Do you have a senior and you’re starting to wonder how you’ll find the money for all of those first-year college expenses? Or maybe you’re just hoping for a little assistance with tuition or school books? Maybe you have a sophomore or junior just looking for career options?
The Oxford High School Career Resource Room holds solutions to these questions and many more.
Students are introduced to the resource center as ninth graders when they have an opportunity to visit the room, meet with Career Specialist Karen Logan and take a personality assessment in order to discover careers that might interest them.
“There are some kids though that will graduate and have never set foot in this room,” said Logan. “Some parents are not aware of what we have available either.”
Seniors are the largest group to make use of the career center’s resources, especially since all the area scholarships are listed in the room’s scholarship binder, or the “Bible” as students have come to call it.
“I end up seeing about three-fourths of the seniors,” said Logan. “They are made aware of community scholarships, which are their best options of assistance compared to the large university competitions and such.”
Three of the larger community scholarships available are the Stanton Memorial Scholarship, the Fraser Post 108 and the Clark Fund.
The Clarence Elbert Stanton Memorial Scholarship Foundation is the only renewable award given away at Oxford High School. The award was established by Lovett William Stanton in honor of his father. Students with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in high school or 2.5 in post-secondary, who are a minimum of 16 years old and maximum of 25 years old, and who are or have graduated from Oxford or Lake Orion high schools.
“This is probably the most misinterpreted scholarship that we have,” stated Logan. “Inevitably every year we get juniors and parents in here asking for this one.”
Logan recommends not wasting an attempt at the award during the junior year, especially since the foundation presenting the funds has complete control over who receives them and how much they will receive. In fact, scholarship winners can receive any amount up to $1,000, and then be given a different amount or denied renewal the following year.
The Walter Fraser Post 108 Scholarship is available to graduating Oxford seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The nonrenewable $1,000 is awarded based on a student’s goal and intentions, involvement in school activities and participation in community activities.
The largest scholarship awarded each year is up to $2,500 from The Clark Fund.
The award was established by Walter W. Clark, a former Oxford resident and cofounder of Champion Home Builders, Inc. The foundation focuses upon those students who are hard-working, in need of funding and below the National Honor Society borderline to qualify for other grants and scholarships.
An entire listing of the 106 scholarships currently available can be found in the career resource room or on-line at www.oxford.k12.mi.us.
“Everything has to be handled through the office here,” explained Logan. “We try to eliminate favoritism as much as possible.”
And with a small town that can sometimes be difficult. Students will often take out an application for a scholarship and then try to return the forms to the organization sponsoring the award.
“Because it’s such a small area we always get the kids who want to do things directly,” Logan said.
New scholarships are announced repeatedly on the school announcements and signs are often posted for highly competitive funds.
Students who are not interested in attending a post-secondary educational facility can also get information at the career room on job possibilities and military positions.
“Local businesses can list any positions they have open with us for free,” said Logan. “The students can come in and check out the postings, we even announce some of them.”
Military personnel, who are legally allowed to recruit in the schools, also work directly through the career resource room. In fact, students who work through the center will have a big advantage.
“I’ve taken the educational tours and know what boot camp and the military establishments are like,” she said. “The military is supervised here. I know when they are feeding a student a line.”
Students can schedule interviews with recruiters through the resource room and request Logan to be present for the session. Pamphlets and contact numbers are also available.
“Students can get the information they want in a more casual atmosphere without feeling pressured,” Logan explained.
Finally, the career center is the place for students to carry through with their four-year job plan. From the ninth grade on, students can come in and receive assistance in exploring careers and placement opportunities.
“I just really want to get the word out there that our services are available and we are on the internet, so check out our website,” said Logan.
The Career Resource Room is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students can visit during their lunch hour, activity period, sign up for a time or military appointment, or schedule an afterschool time. Parents can even make early morning or evening appointments.
For more information, contact Karen Logan at 969-1841 or logank02@oxford.k12.mi.us.