By Kayla Crance

College expenses can add up quickly and tough economic times makes it even more difficult to be a college student. Here are some quick money saving tips to help cut back on costs:

1. Apply for any and all scholarship opportunities available to you.

2. If you commute, try to make friends and consider carpooling.

3. Buy and sell textbooks online; it is generally cheaper than college bookstores.

4. If you have your own apartment or dorm, check into getting roomates to cut back on rent.

5. If you commute, schedule classes on the least amount of days possible to reduce money spent on gas.

6. Use the school’s computer labs to print projects and papers to eliminate excessive paper and ink costs.

7. Be aware and make use of all the free services and items offered to you through your school (gym use etc.).

8. If you are not living at home, check the prices of dorms versus close apartment complexes.

9. Take notes on laptops when possible to eliminate notebook purchases as well as storage space.

10. Avoid purchasing items such as notebooks and everyday supplies at campus stores.

11. When required to purchase supplies for special projects, split costs and supplies with others in the class.

12. For commuters that have a long break between classes, don’t venture far from campus to save on gas.

13. Try to keep snacks and beverages with you to reduce the temptation to get snacks from the vending machines or eat out.

14. Rely less on expensive forms of entertainment; make your own entertainment or enjoy some of the free forms of entertainment offered by the college (sporting events etc.).

By Kayla Crance

The following are some resources you may find helpful in the process of researching colleges and scholarships:

• www.scholarships.com
• www.fastweb.com
• www.studentscholarshipsearch.com
• www.finaid.org/scholarships
• http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
• www.collegeboard.com (you can schedule your SAT and ACT test times)
• www.triptocollege.org
• www.fafsa.ed.gov (this is where you can fill out the FAFSA online)

By Kayla Crance

The school year is slowly winding down and summer is approaching. For some high school seniors, that means graduation and moving on to college. Hopefully, if they have adequately prepared, the transition will not be a difficult one.

Unfortunately, if you have not had to put a child through college or watch brothers and sisters make the transition, it can be a complicated and overwhelming process. So from someone who has been there, here are some tips and guidelines to streamline and simplify the process.

While a student is not always going to know what major or career they want to pursue when they are a junior in high school, they should still begin making the necessary preparations if they plan on attending college. The senior year tends to fly by faster than one would think and can become jam packed full of other responsibilities. The less you have to scramble to get everything around, the better.

I would consider the junior year the research phase of the process; start thinking about what you want in a college or program as well as your preferred living situation. Then start researching various colleges. Look into what programs each has to offer; if you have a specific field in mind, some schools may offer a better or more specialized program that fits your needs. There are many resources you can use to your advantage while gathering information. Visit your guidance office and definitely make use of the internet.

You should also start looking for scholarships at this time. The cost of college quickly adds up so every dollar counts. There are many online resources that can help you with this such as www.scholarships.com. Your guidance counselor will also be a great resource for this as well. Juniors can apply for some scholarships so take the opportunities that are presented to you. If you are interested in certain colleges, be sure to check into what scholarships they offer. Some offer great scholarships based on class ranking or SAT scores.

Once you have looked over the information, schedule tours of the campuses you are interested in. Everything may look good on paper but you may get to the campus and find you do not like it. If you will be living on campus, tour the dorms and get a good feel for what life on campus would be like.

The junior year also provides the opportunity to take the PSAT, a practice for the SAT exam. If you are not the best test taker, this may be a great benefit to you. It generally gives you a good idea of what to expect from the SAT.

If you do your research as a junior, your senior year will be not be nearly as overwhelming and the application process will be much smoother. Try to have your choices narrowed down by the beginning of your senior year; have about three schools in mind to apply to. Then get the application requirements from each and begin fulfilling them as early as possible. You especially want to do this if you will be living on campus as dorms quickly fill up and you may get stuck in a less-than-desirable location.

Schools vary on their requirements; some require entrance essays and letters of recommendation etc. These items take more time to complete and gather so the quicker you begin, the quicker you will be done.

Schedule your SAT or ACT test times as early as possible and I would suggest taking the test at least twice. Many students drastically improve their scores the second time around; it could be the difference between receiving or not receiving a scholarship.

It is a good idea to apply to more than one school as you never know what will happen; you may not get into the school you want or one school may offer better financial aid opportunities. While on the topic of financial aid, you will want to fill out the FAFSA and get it turned in as soon as possible during your senior year. The FAFSA uses a formula to calculate how much financial aid money you are eligible for and in what form you can receive it. Many schools will hold question and answer sessions that can help you better understand the FAFSA and how to fill it out.

Once you have received word on if you have been accepted to the schools you applied to, you can make your final decision. Don’t rush into any decisions or let your friends talk you into going to a school just to be with them. Take into consideration if you want to commute or live on campus, tuition costs, programs offered, and school size.

Once you have made your decision, most schools will have you participate in some form of a freshman orientation. Some schools have more effective orientations than others. If you are not clear on what is expected of you or the correct procedure for entering the college, ask questions. It is better to be safe and ask.

