OHS Counseling Info

2018-2019 Course Guide 

2019-2020 Course Guide (Draft)

Full Tuition & Full Ride Scholarships

Scholarship Spreadsheet

Order high school transcripts online through Parchment

Student Behavioral Support Information

Suicide Prevention Information

Contact the OHS Counseling Department

College Planning Made Easy: IL Student Assistance Commission Student Portal and Toolbox

College Planning Made Easy: Student Checklist

College Planning Made Easy: Financial Aid Letter Comparison Worksheet

 PaCE Student Checklist

Click the image below to open the 8th grade Course Presentation!

Click the image below to open the 9th and 10th grade College and Career Readiness Presentation Slides! You can watch the 9th and 10th grade presentation at: https://youtu.be/A6SAKiS5zf8

Click the image below to open the 11th and 12th grade College and Career Readiness Presentation Slides! The 11th and 12th grade presentation video is not available at this time. Check back later for updates!

Scholarship Opportunities

The FHN Healthcare Career Scholarships are available online at http://www.fhn.org/Scholarships.asp?code=SE

These scholarships are for students pursuing a career in healthcare. Please visit FHN website for details. Deadline for submitting application is Sept 7^th.

The Horatio Alger Scholarship application is available online at https://scholars.horatioalger.org

This is scholarship is for full time high school seniors, planning on pursuing and completing a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States. Demonstrate financial need, involved in co-curricular and community service; maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. For more details, go to the website. Deadline is October 25, 2018.

The Village of Progress Foundation Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. To be eligible, the student must be a resident of Ogle County; be either a high school senior who is disabled or is planning on attending college and majoring in an area related to the disabled. Applications must be received by October 1, 2018.

Starting with the 2019 incoming class, The University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign will cover tuition and fees for up to four years for all qualified in-state students. It’s called the Illinois Commitment Grant. For more details, go to:

http://admissions.illinois.edu/commitment?utm_content=HS%20Counselor%3A%20August&utm_campaign=HS%20Counselor&utm_source=Slate&utm_term=2019&utm_medium=email

The Acorn Equality Fund is a grassroots organization that provides college scholarships for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) persons, their children, and allies in Illinois’ downstate counties. To apply for this scholarship go to https://www.acornequalityfund.org/ Deadline is September 21, 2018.

WACE (World Council and Assembly on Cooperative Education) believes that cooperative education could be a key factor in helping you make important decisions about the college and career path that is right for you. WACE also offers a merit co-op scholarship for current high school seniors or transfer students. These merit co-op scholarships will be awarded to students who plan to participate in college cooperative education at one of the 9 Partner Institutions listed on their website. For more information, go to www.waceinc.org

The CBAI Foundation for Community Banking 2019 Annual Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. The competition is open to Illinois high school seniors who are sponsored by a CBAI member bank. Students will be asked to write an essay on 3 different subjects. For more information on this scholarship,  go to: www.cbai.com  Deadline is February 6, 2019.

Looking for a way to make the scholarship application process a little more fun? While there are plenty of scholarships out there that award students based on their academic success or volunteer services, this isn’t necessarily that list. Instead, you can find weird scholarships that let you declare your love for ice cream or hash out a survival plan for a zombie apocalypse. Great with fashion design and using duct tape? Perfect! Can you speak Klingon? Excellent (or, perhaps you’d say, “Chon!”). You’ll find several weird scholarships like these in this special directory list. So, have fun and start applying for your chance to win!

https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/weird/weird-scholarships

UNIGO is your connection to OVER 3.6M in Scholarships.

Go to www.unigo.com to sign up and start applying today!

The Village Of Progress Foundation will offer a $500, one year scholarship to be awarded at their Annual Banquet scheduled on October 17, 2018. The financial status of the applicant is not a consideration.To be eligible, the student must be a resident of Ogle County, be either a high school senior who is disabled or is planning on attending college and majoring in an area related to the disabled, or a full-time undergraduate college student who is disabled or is majoring in an area related to the disabled. Applications must be received by October 1, 2018, be completed on the Foundation application form, and include at least three written references. Those wishing an application are encouraged to call the Village of Progress at 815-732-2126 or stop by the OHS counseling office for a copy.

