REPORTER Program Highlights - St. Olaf College
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A Quarterly Newsletter Volume 22, Issue 2 Winter 2022
St. Olaf College
TRIO Educational Talent Search
In this Issue:
REPORTER Program Highlights
by Evelyn Aguilar, Academic Advisor
A note from our
A lot of of exciting things happened during the past couple of months for our ETS team!
Director
We held virtual events for students and had the opportunity to attend an in-person
-page 2
conference at Indianapolis, IN. Keep reading to learn more about program highlights!
Mentoring As we have continued to adapt our program to fit the changing needs of our schools,
Program Update ETS has had the opportunity to help organize a handful of virtual field trips and other
-page 2 events! This fall we were able to virtually visit Century College, St. Cloud State
University, Mankato State University, St. Olaf College and Gustavus Adolphus College.
Senior Winter During these virtual visits, students were able to meet with the admissions office and
Checklist learn about the admissions process at each of these schools.
-page 3
Also new this fall, we were able to offer an exciting opportunity in collaboration with
Tutoring Resources the Center for Advising and Academic Services at St. Olaf! Through this partnership,
-page 4 ETS seniors were given the chance to sit down with a college student to help revise their
college essay for any scholarship or college application! A handful of students were able
Upcoming Events to attend this workshop that took place after school over Google Meets. We are thankful
-page 5 for the hard work from CAAS that made this event possible!
Paying for College Final update, the ETS Team was able to attend the EOA conference (Educational
-page 6 Opportunity Association) in Indianapolis, IN. As a new team, it was exciting to
experience something together and reflect on how we can continue to grow within our
Financial Literacy roles. At the conference, we were able to connect with professionals of all backgrounds
Crossword at the conference and we came back to MN with so much enthusiasm!
-page 7
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 1
A Note from our Director, Juan Telles
Over the past few months the ETS team has been working hard to build connections with students, parents, and
partner schools. We have been providing in-class presentations to our 6th-10th graders, and individually connecting
with our 11th and 12th graders on a lot of college planning. We have also been collaborating with our partner schools
to make sure we are working together as students continue to work on their life plans and college or career
preparation. We are excited to be able to continue to provide students and families with information and experiences
to connect with one another as they explore their educational opportunities.
As a director, I want to give a shout out to the ETS team for continuing to work through the challenges presented by
COVID-19. I also want to acknowledge the challenges that the students, families, and schools are facing. We have all
navigated through the return to in-person learning, unexpected school closures, and the overall concern for the health
and safety of our communities. The past four months have shown me that, together, we are strong and resilient. I look
forward to continuing to do good work with each and every one of you.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We are available over the phone, video call, and in person.
Connect with the ETS advisor from your school:
Northeast Middle School & Washburn High School: Anna Schmid schmid22@stolaf.edu
Humboldt High School & Middle School: Kali Hickman hickma2@stolaf.edu
Community Peace of Academy: Ben Xiong xiong49@stolaf.edu
Edison High School: Evelyn Aguilar aguila3@stolaf.edu
Please also feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns:
Juan Telles telles1@stolaf.edu Office # (507) 786-3780, toll free 800-621-7601
We want to wish you all a safe, warm, and happy holiday break!
TRIO Educational Talent Search 2021-2022 Mentoring Program Update
By: Anna Schmid, Academic Advisor
TRIO Educational Talent Search has two mentoring programs this year, at Humboldt High School and Community of
Peace Academy. In total, we have approximately 52 amazing St. Olaf College students volunteering as mentors to
about 75 mentees! We’re continuing to use the same virtual mentoring program model we created last year during
distance learning, which allows for St Olaf students who are studying abroad to still participate as mentors. We have
mentor volunteers in countries such as Ecuador, Italy, South Korea, Northern Ireland, Jordan, Guatemala, Cuba, Costa
Rica, Czech Republic, Scotland, Kenya, Spain, and so much more! This is a great opportunity for our college students
to get involved with TRIO ETS and volunteer their time even while abroad, and for our ETS students to interact with
college role models and learn more about the possibilities of continuing their education.
Mentors and mentees correspond with one another via virtual letter writing every other week. In their letters, mentors
share information about what college is like, how you should prepare for it, and the transition from high school to
college life. We are planning a spring visit so our mentors and mentees can meet face-to-face. We’re also hoping to
bring the mentee students from both high schools to visit their mentors at St. Olaf College so they get the opportunity
to see first hand the college experience they have been hearing about in their letters.
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 2
Senior Winter To-Do Checklist
By Kali Hickman, Academic Advisor
Hello ETS Seniors! With winter break around the corner, and then graduation just a few months after, we want to remind
you where we’d like you to be in the college and FAFSA application process! Remember, applying to colleges and filling
out your FAFSA doesn't mean you have to go to college, but doing so ensures that you have that option available to you!
