NASA COMPETTIION INFORMATION

NASA HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION – CHALLENGE 2009-2010
AMPHIBIOUS TILTROTOR FOR RESCUE OPERATIONS SUBSONIC ROTARY WING PROJECT
The Fundamental Aeronautics Program has announced its new competitions for the academic year. Students from high school grades through graduate school are invited to research and design an amphibious tiltrotor vehicle with civilian applications. The competition has two divisions: High School and College/University. Teams or individuals may enter either contest, and the program encourages interdisciplinary partnerships.
 High school participants must be enrolled in an accredited high school, secondary school or home school. For the high school division, the deadline for final projects has been extended to March 15, 2010.
For more information about the contest, visit http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions.htm Questions about the contest should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov.
DEADLINE:  MARCH 15, 2010

NASA HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 2010 C HALLENGE
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE (GREEN) AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CHALLENGE
For more information about the contest, visit http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions.htm Questions about the contest should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov.
TWO DEADLINE OPTIONS:  MAY 1, 2010 OR DECEMBER 15, 2010

COLLEGE PREP INFORMATION

            University of Houston – Clear Lake
                        SAT Preparation for Grades 9th – 12th
                        April 24, 2010 (9:00 – 3:00)
                        Information and registration at http://kidsu.uhcl.edu/ and click on View, Kids U, Kids U SAT

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

ExxonMobil is pleased to sponsor the thirteenth-annual Community Summer Jobs Program in Houston. Since 1998, ExxonMobil has provided over $1,053,750 in grants to Houston-area agencies through the Community Summer Jobs Program. Again this year, ExxonMobil will provide grants to selected agencies for the purpose of hiring a full-time summer intern.  Visit             http://fidm.edu/events/days-of-fashion/index.html

Volunteer Houston, established in 1974, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, promotion and support of volunteerism. For more than 25 years, VOLUNTEER HOUSTON has been the city's sole referral service connecting volunteers to a broad spectrum of diverse nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations all around Houston and its vicinity rely on VOLUNTEER HOUSTON to acquire over 30,000 volunteers per year.  Visit http://www.volunteerhouston.org

The Volunteer Services Department at The Methodist Hospital is accepting applications for our Summer Youth Volunteer Program, giving teenagers a unique opportunity to gain experience in a healthcare setting and experience the personal satisfaction of helping others.  Students between the ages of 15-18 or other interested in volunteering this summer, please apply by filling out and faxing or mailing the attached application.   Assignments and schedules will very.  We will only accept the first 100 complete applications and the deadline is Wednesday, March 10 so if you are interested act quickly.  We anticipate these 100 spots to fill fast.  You can find more information on our website www.methodisthealth.com/volunteer.

EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
                        EIU recognizes academically outstanding new freshmen with a special
                        tuition rate.  Out of state new first time freshmen earning a minimum
                        26 ACT composite (1760 new SAT combined score) with a 3.5 cumulative
                        grade point average (on a 4.0=A scale), will receive a rate of tuition which
                        is 1.0 times the current in state tuition rate. (This means out-of-state
                        tuition is being waived)

2009-2010 UTD (UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – DALLAS) Comet highlights
 2010 Freshman Assured Admissions:  Students graduating from an accredited high school
who have completed the full Texas recommended college-track high school curriculum
and have ONE of the following:
An SAT super score of 1200 (combined math and critical reading) or higher OR
A composite ACT score of 26 or greater OR
A class rank in the TOP 15% of your high school class
Our Assured Admissions and Automatic Scholarship Review for every admitted freshman will help make 2010 a streamline admission process for your seniors

ACT, SAT, and PSAT On-Line Practice Testing
ATTENTION:  ALL STUDENTS
PRACTICE ON-LINE:  SAT, PSAT, AND ACT TESTS
ANYONE CAN USE THESE PRACTICE TESTS THIS YEAR
WEBSITE:  www.studentedge.com;  Create and account, Access Code:  CNYNXCPK