You will need to schedule placement tests to determine what math, english, and foreign language (if required) classes you can take.

If you declare a major right away, schedule an appointment with an advisor in that department as soon as the school allows. This will help eliminate confusion on degree and department requirements and give you a head start on your schedule.

Don’t be afraid to go into college with an undeclared or undecided major. Many schools offer great resources to help you figure out what career is best for you. However, it is wise to still see an advisor to discuss your possible interests and create class schedules that will help you start working on a degree.

Many do not realize how long of a process applying and getting accepted into college can be. Starting the process as a junior relieves some of the stress and worry. If you have relatives or friends that have gone through the process, ask for their help or advice. It may save you a lot of trouble.

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (June 6, 2009) – Faith Christian Academy’s eighth grade graduation marked a milestone – not only for two young men, but for the 15-year-old school as well.

Held June 4 at First Church of the Nazarene in Columbia City, the event celebrated the graduation of the first student to attend the Christian school from preschool through grade 8 and also the graduation of the first student who will enter Faith Christian Academy’s high school program.

The ceremony began with the second grade through eighth grade students singing, “Shout to the Lord.”

Pastor Larry Schmoekel, school administrator, gave the opening prayer and was the master of ceremonies.

“These are two very special young men,” Schmoekel said in his address. “Each has a first for Faith Christian Academy. Daniel Cash, who has only been here one year, will be the first student to enroll in ninth grade at Faith Christian Academy.”

Cash will be using an internet-based program called Seven Star to commence his high school education at Faith Christian Academy. This program is worldwide in scope, and is affiliated with Indiana Wesleyan University.

“Sebastian Evans is the first student to go through Faith Christian Academy from preschool to eighth grade,” Schmoekel said.

Evans will be a student at Concordia High School in Fort Wayne in the fall. He plans to enter Concordia’s ROTC program.

Former teachers Lisa Shively (preschool), Karen Van Voorst (multiple grade levels), Rhonda Johnson (science) and Susan Lewis (currently teaching middle school) all also spoke about the graduates and their experience in working with them over the years.

Each of the graduates also had the opportunity to address the audience, sharing what their education at Faith Christian Academy had meant to them and thanking those in their lives who had made an impact, including their teachers and parents. They presented their mothers and special teachers with long-stem white roses.

Schmoekel was joined on stage by Susan Lewis, representing the teachers, and Tad Varga, representing the Faith Christian Academy school board, to present recognition certificates to each of the graduates.

Following the benediction, a celebratory event with cake and punch was held in the church fellowship hall – attended by scores of family members and friends recognizing the milestone of completing another school year.

For more information about Faith Christian Academy’s preschool through eighth grade programming and/or enrollment, as well as the Seven Star high school program, contact Schmoekel at 260-248-4872.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. (June 5, 2009) – It may be a cliche, Alayna Skinner told fellow graduates of Churubusco High School’s class of 2009, but it was indeed, the first day of the rest of their lives.

Skinner, valedictorian of the class, addressed the crowd of hundreds who attended the June 5 graduation ceremony at Churubusco High School Friday night, June 5.

A range of emotions emitted from the throng of graduates who filled the hallway prior to the ceremony. There were tears and laughter, the sharing of joyful and poignant memories and last-minute worries about whether the cap would stay on or whether someone would trip and fall  or animated chatter regarding whose graduation parties they would be attending that weekend.

By Viv Sade

for Busco Voice

Friends and proud family members packed into the hot and muggy high school gymnasium -  a CHS tradition – using programs to fan themselves and snapping photos of their loved ones – beautiful young adults with bright, smiling faces – full of hope for the future.

Skinner was one of those faces.

“We have a bright future ahead of us,” she said in her valedictorian speech. “We now have the opportunity to go out into the world and make our mark.”

She cited Charles Swindoll’s quote in accessing their future: “Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.”

“It is within our power to control our responses,” Skinner said. “I find it comforting to know I have these friends and memories. The teachers prepared us well – they taught us not only academics, but perseverance, confidence and compassion.”

Other speakers included salutatorian Allison Norris, who spoke of the outstanding athletic abilities and records of all sports teams at Churubusco High School with in the past four years, interim superintendent Bruce Hippensteel and high school principal Austin Couch.

Hippensteel urged graduates to do three things – continue to be an active learner; volunteer and “give back”; and remember their parents, friends and educators who encouraged and challenged them.

Couch urged the graduates to follow their dreams, no matter how difficult or how many setbacks they encountered.

“Aim high,” Couch said. “What would you do if you know you could not fail? Would you be a professional athlete, play in a rock band or write a classic like The Old Man and the Sea?”

“There’s nothing wrong with aiming high,” Couch said. “It may be difficult and you may encounter setbacks, but follow your dream. It is more difficult to get to a point in your life where you look back with regret.”

“I hope you will enjoy a life of achievement, more laughter than tears and find goodness in others and be kind,” Couch said before closing with related quotes from Henry David Thoreau: “Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

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