All of the ETS advisors will continue to call seniors to our office to fill out college applications and FAFSA with you!
Below is a brief timeline of deadlines:
December
1. If you haven’t already, submit your college applications! Many institutions have January deadlines for applications, so
make sure to get those in as soon as you can. Ideally, you will at least apply to a safety, target, and reach school.
2. Check your school email frequently to get updates from your ETS advisors.
January
1. Complete the FAFSA process.
a. Before sitting down to complete your FAFSA, be sure both you and your parent/guardian have created an
FSA ID. This login will be what you both use to sign the FAFSA, and takes up to 3 days to process.
b. ETS advisors will be available to complete the entire process with you.
February
1. If you are selected for FAFSA verification, complete the necessary paperwork as soon as possible. You can reach out to
your ETS advisor if you are unsure if you have been selected for verification.
2. Start researching different scholarships and their deadlines.
March
1. Check your school email and make an appointment with your ETS advisor to review your financial aid letters until
you understand them completely
2. Start applying for scholarships! Even if you don’t think you’ll get it, apply anyway! The more scholarship money you
get, the fewer loans you’ll have to take out.
April
1. Decide which, if any, college you want to attend, notify the school of your decision, and send in a deposit by MAY 1st!
Note: A deposit is needed to secure your place at the college. If you are planning to live in dorms or other campus
housing, another housing deposit may be required. If this is a hardship on your family, you can call the college to
make different arrangements. They are flexible!
Answers: 1.) Work 2.) PIN 3.) Grants 4.) Scholarships 5.) Loans 6.) FAFSA 7.) SAR 8.) Verification
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 3
Tutoring Resources: Introducing Tutor.com
By: Anna Schmid, Academic Advisor
Hello TRIO ETS Students! Do you want FREE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANONYMOUS homework or
classwork help? We are excited to officially launch tutor.com/stolafets! This is a great resource that is free
because you are a TRIO ETS student. With tutor.com/stolafets, you can have:
• One-to-one anonymous homework help and tutoring
online in real-time
• Availability 24 hours/7 days/week online and on-
demand access to get connected with an expert
tutor in just a few minutes
• 200+ subjects are available including Math, Science,
Computer Science, Social Studies, Language Arts,
Foreign Languages, AP (Advanced Placement), &
more!
• Bilingual tutoring (Spanish & English) available for
math, science and social studies.
• Drop-off review service for writing assignments and
self-study practice quizzes are also included
Your username is the first half of your email address.
Your password is trioets
Please login and check out the website: www.tutor.com/stolafets
Please do not hesitate to email me at schmid22@stolaf.edu or text me at (612)-236-800 with any questions.
You may refer to these Youtube playlists to learn more about how to use the different functions of
tutor.com/stolafets:
- Student and Parent playlist
- Student Playlist
TRIO Educational Talent Search Upcoming Events
Edison High School:
December 20th: Winter Break Begins
January 3rd: School Resumes
January 17th: No School-Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 20th: Edison Site Council Meeting 5pm – 7pm
January 27th: 2nd Quarter Ends
January 28th: No School- Record Keeping Day
January 31st: 3rd Quarter Begins
February 17th: Edison Site Council Meeting 5pm – 7pm
February 21st: No School- Presidents Day
February 22nd: No School- Conferences
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 4
TRIO Educational Talent Search Upcoming Events Continued
Northeast Middle School:
January
ETS Workshops on Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 am - 3:10 pm:
7th Grade: Skills to Pay the Bills
8th Grade: Saving for What You Really Want
NEMS counseling department, ETS, and AVID present:
College and Career Nights Family Evening Sessions: Monday, January 31st, 2021
February
ETS Workshops on Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 am - 3:10 pm:
6th Grade: College Visit Slideshow Community of Peace Academy:
7th Grade: SMART Goals December 20th: Winter Break Starts
8th Grade: Why Take a World Language? January 3rd: School Resumes
January 12th: College Knowledge Night 5pm-7pm
March
January 13th: Semester 1 Ends/Quarter 2 Ends
ETS Workshops on Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 am - 3:10 pm
6th Grade: SMART Goal January 14th: No School - Grading/Reporting
7th Grade: Jr. High Study Abroad January 17th: No School - Martin Luther King Jr Day
8th Grade: Summer Camp Fun January 18th: Semester 2 Begins/Quarter 3 Begins
January 27th: Early Release - 1PM
April February 21st: No School - Presidents Day
ETS Workshops on Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 am - 3:10 pm:
February 24th: Early Release - 1PM
6th Grade: Summer Camp Fun
7th Grade: Summer Camp Fun
8th Grade: Summer Camp Registration Follow Up
NEMS counseling department, ETS, and AVID present:
College and Career Nights Family Evening Sessions: Monday, April 11th, 2021
May
ETS Workshops on Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 am - 3:10 pm:
6th Grade: Summer Camp Registration Follow Up
7th Grade: Summer Camp Registration Follow Up
8th Grade: 8th Grade Celebration & Goodbye, TRIO Program Referral Information for High School
Humboldt High School:
December 22nd: Winter Break Starts
January 3rd: School Resumes, Parent Teacher Organization and Site Council Meeting 5:30pm-7pm
January 26th: Finals
January 27th: Finals
January 28th: No School
January 31st: Quarter 3 Begins
February 1st: ACCESS Testing for ELLs Begins
February 7th: SnoDaze Week Begins
February 10th: Final Marks Posted to Transcript/Viewable
February 28th: Parent Teacher Organization and Site Council Meeting 5:30pm-7pm
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 5Parents: Making College More Affordable
By Ben Xiong, Academic Advisor
Did you know that college students graduate with an average of $30,000
in school loan debt? $30,000 is not cheap and it can take some time to pay
it off! Here are some steps you can take TODAY to make sure your
student doesn’t have a large college debt after graduation.
