2023-2024 FAFSA ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is a form that helps the government figure out how much financial aid you qualify for, including grants, work-study, and loans.

The 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) includes unprecedented changes to how students and families apply for federal student aid and how we determine eligibility, giving students a better and simpler experience with the FAFSA form. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available in December of 2023.

A few reminders about completing the FAFSA:

1.  It is mandatory for any student attending college in the United States and they need federal aid to pay their college expenses.

2. The FAFSA is an informational tool, which community colleges/trade schools/universities use to award money to students. Once the FAFSA is completed, the FINANCIAL AID OFFICE at the school a student is attending, puts together an award letter which gives the specifics of how much money has been awarded to the student.

3. Please be advised that your student needs to sit down with you and look at the cost of the school they want to attend.

  • For example, SAU in Magnolia costs around $15,683 if the student is staying on campus. That is $7841.50 a semester. A full pell grant, if awarded is $6495. That is $3247.50 a semester. A freshman can only receive $5500 in student loans. That is $2750 a semester. With a pell grant and a student loan, that is $5997.50.

    A student is still $1844.00 short of what they need to pay for school.  In some cases, if a parent plus loan is applied for, a student can receive an addition $2000 if the parent plus loan is declined. If the parent plus loan is approved, then the parent now owes the $1844.

4. A student is not considered independent unless they can answer "YES" to one or more of the following questions:

  • Will you be 24 or older by Jan. 1 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid?

  • Are you married or separated but not divorced?

  • Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree (such as M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)?

  • Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?

  • Do you have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?

  • Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?

  • Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a ward or dependent of the court?

  • Are you an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court?

  • Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

    Therefore, even if a student has a full time job and his/her own apartment, he/she cannot claim independent status unless they can answer yes to one of the above mentioned questions. Financial aid offices do ask for proof of independency.

Owens

Videssa Owens

Junction City High School Counselor

870-924-4575 ext.4543

870-924-4519 FAX

ACT

2023-2024 ACT Test Dates

Register for the ACT

Junction City High School CEEB Code: 041-285

Northeast Claiborne Charter CEEB Code: 991-692

Advanced Placement Exam Schedule

AP Literature (English Literature and Composition) TBA

AP US History TBA

AP Biology TBA

AP Language (English Language and Composition) TBA

Map

Technical Community Colleges

Arkansas Universities

Louisiana Universities

HBCU

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

— Christopher Robin to Pooh, A.A. Milne

FAFSA

To create an FSA ID, please click on the following:

https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

To complete the FAFSA, please click the following:

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

If you need help doing this, we can set up a time for you and your parents to come and bring tax information and we can help you with that. You have to complete the FAFSA in order to complete your application for the Arkansas Academic Challenge (Lottery) scholarship as well as for the Louisiana TOPS Scholarship program.

To complete entrance counseling and/or the student master promissory note, please click on the following: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing

To apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship - Complete the FAFSA - Go to Arkansas Scholarship Lottery

Scholarships

To apply for TOPS - Complete your FAFSA. Be sure your ACT scores have been sent electronically to the Louisiana Office of Financial Assistance. The code for this is 1595. You can do this at www.act.org if you did not have your scores sent there originally. School Code for the Northeast Claiborne Charter (NECC) is 991692.

TOPS

Tour

Seniors are allowed two school days during their senior year to visit college campuses without being counted absent provided they meet the following criteria:

  • Return the permission slip to the counselor at least two days prior to the visit.

  • Notify each class teacher of his/her plans at least three days in advance of visit.

  • Seek pre-approval from the college or institution before scheduling college day.

  • Have at least a 2.0 average.

  • Return to school with written proof of visit.

  • College days will not be granted during seniors' final two weeks of school or during semester test weeks.

Scholarships

1) Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators - Applications should be available online after the first of the year. All seniors are eligible to apply. The link for the scholarship is as follows: https://www.theaaea.org/page/scholarships

2) American Legion Scholarship - Deadline TBA  - Counselor's Office

3) Coca Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship - Deadline TBA . Apply at Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship

4) Students who earn concurrent credit through Arkansas Tech while in high school are eligible for a $500 scholarship when they enroll at ATU.  As long as they successfully complete one course before graduating high school, they should be eligible for the scholarship as an entering freshman.

5) Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund - apply online at www.aspsf.org Deadline for fall semester is TBA

6) Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship - (Lottery) - Requirements: The only requirement is 19 on the ACT or ACT equivalent score. FAFSA is required. Deadline June 1. Apply at Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship  All the programs administered by the Arkansas Department of Education will be listed here and a place where you can apply.  You will first have to create an account at You Universal.  This is the first place the application link will take you.  Let me know if you have any questions. Applications Open TBA 

7) Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship - High School The Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship is the most academically rigorous scholarship program offered for those graduating seniors scoring either 32 on the ACT or 1410 on the SAT, and a 3.50 academic grade point average. Those who are named National Merit Finalists or National Achievement Scholars may qualify without meeting the GPA requirement, but must still meet the ACT/SAT requirement. The scholarship pays tuition, mandatory fees, room and board up to $10,000 per year. Requirements: At least a 32 ACT (1410 SAT) and a 3.5 GPA to apply. FAFSA not required. Award Amount: $10,000 per year.  Apply at scholarships.adhe.edu.

