Counseling Corner: Willowbrook Guidance Department shares information about scholarships, participates in two national events
With the cost of college increasing, the Willowbrook Guidance Department provides information about scholarships, which can help relieve the financial burden.
There is quite an array of scholarships available, so there is something for everyone. Many scholarships are based on merit, but there also are some based on ethnicity, gender, volunteer work, future education plans, financial status and other factors.
Students can search and apply for scholarships through multiple avenues, including:
- The financial aid page of the colleges/universities to which they apply
- Student’s or parent’s employer (many companies offer scholarships for children of their employees)
- National scholarship search sites such as www.fastweb.com and www.Scholarships.com (a more extensive list can be viewed on the “Guidance Counseling & Student Services” page on Willowbrook’s website at http://tinyurl.com/z2w6j44)
- A large focus at Willowbrook is local scholarship offerings. There are many businesses and organizations throughout DuPage County that offer scholarships for students. Students can find those scholarships by visiting the Scholarship Bulletin Board in the Counseling Office, the College and Career Center and Willowbrook’s website. Students also are highly encouraged to visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships page at http://tinyurl.com/hdalwj5. On that page, students will find financial aid information, helpful websites and a list of available scholarships.
For questions or more information about scholarships, contact Scott Forcash in the Counseling Office at sforcash@dupage88.net or 630-530-3420.
Seniors should report scholarships they receive to the Guidance Office as soon as possible. Students who do not report their scholarships or grants by May 5 will not be included in the Senior Recognition Assembly program. Seniors can report scholarships they’ve earned by completing the Senior Scholarship/Grant Sheet at http://tinyurl.com/mxohz3b.
Participating in national events
Pictured are (from left to right) Broderick Booth, a Dean at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Willowbrook Director of Guidance Dana Whittaker, Addison Trail Dean Curtis Tate and Willowbrook Guidance Counselor LeVar Ammons. The group presented a session entitled “Addressing Culture and Equity with Faculty, Staff and Students" on March 20 during The College Board’s A Dream Deferred™ conference.
On March 20, Willowbrook Director of Guidance Dana Whittaker, Willowbrook Guidance Counselor LeVar Ammons and Addison Trail Dean Curtis Tate presented a session entitled “Addressing Culture and Equity with Faculty, Staff and Students" during The College Board’s A Dream Deferred™ conference. That annual event is for education professionals who want to make a positive difference for African-American students, and this year’s conference took place from March 19 to 21 in Washington, D.C.
Whittaker, Ammons and Tate spoke about how to implement cultural competency training in the school community to provide staff members with the opportunity to reflect on their beliefs and practices to ensure classrooms and teachers are as culturally responsive and equitable as possible and students graduate college, career and culture ready. The session was moderated by Broderick Booth, a Dean at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.
District 88 Transition Program staff member Terrence Miller and Willowbrook Director of Guidance Dana Whittaker participate in the U.S. Marine Corps Educator Workshop. That event took place from March 20 to April 3 in San Diego.
From March 30 to April 3, Whittaker attended the U.S. Marine Corps Educator Workshop in San Diego, along with Transition Coordinator Terrence Miller and Jamal Thompson, who are both coaches with the Willowbrook Football Team. During that event, participants experienced what it’s like to be a U.S. Marine Corps recruit, as they went through a simulated 13-week boot camp. During the workshop, they participated in the Combat Fitness Test, Confidence Course, weapons training, met with recruits, viewed an aircraft display with pilots, visited the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Museum, sat through briefings regarding preparation for and education benefits of joining the Marine Corps, observed morning colors and attended the graduation of six marine platoons.