*Register at www.fastweb.com to search scholarships, colleges, internships, part-time jobs, advice, and more.  It's free! 

* The website www.gocollege.com  provides an overview and tips for the scholarship application process.

*The Acorn Equality Fund provides academic scholarships to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender persons and their children in the Illinois' downstate counties. Go to www.acornequalityfund.org for more information. Due Sept. 30, 2011.

*Wendy's High School Heisman award application is available at www.wendysheisman.com. Men and women in their senior year of high school and who have at least a "B" average and participate in at least one school-sponsored sport can apply.  Deadline is Oct. 2nd.

*The Horatio Alger Scholarship application is available at www.horatioalger.org/scholarships.  You must have at least a 2.0 GPA and require financial assistance to qualify.  The scholarship rewards students who possess character to succeed in life.  Deadline is October 30, 2011.

*State Bank of Waterloo has a scholarship through the Community Bankers Association of Illinois. A total of $16,500 is being awarded statewide. In addition, State Bank is sponsoring its own program based on the essays submitted to CBAI  and one Valmeyer High School student will win $6,000 at the local level. The runner up will receive $1,000.  See Mrs. Karsten for an application. Deadline is Jan. 5, 2012.

*If you are a senior planning on attending SIU-C next year, you may be eligible to compete for the Harrisonville/Gentsch Scholarship through SIU-C. You can find more information at http://scholarships.siuc.edu using the scholarship search link. If you have any questions, call 618-453-4628 and ask for Terri Harfst.

*The University of Missouri-St. Louis has two scholarship opportunities for students.  You can go to the websites www.umsl.edu/opportunityscholars and www.umsl.edu/enterprisescholarship for more information on both. Mrs. Karsten has copies of the applications in her office if you are interested.

*AXA Achievement Scholarship application is available at www.axa-achievement.com.  Apply by February 1, 2012.  If you are active in your community, have led a project that benefits others and/or have overcome a personal challenge, go to the their website and learn more and apply!

*BK Scholars application is available at www.haveityourwayfoundation.org/bksp_scholarship_eligibility.html. Available to high school seniors. You can win a $50,000, $25,000, $5,000, or $1,000 scholarship. Application period is Nov. 15, 2011-Jan. 10, 2012.

*The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Scholarship Program has a scholarship for high school seniors who have MS or who have a parent with MS.  Go to www.nationalMSsociety.org/scholarship to apply. Deadline is Jan. 13, 2012.

*The Daughters of the American Revolution have several scholarships available.  You can see Mrs. Karsten or go to http://members.dar.org/committees/scholarship/scholarships.htm  to look at eligibility and apply.

*The St. Clair Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers has a scholarship available to seniors who plan to study engineering.  The website is http://illinoisengineer.com/chapter-stclair.shtml. Deadline is February 10, 2012.  Mrs. Karsten also has copies in her office of the application.

*US Bank Scholarship Program is now available at www.usbank.com/scholarship. You could win a $1,000 scholarship. Winners are selected at random. You can apply between October 2011-March 2012.

*KFC Colonel's Scholars application is available at www.kfcscholars.org. You must have a 2.75 GPA, enroll in a public college or university within your state of residence, and plan to pursue a bachelor's degree. You must also demonstrate financial need.  You could win up to $20,000 towards college costs.  You can begin applying Dec. 1, 2011. Deadline is February 8, 2012.

* There is a tuition waiver available for children of Veterans living in Illinois. It may be used for any University of Illinois campus. Up to six waivers per Illinois county are awarded each year, one for each of the following conflicts: World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, Southwest Asia Conflict, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Go to https://secure.admin.illinois.edu/osfa/scholarship~database/detail.aspx?id=1  for more information. You can apply between Dec. 1, 2011-March 1, 2012.

*Agriculture students and Illinois Farm Bureau^® (IFB) members and their children may apply for college scholarships offered by the Illinois Agricultural Association (IAA) Foundation. Fifty-six scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per year, will be awarded in total of $104,900 for the 2012-2013 school year.   A full listing of available scholarships, eligibility guidelines, applications and an activities template are available at the Foundation website, www.iaafoundation.org, starting Dec. 1, 2011. Completed applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 1, 2012.

*Monroe County Licensed Beverage Assocation has a $1,000 scholarship application available.  Deadline is April 20th (due to Mrs. Karsten).  Applications are available in the high school office.

*National Defense Transportation Assocation has several scholarships available to students enrolling in any field of study, but priority will be given to those in a degree program related to business, transportation, logistics, or physical distribution.  Applications available in the high school office. Deadline is March 1, 2012. 

*Illinois PTA has 2 scholarships available to students pursuing an Education or Education-related degree program.  Deadline is February 17th.  Applications available in the guidance office.

