day for seniors to take care of what needs to be done - maybe the Community Scholarship Interview - a final college visit - community service hours, etc. No attendance at school on this day.
FAFSA Completion for Graduation - Wednesday, April 29th
All seniors must have the FAFSA completed for graduation by this deadline to walk at graduation. Seniors without this completed will need to have the Opt Out form signed by parent/guardian.
Community Service - Wednesday, April 29th
The deadline for community service recorded, verified and approved is April 29th. This deadline is for Prom, Graduation, 100 Hour Community Service Club, and Bluejay Way Scholarship.
See links above.
Prom - Saturday, May 2nd
Students must be in good standing to attend prom - fines paid, grades passing, etc.
Honors Night - Monday, May 11th
Honors Night begins at 7pm in the auditorium.
Counselors will announce senior 5th Year Plans. Scholarships will be announced from the Seward Community Foundation, as well as other scholarships such as 4-H, American Legion, Junior Jays Baseball, Student of the Month, Honor Graduates, etc.
Be sure that counselors are aware and record scholarships you have been awarded!
Seniors Last Class Day - Tuesday, May 12th
Seniors will pick up their final check out sheet in the front office when they arrive at school on Tuesday. Don't forget your Chromebook, charger and case.
Senior Sunrise - Wednesday, May 13th
Senior Sunrise at the middle school - meet at 6am for breakfast pizza.
Graduation Practice - Mandatory - Wednesday, May 13th - 9AM
All graduates must be in attendance for the practice beginning at 9AM in The Cage to be eligible to walk on Sunday, May 17th. Please mark your calendars now and be sure you have no appointments and mid-year grads have time off work / classes. Bring cap and gown for class picture.
Graduation - Sunday, May 17th - 2PM
All seniors will need to report by 1:15pm to the high school library on the day of graduation. Please wear business casual underneath the graduation gown - no jeans or shorts - and don't forget the cap and tassel.
There are no tickets for spectators and there is no number restriction per family.
Doors for family and friends will open at 1pm.
Mental Health Resources
Wellness 4All
In 2022-23 Seward Public School began working with the Wellness 4All program for student mental health services. Jamie Mapp is available at the high school two weeks.
Contact your school counselor or an administrator if interested in this service.
The Wellness 4ALL Program places mental health professionals within the schools to provide support to the school environment and culture. These services can range from individual meetings with students, ongoing therapy, short term therapy, or brief check-ins. There is no requirement to participate, participation is completely voluntary, and disruption to the academic day is minimal. The mental health program is of no cost to the student.