8) Law Enforcement Officers’ Dependents Scholarship (LEO) - Other

LEO provides a waiver of tuition, fees, and room at any public college, university, or technical institute in Arkansas for dependents and spouses of Arkansas law enforcement officers, some Highway and Transportation Department employees, and other public employees, who were killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Award Amount: See overview page for Awards Information. Apply at scholarships.adhe.edu.

9) Military Dependents Scholarship (MDS) - Other

MDS provides a waiver of tuition, fees, room and board at any public college, university, or technical institute in Arkansas for dependents and spouses of Arkansans who were killed or missing in action or who were prisoners of war or who are totally and permanently disabled. Award Amount: See overview page for Awards Information. Apply at scholarships.adhe.edu

10) Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture) - High School - Non-Traditional Students

Arkansas Future (ArFuture), is the newest state grant program. The purpose of this grant is to increase the education and skills of Arkansas’s workforce in an affordable manner. The grant applies to students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) or regional high demand areas of study. The grant will cover tuition and fees for qualifying certificate and Associate degree programs at Arkansas’ public institutions for eligible students. The grant is available on a first come, first serve basis. Qualifying Degree Programs  Apply at scholarships.adhe.edu Requirements: An Applicant must:

  • Have either graduated from an Arkansas public school, private school, home school or received high school equivalency diploma approved by the Department of Career Education; or

  • Verify that he or she has resided within the state for the three (3) years immediately preceding application and has either: Graduated from an out-of-state high school, private school, home school or received a high school equivalency diploma approved by another state.

  • Be enrolled part-time or full-time at an approved institution of higher education in a program of study that leads to an associate degree or a certification in a STEM or regional high demand field.

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

  • Apply at scholarships.adhe.edu

11) Gary Sewell Scholarship - Must be returned to Union County Farm Bureau (in the office) by 

12) Union County Farm Bureau Scholarship - Must be returned to Union County Farm Bureau (in the office) by  Family must be a member of Union County Farm Bureau.

13) Union County Community Foundation Scholarships - Apply online at www.uccfar.org Be sure to have all supporting documents available to download. You can go ahead and go to the website and look at the eligibility requirements and the essays that you have to write.  Then you will be ready to apply when the application window opens.

14) Barnette-Harris Scholarship - Local Scholarship - Applications in counselor's office

15) El Dorado Service League Scholarships - Applications in counselor's office

16) Lion Federal Credit Union Scholarships - Applications in counselor's office

17) Kevin Payne Foundation Scholarship - Information will be available in the counselor's office.

18) VFW Youth Scholarships https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships Deadline: TBA

19) Win a $2500 Rover Scholarship https://www.rover.com/college-scholarship/ Deadline: 

20) Discover Student Loans Sweepstakes https://scholarship.collegecovered.com/ Deadline: TBA

21) Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship https://www.gallerycollection.com/greeting-cards-scholarship.htm Deadline:TBA

22) Getting Real About Distracted Driving Scholarship  https://comedydefensivedriving.com/scholarships

23) Jan Wilson Memorial Scholarship - Applications in counselor's office. Deadline: TBA

24) Mike Barrett Memorial Math Scholarship - Applications in counselor's office. Deadline: TBA

25) Robert "Truck" Loggins Memorial Scholarship Guidelines/Application Deadline: TBA 

26) Rosenwald Scholarship - Applications in counselor's office. Deadline: TBA

27) Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of American Legionnaires in good standing, are eligible to apply for the Garner Trust Scholarship and the Coudret Trust Scholarship. Applications may be picked up in Mrs. Owens's office. 

28) Information regarding the Hagan Scholarship may be picked up in Owens's office. The deadline to apply for the Hagan scholarship is December 1, 2023.

Check out the following scholarships recently added to this page!

1

NCAA

NCAA Clearinghouse - College-bound student athletes in the junior and senior classes need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if they plan on participating in college athletes. Early registration promotes positive planning and involvement, eliminates the last-minute rush, and helps college-bound athletes avoid issues that may delay their academic and amateur certifications. Register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org.

NAIA Schools - The NAIA has also started an eligibility center. It is required if you plan on attending a NAIA school and participating in athletics. It is very similar to the NCAA Eligibility Center. https://play.mynaia.org/.

NAIA

Helpful Websites *Important Note: Avoid any scholarship search that charges a fee.

www.adhe.edu – Arkansas Department of Higher Education Web Site- This site provides access to information about Higher Education across the state of Arkansas. This is also the web site that allows students to access the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Application. (Arkansas Lottery)

www.fundmyfuture.info – Financial Resources to address critical career needs in Arkansas. There is information as well as a free scholarship search at this web site.

www.asla.info Arkansas Student Loan Authority – This site provides information about loans as well as scholarships. There are links here to other scholarship searches.

www.fastweb.com Scholarship Search

www.collegeboard.com This site has information for students, parents, and teachers. There is also a scholarship search available here.

www.scholarships.com Free college scholarship search & financial aid information