1. Encourage your student to take classes in high school that will count
towards a college degree!
These include PSEO, CIS, AP, IB and Career and Technical Education classes. They are all FREE and they allow you to
earn high school AND college credit at the same time! Not sure how to sign up for one of these classes or programs?
Talk to your counselor or ETS advisor and we will help you get started.
2. Stay involved!
Whether your student is in sports, yearbook club, Boys and Girls club, theatre or volunteering to give back to the
community, they all count! Being involved in extracurricular activities will make your student a great candidate for
their colleges and scholarship applications.
3. Start a College Fund
Instead of buying expensive gifts for holidays or special occasions, consider putting part of your money away for
your student’s future and opening a savings account at your local bank.
4. APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!!!
Encourage your student to talk to their school counselor, teachers or an ETS advisor to find out more about what
scholarships are available. Scholarships can come from religious communities, local banks or even your place of
employment. These institutions often have scholarship funds available, you just have to ask and do some research.
5. Complete your FAFSA in a timely manner!
Filing your taxes and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during your student’s senior
year are the first steps to receiving any type of federal financial aid. Many scholarships, such as the Power of You,
require it and your student can’t qualify for grants or aid unless you submit your FAFSA. ETS collaborates with high
schools for annual FAFSA night where we help students and their families complete their FAFSA application and go
over the financial aid process. Have your student talk to their school counselor or an ETS advisor about upcoming
FAFSA night!
6. Review your Financial Aid Package with an ETS advisor!
ETS is here to help your student! Do not be afraid to set up a meeting with an ETS advisor to review financial aid
award letters; we will explain what everything means and answer any of your questions. We can also help you
compare the costs of the various colleges your students have applied to so that they can make an informed decision
about what college they will attend.
Want to know more about scholarships? Click the link below!
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 6Financial Literacy Crossword
Test your financial aid knowledge!
(answers on page 3)
Across
3. This type of financial aid is free money given to students based on family income.
6. An acronym for the process of applying for financial aid help. (Hint: Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
7. An acronym that stands for the report you receive that summarizes all the information you provided on your FAFSA. (Hint: Student
Aid Report)
8. A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Form is a document that about 30% of families each year will have to fill out to verify their earnings in order
to receive financial aid.
Down
1. _ _ _ _ Study is a financial aid program that allows students to take a part-time campus job as part of their financial aid package.
2. An acronym for a four digit number that can act as your signature for the FAFSA. (Hint: Personal Identification Number)
4. This type of financial aid doesn’t have to be paid back. It may ay be awarded based on merit or proven academic/athletic ability.
5. This type of financial aid is borrowed money that gains interest and must be paid back when you leave school.
9. An acronym for a phrase that measures your family’s financial strength and is calculated according to a formula established by law.
(Hint: Expected Family Contribution).
Winter 2022 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter 78 St. Olaf TRIO ETS Reporter Winter 2022
Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a TRIO program funded by the U.S. ETS Staff
Department of Education and sponsored by St. Olaf College. The ETS program Juan Telles, Director
annually assists 700 middle and high school students as they explore their Fay Dacey, Administrative Assistant
academic and vocational options and set goals for the future. ETS Academic Evelyn Aguilar, Academic Advisor
Advisors, in cooperation with school counselors and teachers, provide college Kali Hickman, Academic Advisor
preparatory services through workshops, classroom activities, and group and Anna Schmid, Academic Advisor
individual counseling sessions. St. Olaf College Educational Talent Search works Ben Xiong, Academic Advisor
at the following five schools: St. Paul Community of Peace Academy, St. Paul
Humboldt High School, Minneapolis Northeast Middle School, Minneapolis Layout/Design
Edison Senior High School, and Minneapolis Washburn High School. Fay Dacey, Administrative Assistant
Address Service Requested
https://wp.stolaf.edu/ets
(507) 786-6241 TOLL FREE: (800) 621-7601
Northfield, MN 55057-1098
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
St. Olaf College
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