TOP 10% SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Program Purpose:  The 80th Texas legislature created the Top 10 Percent
Scholarship to encourage students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class to attend a Texas public institution of higher education. Qualifying students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) by April 1, 2009 and have financial need are entitled to receive a $2,000 scholarship if they enroll fulltime in a Texas public college or university in the fall 2009 semester. Students who submit their FAFSA after April 1 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds have been spent. Funds will only be available until August 31, 2010.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 Be a Texas resident
 Demonstrate financial need (to be determined by the financial aid office)
* Complete a 2009-2010 FAFSA or TASFA (if applicable) and file by April 1, 2010
* Complete Recommended or Distinguished Achievement HS curriculum
* Rank in the top 10 percent (as of his/her 7th semester or 6th if the college
uses that semester for admissions)
* Graduate from an accredited high school in Texas
* Enroll fulltime in a Texas public 2-year or 4-year in fall 2010
For more information, log on to our website: www.collegeforalltexans.com,
or call the Texas Financial Aid Information Center at 1-888-311-8881.

COLLEGE SCHOLARS PROGRAMS

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT, NY; THE US NAVAL ACADEMY, ANNAPOLIS, MD; US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLORADO SRINGS, CO; and the U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY, KINGS POINT, NY
All students must have a Congressional nomination.  If you are interested in a nomination you must visit www.olson.house.gov for more information, application, deadlines, and other important dates.

University of Arkansas is not planning to raise tuition next year and has revised the Non-Resident Tuition Award guidelines to make it possible for qualified students to pay in-state rather than out-of-state tuition to attend the University of Arkansas.

As a resident of Texas, students who meet the revised criteria of a 3.25 cumulative high school GPA and a 24 ACT composite (1090 SAT combined critical reading and math), now qualify the Non-Resident Tuition Award which would save them and their families $7000-$9000 in tuition this coming academic year. This award is renewable with a completion of 24 credit hours per academic year and a 2.75 GPA.

The revised requirements of a 3.25 GPA and 24 ACT/1090 SAT are effective immediately for fall 2009. Any student who has already applied and been accepted and now qualifies, will receive a letter soon letting them know. The revised requirements have been approved for two years and will be in place for fall 2010 applicants as well.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI – LOTT LEADERSHIP
            Session I:  May 31 – July 3, 2009
            Session II:  June 27 – July 30, 2010
            Sophomores and Juniors, GPA 3.5, scores 25 ACT/1130 SAT if taken. 
            If interested see Mrs. Heintz for nomination information.  Visit www.olemiss.edu
            for more information.
            DEADLINE:  JANUARY 31, 2010

            CORNELL UNIVERSITY – CURIE ACADEMY
            July 18-24, 2010
            One week summer residential program for high school girls (Sophomores &
            Juniors) who excel in math and science, and enjoy solving problems, and want to
            learn more abut careers in engineering.  Visit www.engineering.cornell.edu/curie

            CORNELL UNIVERSITY – CATALYST ACADEMY
            July 18-24, 2010
            One-week summer residential program for underrepresented minority
            (Freshman, Sophomore, and Juniors) who excel in math and science, and enjoy
            solving problems, and want to learn more abut careers in engineering.  Visit

            www.engineering.cornell.edu/catalyst

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY – NEED-BLIND ADMISSION
Beginning Fall 2009, need-based financial aid packages offered to entering undergraduate students will not include need-based loans. Vanderbilt University's seven-year initiative of progressively reducing education-related undergraduate student debt will reach a bold new level. Financial aid packages for incoming and current undergraduate students beginning in the fall of 2009 will include no need-based loans. The amount of need-based loans you would have been offered in the past to meet your demonstrated financial need will now be replaced with increased amounts of Vanderbilt scholarship and/or grant assistance Visit:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Admissions/expanded-aid-program.php