Financial Aid and Scholarships

As we begin a new school year, the number of scholarships available is going to begin to increase. Please check the school counseling webpage on a regular basis. New scholarships will be added as they arrive in our office. In order to eliminate some confusion and answer questions, we have put together the following information:

• Please read the scholarship applications carefully and make sure you meet the criteria.
• Make sure that you complete all sections of the application and include any supporting documentation that is required. The counseling office will complete our portion and attach transcripts and/or SAT scores once it is submitted.
• Most scholarships require you to write an essay.  Make sure your essay answers the prompt. Scholarship essays are not one size fits all. 
• If you need letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, counselors, etc. please allow them enough time to complete the request. Remember, you may not be the only one that has asked them for a recommendation.
• Scholarship applications can be submitted to the school counseling secretary, Ms. Piroli. Paper copies can be hand delivered or you can email applications to npiroli@centralvalleysd.net in a single pdf document. The counseling office will send applications directly to the scholarship committees. Please note, some applications require the applicants to submit them themselves. 
• If you have an application that requires you to submit it personally, please let the counseling office know ahead of time if it requires any information or documentation on our end. You can not ask us the day that it is due, it will not be ready in time.  
• If an application states that it must be postmarked by a certain date, that application should be submitted to us no later than five days prior. This is to allow our office time to review them for completeness and send them to the scholarship committees. We will not be responsible for missed deadlines on applications not submitted in a timely manner to allow for processing and/or delivery.
• For example: If the scholarship application must be received by February 12th, and it requires signatures or transcripts from our office, you should submit the application to our office no later than February 8th. An application turned in on February 11th will not allow us enough time to complete and mail.
• Please note that the deadline date on our website reflects time for our office to process any items on our end. Therefore, applications must be submitted by the deadline listed on our website.  
• Read your emails. We will send reminder emails a week before a deadline. 
• Lastly, in recent years, we have received comments from scholarship committee members about students not completing their own applications and concern that the parents were doing the work for them. These committees are looking for applications that reflect the type of student you are and will be. They are committed to helping you further your education and they want to be sure you are committed as well.  

Remember, you can’t receive a scholarship if you don’t apply. So take the time to look at applications and apply for what is applicable to you.

If you still have questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 724-775-4300 extension 16000.