Nursing Education Scholarship Program

If you are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associates degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing or a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing and demonstrate the greatest financial need among qualified students, you may be qualified to win the Nursing Education Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial aid anywhere from one to four years. If awarded, you must begin full- or part-time employment as a licensed practical or registered nurse in Illinois within six months of graduating, and remain employed for a period equivalent to the educational time supported by the scholarship. If you terminate studies, or fail to become employed, you will be required to repay the full scholarship amount, plus seven-percent interest per year.

The application cycle for this scholarship is from March 1 through May 31, prior to the beginning of the academic year for which you are requesting the scholarship.

For more information, visit the website for the Illinois Department of Public Health Center for Rural Health.

Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program:

In an effort to address the shortage of nurses and the lack of instructors to staff courses teaching nursing in Illinois, the Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program encourages longevity and career change opportunities. The program is intended to pay eligible loans to add an incentive to nurse educators in maintaining their teaching careers within the State of Illinois. The annual awards to qualified nurse educators may be up to $5,000 to repay their student loan debt, and may be received for up to a maximum of four years.

http://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/nurse-educator-loan-repayment-program.html

Keith & Mary Lou Hauge Student IEA Scholarship

Applications are now being accepted for the 2018-2019 Keith & Mary Lou Hauge Student IEA Scholarship. $1,000 scholarships are available for Student IEA members. Online application, accompanied by supporting documentation, must be submitted no later than March 1, 2019. View the scholarship guidelines and online application. Deadline is March 1, 2019

The Illinois PTA Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors each year. Students entering an education related field of study are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, and their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.

The 2018-2019 Scholarship Application.

Eligibility Requirements

1. High School seniors graduating from an Illinois Public school;
2. Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above in a non-weighted 4.0 scale. Please convert the GPA if it is weighted and/or a 5.0 scale.
3. Enrolling in a college or university in education or education-related degree program, which may include: Librarians, Instructional Media Specialists, School Nurses, School Psychologists, or Social Workers (all of which require certification from a State Board of Education).

Be sure grades for a minimum of 7 semesters of high school are available on the uploaded transcript.

As a catalyst for change, Greenhouse Scholars is looking for students like you who demonstrate leadership within their communities. More than just a scholarship, our vision is to cultivate a community of leaders who will evolve the communities of the world. Relentless and capable of anything, Greenhouse Scholars take action to impact the next generation, and together, make a difference in their families, their communities, and across the world. To apply, go to:

https://greenhousescholars.org/our-scholars/become-a-scholar/

2018 Illinois Chemical Education Foundation

$2,000 High School Senior Scholarship Application

Open to All Future Chemists, Chemical Engineers, Environmental Engineers

The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, through the Illinois Chemical Education Foundation (ICEF) presents a number of $2,000 scholarships each year to top high school senior science students. We welcome all applications for the ICEF scholarships. 

The ICEF’s objective is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have exemplified outstanding achievement in academics, extracurricular/employment activities and community involvement.

Please submit the following information postmarked no later than Friday, February 23, 2018, and received no later than Wednesday, February, 28 2018.

Online application: https://www.cicil.net/high-school-scholarship-application

2018 Illinois Chemical Education Foundation

$2,000 Undergraduate Scholarship Application

Open to All Future Chemistry, Chemical Engineers, Environmental Engineers and High School Chemistry Teachers

The Illinois Chemical Education Foundation (ICEF), administered by the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI), invites you to apply for a $2,000 Scholarship Award. ICEF presents a number of scholarship awards each year to Illinois residents at the undergraduate level. We welcome all applications for ICEF scholarships. 

Please submit the following information postmarked no later than Friday, February 23, 2018, and received no later than Wednesday, February, 28, 2018.

Online application: https://www.cicil.net/undergraduate-scholarship-application

Comcast Leaders and Achievers^®
Scholarship Program

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program recognizes students for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills.This year, scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to over 800 students nationwide.

Applicants must:

• Have a demonstrated commitment to community service, outstanding qualities in character, integrity and leadership
• Be enrolled as a high school senior
• Reside in a community served by Comcast and/or in one of the following NBC or Telemundo markets: Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
• Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2019-2020 academic year
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
• Demonstrate financial need

Deadline to apply is December 7, 2018.