*The Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District Scholarship application is available. Deadline is March 1st. Applications are available in the guidance office or by following this link: soilscholarship.doc

*The Illinois Division of Sons of the Confederate Veterans Illinois Society, is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior, male or female, who resides in Illinois and will be enrolling in college in the fall.  You must be a descendent of a male who served honorably in the Army, Navy, Judicial, Executive, or Civil Service of the Confederate States of America. Applications are available in the guidance office. Deadline is March 15, 2012.

*The Jim Heil Career and Tech Ed Scholarship application is now available. To be eligible you must be a graduating senior planning to enroll in a career and technical education program leading to a specialized area or associate degree. The deadline is March 2, 2012 (must be turned in to Mrs. Karsten by this date). You can get an application in the guidance office.

*The Tammy Mitchell Hines "Integrity and a Smile" Scholarship Application is available in the guidance office. The amount is $1,000. You must have a 3.0 GPA or better, be involved in extra-curricular activities, submit 3 letters of recommendation and write a 1,000 word essay.  Deadline is April 2, 2012.

*Scholarship Opportunity! SIUE's School of Engineering - Partnership with Industry for Engineering Cooperative Experiences and Scholarships (PIECES).  The School received a National Science Foundation grant to support academically-prepared but financially-needy students who are interested in earning an engineering, construction management, or computer science degree.  Students must be U.S. citizens and new freshmen or new community college transfer students in the Fall 2012 semester.  As next year is the last in the current PIECES grant, we will provide scholarship support of $2,000 to $10,000 for one year, a faculty mentor in the student's discipline, opportunities to obtain internships, and social and professional activities for one year.  Full details about the program and application materials can be found online at http://www.siue.edu/engineering/pieces/.  Deadline is March 1, 2012.

*If you are majoring in engineering, you  can apply for a scholarship at the following link: http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm

*If you are planning on majoring to pursue higher education in the office professional, secretarial, or business-related fields, you can apply for a $500 scholarship. The Kathryn G. Hansen Scholarship application is available in the guidance office. Deadline is March 9, 2012.

*The Randolph County Saddle Club is offering a scholarship. It is open to all seniors. The deadline is March 31, 2012.  Applications are in the guidance office.

*The Monroe County Farm Bureau Scholarship application is available in the guidance office or you can click on this link to access it: farmbureaapp.doc  Deadline is March 1st and you must be a child of a
Farm Bureau Member and plan on majoring in an agriculture related field.

*YMCA of the University of Illinois is accepting applications for the Fred S. Bailey Scholarship. You must be planning to attend U of I to apply. Go to www.universityymca.org/bailey for requirements and criteria. Deadline is Feb. 28, 2012.

*SWIC Foundation Scholarship application is available at www.swic.edu/foundation .  Apply now for the 2012-13 school year if you are attending SWIC in the Fall.  More than 200 scholarships are available. Submit by March 1, 2012.

*If you are a senior attending SEMO in the fall, you can apply for the Monroe County Alumni of SEMO Scholarship. Applications are in the guidance office and the deadline is Friday April 13th.

*The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is a non-profit organization that can help students fund their post-secondary education. Go to www.sfstl.org for more information. You can earn up to $7,000 for making academic progress towards degree completion and demonstrating strong character as well as needing financial assistance. Application available at the website.

*IOOF Lodge #27 Scholarship application is available in the guidance office. This is a $1000 scholarship given to a graduating senior planning to attend either a 2 year or 4 year school.  Deadline is March 30th.

Upcoming College/Military Visits at VHS

(Sign up in high school office)

Upcoming College/Career Fairs

FAFSA Completition Night for all seniors and parents on Jan. 18th @ 7 p.m. in the high school computer lab.  Please RSVP to Mrs. Karsten @ 935-2100 x 205 or at bkarsten@valmeyerk12.org

SIUE School of Nursing is hosting an open house on Feb. 18th from 8-noon in the Morris University Center 2nd Floor.  Go to www.siue.edu/nursing for more information. Pre-registration recommended.

Waterloo  FFA Alumni is hosting an Agriculture Career Night on February 29th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Waterloo High School.  There will be several college representatives there to speak with students and parents.  8th grade and high school students and their parents are invited! Please RSVP to 939-6197 or mcfarm@htc.net.

The 24th annual Metro East Baccalaureate College Fair will be Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 1:30-3:30 pm at SWIC Belleville Campus. There will be over 100 colleges and universities at the fair.  There will also be two financial aid workshops at the fair.  Call 618-235-2700 x5157 or e-mail michelle.luraschi@swic.edu for more information or to reserve a spot for one of the financial aid workshops.  Fliers were given to juniors and seniors with more information.

Miscellaneous Announcements