T.C.R. SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) 

All college-bound seniors (2 year or 4 year) should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens October 1st for the following Fall.  Don't miss out on money because you didn't fill it out!  Some funds are first-come, first-served - once they are gone, they are gone.  Here is where to start:

  1. Create your FSA ID. Also, have your parent(s) create an FSA ID if they need to sign your FAFSA (this will likely be the case if you are a dependent and live with your parent(s)/guardian(s)).
  2. Complete the FAFSA on the Web. The FAFSA will determine if you are eligible for any federal, state, or institutional aid. After you submit your FAFSA to the federal processing center, you will receive a notification called a Student Aid Report (SAR) via mail or email. You should review the information contained in the SAR for accuracy.  Financial Aid Offices at your selected colleges/universities will use the data from the SAR to determine your eligibility for financial assistance.

Scholarship Search Tips

Senior year is a balancing act.  Don't float by opportunities.  Use the following information to help you find financial resources for college.  Many scholarship applications are available in the TCR counseling office.  Scholarship lists are also sent via email as soon as a list is complete.  If you would like regular scholarship updates,  Click on the Newsletter Listserv sign up below or email Melanie.Parham@bcsemail.org to be added to the scholarship list serve.
Helpful Hints:
  • Observe all deadlines and notice if the scholarship has a "postmark" deadline or "received deadline."  Postmark means you must get all materials in the mail when the post office is open to meter it.
  • Proof read, proof read, proof read
  • Make sure you address the essay prompt if an essay is required.
  • If the scholarship is handwritten, be neat and use black or dark blue ink
  • Make sure to ask for recommendations in plenty of time in advance of your deadline
  • Verify that links / email requests have reached your recommender
  • Pay careful attention to the list of attachments and include everything that is required.
  • Never pay for a scholarship.  Be careful of scams.  Be cautious about companies that say they will find you scholarships.  


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Sign up for important Class of 2020 updates:
Class of 2020 Newsletter Listserv

Click to Join the Remind for the Class of 2020:
Last names A-G
Last names H-O
Last names P-Z
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Scholarship Lists and Applications
 
Some scholarships are available by paper application only, and can be found in the TCR counseling office.  
Please stop by the counseling office and pick up any applications that you cannot access through the links below.
 
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List of Current Scholarships with Deadlines Approaching:
Please start with the “Scholarship List."  It has a comprehensive list of a variety of scholarships.   

 Popular Scholarship Applications and Supporting Information:
Additional Scholarships can be found on the scholarship lists above.  There are links to the websites where the application is located.  Keep scrolling to find applications for additional scholarships such as the NC Alpha Delta Kappa.

SECU People Helping People Scholarship – due 2/19/2020  
The BCS Foundation will administer the 2020 SECU People Helping People Scholarship for BCS.  The school district has been given six (6) scholarships for students graduating from a Buncombe County High School.  The BCS Foundation has been asked to choose the scholarship recipients from the district.  With more than six (6)  high schools in the Buncombe County School District, there will not be one recipient for every high school.   
 
$10,000 Scholarship for students who will attend one of the 16 4-year public universities in NC.
 
There are several attachments and very specific instructions.
 
Buttons for the following scholarship application pieces are linked above: 
  1.  SECU scholarship sign
  2.  Scholarship Application which must be completed as an individual Microsoft Word document; Must be emailed to melanie.parham@bcsemail.org  Save as “SECU 2020 Student Application. Last Name, First Name”
  3.  Consent Form, which will need to be printed and completed with required info.  This form will need to be submitted with the application as a PDF
  4. 2020 People Helping People Operating Procedures
  5.  2020 High School Scholarship Program Eligibility Criteria 
  6.  2020 Guidelines for Writing Your People Helping People Scholarship Bio; 
  7.  Scholarship Submission Example for your reference.  This is a completed sample. 
  8.  The consent form, biography, photo, and university acceptance letter need to be submitted as a PDF.  If you can scan these items and send as one email to melanie.parham@bcsemail.org , that would be best, if not, we can scan at school. Please save as “SECU 2020 documents, Last Name, First Name”
  9. People Helping People FAQs; 
  10. Summary Checklist; 
 
Please note the applications need to be turned in to Ms. Parham by February 19, 2020. The student must submit the application via email, as an individual Microsoft Word Document.  The attachments (Completed and signed Consent Form, biography, photo and university acceptance letter) to the Application can be submitted as a PDF.  
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​Attention Student Athletes!

Check out the NCHSAA Site for a variety of Endowed Fund Scholarships:
www.nchsaa.org/students-parents/nchsaa-endowed-fund-scholarships

The North Carolina Criminal Justice Fellows Program


​For students who are seeking an Associates in Criminal Justice and plan to become a Criminal Justice Professionals in NC, including but not limited to:
 State and local sworn law-enforcement officers.
 State correctional officers.
 State juvenile justice officers.
 Sworn Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs.
 Detention Officers.

AB Tech Scholarships

Steps to Apply
​To be considered for financial aid at AB Tech (including grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships), follow these basic steps:
  1. Complete the A-B Tech Enrollment Process if you have not already done so.
  2. Create your FSA ID. Also, have your parent(s) create an FSA ID if they need to sign your FAFSA.
  3. Apply for financial aid yearly by completing the FAFSA on the Web. The FAFSA will determine if you are eligible for any federal, state, or institutional aid. Note that A-B Tech's federal school code is 004033. After you submit your FAFSA to the federal processing center, you will receive a notification called a Student Aid Report (SAR) via mail or email. You should review the information contained in the SAR for accuracy. The Financial Aid Office will use the data from the SAR to determine your eligibility for financial assistance.
  4. If interested in loans, you must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling Session at studentloans.gov (log in with your FSA ID) and watch the Financial Aid Matters video. Be sure to email the Financial Aid Office letting us know that you watched the video. We award loans based off the email confirmations that we receive. Once these steps are completed, the college will award you loans, if eligible. You will be able to see the total amount for which you are eligible to receive in your Self-Service account. If you would like to reduce the amount of your loans, or decline your loans entirely, complete the Direct Loan Adjustment Form. Submit the completed form to the Financial Aid Office.
  5. To apply for scholarships, you must also complete a scholarship application through the Scholarships page. 


You may now complete your FAFSA on October 1 of each year. The FAFSA will request income tax data from two years prior to the academic year for which you are applying. For example, the 2020-2021 FAFSA will request your 2018 income tax data.

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC)

 CFNC.org is a great resource for information about North Carolina Scholarships and Grants, FAFSA, and other tips for paying for college 
<<<<<  Check out this great CFNC Webinar!
Live webinar on Finding Grants and Scholarships.  This webinar is now posted on the CFNC YouTube channel and can be found at this link. https://youtu.be/8AzG57S-liQ  It focuses on tips and best practices for finding and applying for scholarships.
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CFNC FAFSA DAY
The annual FAFSA Day program takes place in October, with programs planned in every North Carolina county!  Students can find a convenient location and register to get free help completing their FAFSAs (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by visiting http://www.cfnc.org/fafsaday or by calling CFNC, toll-free at 866-866-CFNC.
 
UNC - Asheville and AB-Tech also offer additional assistance to families filling out the FAFSA.  Please see their websites or call them to find out more.  Members of the State Employees Credit Union of NC can also visit their local branch for assistance.

National Scholarship Search Engines:

The College Board has launched a new scholarship program with $5 million of scholarships each year, beginning with the class of 2020.