Visit learnmore.scholarsapply.org/leadersandachievers to learn more and apply today!

We are pleased to announce that University of Minnesota Twin Cities is now accepting applications for the 2019 Mr. and Mrs. George W. Taylor Foundation Scholarship. This is a four-year, full cost of attendance scholarship to the College of Science & Engineering (CSE) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities toward any CSE degree. This scholarship is worth more than $180,000 over four years, beginning in Fall 2019.

You can learn more about the College of Science & Engineering, including all our degree programs, at cse.umn.edu.

The Taylor Scholarship application and instructions can be found at: z.umn.edu/csetaylor. The deadline to apply online and submit all required application materials is Thursday, January 3, 2019.

Mr. Taylor believed his engineering education at the University of Minnesota was the catalyst to his own successful engineering career. He believed the world would be better if there were more engineers. This scholarship is intended to provide a student from the Rockford, Illinois area the same opportunity at Minnesota that was available to the late Mr. Taylor. 

Requirements for Consideration: 

• Graduating high school seniors are preferred, but junior college graduates are eligible.
• Candidate must indicate a permanent residence within a 50-mile radius of Rockford, Illinois.
• Candidate must have applied for admission to the College of Science & Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
• Candidate must be in top 10% of graduating class.
• Candidate should have an ACT composite score of 30 and mathematics score of 29 or better (or equivalent SAT: total 1370, math 680).
• Financial need is a consideration but not a requirement.  

A completed application is to include:

1. Online application form
2. Official high school transcript(s), uploaded as part of the online application form 
3. 2-3 letters of recommendation, mailed according to the application instructions
4. Financial release authorization, mailed according to application instructions
5. Completion of FAFSA prior to applying is encouraged

Submit or postmark all these items by Thursday, January 3, 2019.

Please direct questions to Kathy Meiners, the Taylor Scholarship Selection Committee Chair at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Dorothy Cheng, CSE Asst Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Students interested in attending Central College in Pella, IA next fall, apply by December 1^st to be considered for additional scholarships. And they will waive the application fee. For more information, go to www.central.edu/apply

The Rock River Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers 2019 Scholarship Application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is for high school seniors who will be enrolling in an engineering program in the fall of 2019. Deadline is January 19, 2019.

The Chief OHS/ U of I Alumni Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship for any 2019 graduate of Oregon High School with plans to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning with the Fall 2019 semester. Deadline is April 26^th.

The Lauren’s Legacy Scholarship Award Application is available in the Counseling Office. Lauren Donmeyer’s legacy was her unconditional kindness, strength, and compassion towards others.  It is in her memory that her family will be awarding one $500.00 scholarship to an OHS graduating senior who plans to attend a technical school or a 2-year or 4-year college or university while pursuing a postsecondary degree. Deadline is April 1^st.

The Illinois Odd Fellow-Rebekah Scholarship Award Application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is based on financial need and scholastic ablility. Deadline is March 1^st.

Keith & Mary Lou Hauge Student IEA Scholarship

Applications are now being accepted for the 2018-2019 Keith & Mary Lou Hauge Student IEA Scholarship. $1,000 scholarships are available for Student IEA members. Online application, accompanied by supporting documentation, must be submitted no later than March 1, 2019. View the scholarship guidelines and online application.

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture Scholarship Application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is for students who plan to attend an accredited college or university and pursue a career in the field of agriculture.

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturing Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is for students planning to attend Sauk Valley Community College or Morrison Institute of Technology, to pursue a career in the area of manufacturing. Deadline is March 1^st.

The Dean Ritter Trust For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Scholarship application is available online at www.deanritter.org/2019-scholarship.

The Mercyhealth Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office. There are 3 scholarships available:

The Mercyhealth Community Scholarship – for graduating seniors or individuals enrolled in College Programs in all Wisconsin and Illinois Mercyhealth service areas; 5 general healthcare careers and 2 specifically for nursing.

The Mercyhealth Minority/Veteran Scholarship  is available for minority or veteran individuals residing in all of Wisconsin and Illinois Mercyhealth service areas pursuing secondary education in a healthcare field.

The Mercyhealth Ethnic Minority Nursing Scholarship is available for individuals pursuing a nursing degree residing in all Wisconsin and Illinois Mercyhealth service areas. Applicant must be fluent in Spanish.

