Smoke Signals March 1990
Page 7
"HIGHER EDUCATION?"
The Oregonlaa Publishing Company Scholarship May
be Your...
WAYTOGOU
Choosing A Path-
The reason for the fund is to counter the rising cost of
education which is forcing many bright and academically
high achieving students to abandon their goals of
pursuing higher education.
Getting There:
The Oregonian Publishing Company Scholarship
provides awards made possible by a $2 million gift from
the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation Inc. The fund is
administered by the Oregonian Community Foundation.
Individual grants are awarded on the basis of need and
merit and may be as high as $10,000 per academic year.
Scholarship can be continued for up to four years as
long as you maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average,
make satisfactory progress, and complete 45 quarter
hours of coursework a year or equivalent. The scholar
ships can be used at any two or four year, public or
private, generally accredited post-secondary institution
in the United States.
Qualifying:
To qualify vou must:
1. Be a graduating senior from High School in Oregon
or Clark County, Washington.
2. Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 based on
sophomore through first semester of senior year.
3. Plan to enroll full time at any two or four year, public
or private, generally accredited post-secondary institu
tion in the United States.
4. Have completed 14 Carnegie units (year-long study
of one subject) during high school.
5. Need financial assistance.
Special consideration is given to students:
- Who are affected by a history of cultural, social and
economic inequities.
- Who have ever resided in a single parent family and
or - Whose parents did not complete high school.
In addition, the evaluations will consider:
- Academic potential
- Achievements
- Skills
Community Contributions
Going For It:
Complete an application available from your high
school counselor after November 15 or by writing to the
Oregon State Scholarship Commission, 1445 Willamette
Street, Eugene, Oregon 97401. In Oregon, call toll free
1-800-452-8807. In Eugene Area, call 686-4166.
Submit the completed application along with a seventh
semester high school transcript and a Financial Aid
Form (FAF) by March 15 to the Oregon State Scholar
ship Commission (see address above).
Do Teachers Really Care?
The answer to this question is; "go ask Trevor Aaron" !
Trevor is in his freshman year at Western Oregon State
College. During the start of Winter Term 1990, he
expressed concern regarding one of his mathematics
professors. Inspite of all the knowledge and Math
tactics that Trevors professor tried to impart, Mr.
Aaron, felt he was still lost. What did he do? Trevor
went back to his high school math teacher at Willamina
High School, Ms. Peters. Not only did Ms. Peters tutor
Trevor on a voluntary basis, the time she spent with him
helped clarify alot of the problems Mr. Aaron was facing
in his math class at W.O.S.C.. Ms. Peters who also
attended W.O.S.G, was aware of Trevor's professor and
she understood how students might have difficulty with
the class.
In answer to the question, "Do Teachers Really Care
?", the obvious answer is YES. Our THANK YOU and
congratulations Ms. Peters, you certainly give true
meaning to the phrase "an educator is an educator
forever".
This whole episode brings to mind that, so many
students at all levels will suffer and struggle through
problems only to find that for all the confusion and hard
work, they may still not have corrected or resolved the
problem. All students should realize that "YOU ARE
NOT ALONE, YOU CAN GET HELP". The Ameri
can Indian Science & Engineering Society, publication
"WINDS OF CHANGE" campus advisor, in their
Summer 1989 article stated " In almost every students
college experience there is at least one panic, one
episode of confusion, one (seemingly) insurmountable
PROBLEM! And if you only have one, it will probabluy
hit you in your first year, before you've had time to learn
your schools system and make helpful contacts." "First,
take a deep breath and try to relax a bit. There are
people out there who can help you, whether your
problem is personal or academic, whether it involves
family, social group, housing, financial aid, classes, work
or some other aspect of your college experience."
The article, which is written by Ms. Kathryn J. Brooks,
further states that "there are always situations which will
occur and at times it can be very difficult to ASK
QUESTIONS, especially if everyone else seems to be
understanding the material. ASK ANYWAY! When
you're fighting embarrassment, remember these three
things:
1. This is YOUR education! You are paying to be
taught this material, and you have the right to have your
questions answered so you can learn.
2. Its better to ask the question (and seem a little
foolish) than to not ask it and later make mistakes - on
tests or on the job. If you are going to let your ingo
rance of a topic show (and it will always show eventu
ally), what better place is there than the classroom,
where you're supposed to be learning it?
3. Everyone else may LOOK like they understand whats
going on, but the odds are that there are others in the
class who are just as confused as you are (or more so),
and more embarrassed to ask questions. You'll be
doing them a favor when you ask!
When in doubt, check to see if your college offers help,
such as; tutoring, study labs, academic and social
counseling. Schools like Oregon State University have
an Educational Opportunities Program; the University
of Oregon offers a Multicultural Affairs Program and
does provide assistance. Chemeketa Community
Coillege, offers help in the way of a Tutoring Center. If
all else fails you can always be creative, like Trevor and
go ask for help from people you know have expertise!
Lastly, should you feel lost, you can always call the
Tribal Education Office, while we can't promise you that
we will have all the answers, we can always point you in
the direction or identify people we know can assist you.
The bottom line is you have to ASK before it's too late 1
(students wishing a copy of the "GETTING HELP,
YOU'RE NOT IN THIS ALONE", can write to the
Education Program and a copy will be mailed to you).
SAMS OLD SONG, YQV KNQW THE VEfrSE
Every year, during the months of January through
March, the Education Program, verbally exhorts
"timeliness" in getting your FINANCIAL AID FORMS
completed! Well again, we stress, if you haven't already
done so, you MUST file your Financial Aid Form for the
1990 1991 academic year. In order for you to be
considered a priority for campus based aid, you must
have filed the FAF as close to March 30th, 1990. At the
very latest, you can still file up to May 1st, however, you
may not receive the maximum in campus based funding
assistance.
During the past years, there have been instances where
(continuing or returning students) never got around to
filling their FAF until August of the current academic
year. If you wait until August, you more than likely will
not receive financial assistance, becaude it will have
been awarded out and all funds are depleted.
DONT WAIT, FILE IMMEDIATELY. This is the
same song we repeat every academic year, if you're a
continuing student, you know all the verses and lyrics to
the song by now !!
We are asking all Members of the Coalition and their
colleagues to heop support our Number One priority for
FY 90getting a decent level of funding for the Johnson
O'Malley program This program has been cut more
than usual for Indian education programs in the 1980's.
From a base of $29 million in 1982, JOM had been cut
to only $20 million two years ago. Then, with the Zarr
decision, which added at least 13,000 Indian children to
the eligibility rolls for JOM, the Congress increased the
appropriation to $23 million. The administration came
back last year and asked for a reduction again, to $20
million. The congress raised it back to $23.6 million,
where it now stands. This amounts to $87 per student in
most states.
What we are asking for is $33 million, the level it would
take to put the program back to the 1984 dollars this
would be $160 per student nationwide. If you are
interested in helping with this effort, please contact the
Coalition for a packet of information. JOM projects
especially should help us with this project. The future of
Indian children demands your help!
Community College Transfer
Program Announced
Lewis and Clark College and Portland Community
College are announcing the 1990 Community College
Transfer Program. Twenty-five community college
students will live on the L & C campus from July 7 -Aug.
10, take inter-disciplinary courses, and participate
in activities that will aid in transfer to a four-year
college. Ethnic minority students over 25 years of age
are targeted. For more information contact Dennis
Massey, Associate Dean, Lewis and Clark College, 293
2759. Deadline is March 10