The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Class of 2015 awarded millions in scholarships

The class of 2015 has just wrapped up four years of high school and is moving on to the next stage of their lives. To help them transition into their new lives, the senior class was awarded a total of about $13.2 million in scholarships.

“Most of these scholarships were awarded directly from a university or college to the student and are renewable, covering all four years of college, and usually the student has to maintain a minimum GPA or some other requirement,” College and Career Center Secretary Katie Christensen said.

Most scholarships are awarded on GPA, ACT and SAT scores or a combination of both.

“There are two main types of scholarships: automatic and competitive. Automatic scholarships are usually based solely on grades and test scores, while competitive scholarships consider the student as a whole. Competitive scholarships take into account extracurriculars, leadership, volunteer work, and other criteria,” Christensen said. “Earning a scholarship is a long and difficult process, but it is unique to each student. Everything from academic record to sports, extracurriculars, service projects, financial need and other major components can make someone a candidate to be awarded money.”

Senior Claire Webster earned scholarships from all eleven schools she applied to.

“I worked for scholarships because college is so expensive, especially for me because I looked mainly at private schools,” Webster said. “A lot of times I would be awarded about $20,000, and that would still only cover half of my tuition. I’m relieved that a portion of my cost is covered, but still a little stressed because I know there is so much more to pay for.”

As a student who has gone through the process firsthand, Webster has some advice for students who will be looking for scholarships in the future.

“I would advise everyone to apply for [all scholarships], it will be worth it,” Webster said. “There are so many organizations you don’t even think of, and it’s basically like free money floating out there. In today’s world, at least a bachelor’s is necessary, if not a master’s, so try and get as much paid for so you can continue school as much as you can.”

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About the Contributor
Sarah Burnham, Staff Writer
Grade: 11

Extracurriculars: rowing

What do you like about The Pathfinder? I like how the newspaper is actually successful among the student body. Many school newspapers are pretty much disregarded by the students, but since this one is online, accessible, and has interesting stories, it is really intriguing and relevant to the students.

How would you describe yourself? Hardworking and driven. I like the satisfaction of winning and feeling successful, I am very competitive, and I like taking on a challenge and honing my abilities.

Favorite Quote: “Paper burns at 451 degrees, water boils at 212 degrees-- not 450, not 211. Those exact numbers have to be met for the paper to burn and the water to boil, just like how you have to take that one extra step to be successful”--some dude on tumblr (paraphrased and condensed)

Where do you want to go to college? I’m not totally sure, but my top choices are University of Wisconsin-Madison, Clemson University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and The University of Alabama with Cornell University as my “reach school”.

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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
Class of 2015 awarded millions in scholarships