Deadline is February 8^th.

The Phidian Art Club 2019 Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship award provides $700 for one graduating high school student who displays excellence in the arts and intends to pursue post-secondary education in the arts. Deadline is April 5th. 

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Applications are now being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2019 Conservation Achievement Scholarship program.  The ICF annually awards scholarships to outstanding high school seniors in Illinois who demonstrate effective, voluntary, long-term dedication to the preservation, protection or enhancement of the state’s natural resources.  Up to three scholarships of $2,000 each are available for the current school year. 

"The ICF’s Conservation Achievement Scholarship program helps further the education of young people who have shown interest in being our future conservation leaders,” said Wayne Rosenthal, chairman of the Illinois Conservation Foundation Board of Directors and Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “The scholarships help reward a commitment to natural resources stewardship by students from throughout Illinois.” 

The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarships have been awarded since 2005. Applicants must be an Illinois resident and a senior in an Illinois high school.  Applications must be received by the ICF by March 15, 2019.

Detailed instructions and the 2019 application form can be accessed through the ICF website at:
http://www.ilcf.org/portal/sponsorship-opportunities

Contact the Illinois Conservation Foundation at 217-785-2003 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to make a donation to support the Conservation Achievement Scholarship program.

The CGH Medical Center Auxiliary Healthcare Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is for students who are enrolled in, or high school seniors who are planning to enroll, in a health-related education program. Deadline is April 1^st.

The PFLAG Scholarship Application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is for graduating seniors who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or who are strong allies of the LGBTQI community. Deadline is April 5^th.

Are you a student who is not afraid to be themselves? We are looking for fun and unique candidates for our Flavorful Futures Scholarship. Sparkling Ice® is awarding FIVE $5,000 scholarships to eligible high school seniors who are planning their bright and colorful futures. If this sounds like one of your students, tell them to apply today! The deadline is approaching soon! Applications are due by February 15, 2019and winners will be announced in Spring 2019. Apply now at http://go.pardot.com/e/120702/2019-01-16/68fq44/313622243?h=6kG3S0GtXz9CmmIu1916kuH-fv8gRxPiCV7cP4ZPZrw.

General Requirements
Visit sparklingice.com/scholarship for full list of requirements. 

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States.
• Must be a high school senior graduating between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019.
• Must have a cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale (high school/home school seniors).

Cornerstone Credit Union's Founders Scholarship Committee will be awarding SIX (6) $1,000 Founders Scholarships to deserving high school seniors. The Founders Scholarship program has been in existence since 1998. Education is a key element of the credit union mission and is vital to our community's and economy's success.
 
This one-time scholarship is awarded to recipients who have exemplified leadership and dedication throughout their high school scholastic career and plan to attend an accredited college, university, community college or technical/trade school.
 
Applicants must join the credit union as part of the application process by the application deadline, which is February 28, 2019. If you have any students you feel might be interested, please direct them to our website, cornerstonecu.org, where they can apply for a scholarship online or print and mail the application. 

The Schoon Scholarship application forms for Ogle County students who plan to pursue a four-year degree are available in the Counseling Office as well as online at: www.roe47.org.  Incoming college freshman students in 2019 - 2020 as well as recipients of the Schoon Scholarship in past years are encouraged to apply for the Schoon Scholarship.   

All applications with supporting material is be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019 in the Regional Office of Education to the attention of Betty Clementz, 1001 West 23rd Street, Sterling, IL 61081. 

Students who are Highland-bound may now access our easy-to-use search engine at https://highland.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships/ to apply for more than $350,000 in scholarships.  The search engine allows students to enter in a few demographic details to narrow down the list to display scholarships for which they are qualified.  The deadline for most scholarship applications is April 1st.

Also, registration for the summer semester opens on February 20, 2019.  A complete listing of summer semester courses can be found by viewing the searchable schedule at www.highland.edu.   If you have students who are interested in online course opportunities, please encourage them to register early as these classes fill quickly. 

Year-round Pell is available for the 2018-2019 school year so students who are graduating in May may be eligible to qualify for financial aid for summer classes.  The first step in applying for financial aid is to submit the 2018-2019 FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov, and graduating seniors will need to enter in 2016 tax information for the  application for the summer semester.  Most three credit hour classes will cost approximately $534.00 this summer.  If students choose to take an online class, it will cost an additional $15.00 for the Internet fee.

The James E. Renz Pinecrest Memorial Scholarship is available in the Counseling office. This scholarship is for students planning on attending college in the fall of 2019 and majoring in the fields of healthcare, social work, divinity. Deadline is April 1^st.

The 2019 Tri-County Opportunities Council Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. Preference will be given to applicants wishing to pursue high demand careers, although individuals pursuing other careers should not be discouraged from applying. Applicants of racial or ethnic minorities as well as previous scholarship recipients who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply. This is an income based scholarship. Please refer to the application for more information. Deadline is March 22, 2019.

Kishwaukee College is now accepting applications for the College's Academic Achievement Scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year. This year, Kish will be offering two types of Academic Achievement Scholarships for in-district high school seniors who will be attending Kish in Fall 2019, the President's Scholar and the College Scholar.

• The President's Scholar provides $1,000 per semester for four semesters.  To qualify, seniors need a seventh semester GPA of 3.75 or above.
• The College Scholar provides $500 per semester for four semesters.  To qualify, seniors need a seventh semester GPA of 3.25-3.74.

For more information or to download an application, please visit www.kish.edu/scholarships. All qualified students who submit an application will automatically be awarded the scholarship.   

Please note:  The application deadline is Monday, April 15^th at 4pm.

The Adkins Energy LLC Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is designed for anyone actively pursuing a higher education. An essay is required on this topic: “What is E15 and why is it important to farmers and consumers”? Deadline is April 2^nd.

The Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. The recipient must be pursuing a career in the healthcare field and have been accepted into or is currently enrolled in an accredited program. Deadline is March 8^th.

Compeer Financial High School Senior Scholarship

Applicant Qualifications:

Resident of our 144 county territory

Graduating High School Senior

Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)

Designated agricultural major, interest in an agriculture-related field, or have an agriculture or rural background

Special consideration will be given to students of parents who do business with Compeer Financial. Deadline is March 1^st.

https://www.compeer.com/getattachment/Home/Investing-in-Rural-Communities/Giving-Back/Scholarships/Scholarships/Compeer-HS-Senior-Scholarship-application_2019.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US

The Carroll Service Company Agriculture Scholarship is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship is for high school seniors planning to study in the field of agriculture, but also those students interested in getting a degree or certificate in Building & Trades or Welding field of study. Deadline is April 19^th.

The Lena Moscarelli Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office, for students who are pursuing a career in the legal field or actively enrolled in a course of study that will allow that student to achieve a career in the legal field. You must be a resident of or employed in Winnebago, Boone or Ogle County. Deadline is March 31^st.

The Foundation for Focus House Scholarship Program has 3 scholarships available in the Counseling Office: The LaVerne Adams Scholarship; The F. Lawrence Lenz Scholarship; and The Foundation for Focus House General Scholarship. Applicant criteria: Must be an Ogle County resident; must be a graduating high school senior OR already enrolled or in a post-secondary institution (all vocational programs will be considered); demonstrate a positive change they have caused in themselves or their community; priority will be given to past Focus House residents, former probation clients, youth that have had police contact and youth that are studying criminal justice. Deadline is April 12^th.

The KSB High School Healthcare Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office as well as online at https://www.ksbhospital.com/community/scholarships/ . This scholarship is for high school seniors planning to pursue a career in healthcare. Deadline is March 15^th.

The 2019 Pearl City Elevator Agriculture First Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship will be awarded to high school seniors based on scholastic achievement, leadership in agriculture, and a perceived ability to contribute to the agriculture community in the future. Deadline is March 1, 2019.

The 2019 Pearl City Elevator Jim Vondra Memorial Scholarship application is available in the Counseling Office. This scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing a higher education based on scholastic achievement, leadership, need and community involvement in honor of the memory of Jim Vondra. Jim was highly personable and conscientious; his dedication to serving others was second only to his family. Deadline is March 1^st.

The Knights of Columbus Scholarship Application is available in the Counseling Office. Applicants must be an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oregon. Deadline is April 14^th.