Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition

This competition is a great opportunity for budding scientists and research oriented students to earn some major scholarship money. Each year, up to 120 students will share as much as $456,000 in college scholarships, with the top two national winners each receiving a $50,000 college scholarship. Scholarships can be used for educational expenses at accredited colleges or universities in the United States. Get your thinking caps on! Deadlines for submissions have traditionally been in early February of the competition award year.

The Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for original student research is designed to inspire talented students to investigate behavioral, biological, environmental and social factors that affect health and to identify ways to improve the health of the public. YES awards up to 120 college scholarships each year to high school juniors and seniors who conduct outstanding research projects that apply epidemiological methods of analysis to a health-related issue. If you care deeply about the environment, world policy, or the world’s emerging health issues here is your opportunity to save lives.

YES will select up to 120 semifinalists; up to 60 will receive scholarship awards of $1000, completing their participation in the competition. The other 60 —up to 10 from each of six regions —will advance to the Regional Finals. The students advancing to the Regional Finals will receive an expense-paid trip to the YES National Event in Washington, D.C., April 2008, to compete with other students in their region. Regional Finalists will be judged on the basis of their written research reports, as well as an oral presentation and question-and-answer session. Forty-eight of the Regional Finalists will receive scholarship awards of $2,000, completing their participation in the competition. Twelve Regional Finalists—two from each of the six regions—will go on to compete at the National Finals.

The 12 students advancing to the National Finals will be judged by a national panel of judges on the basis of their written Research Project Reports, oral presentations and question-and-answer sessions.
YES college scholarship awards to the 12 National Finalists:
Six will receive scholarship awards of $15,000 each.
Two will receive scholarship awards of $20,000 each.
Two will receive scholarship awards of $35,000 each.
The top two national winners will receive scholarship awards of $50,000 each.
For more information about the YES Competition visit www.collegeboard.com/yes/.
~Tami

Web 2.0

Tonight at New Bethlehem Area Free Public Library

What to do with your ipod...

Have an iPod? Listen to music? What else do you use it for? Well, take a few minutes and check out this link I have attached. What a great resource, 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better! WOW!

Let me know what you think, or if you have others to add to the list!

Gliffy.com

Ever need to make a flowchart? Need to draw a plan? Try www.gliffy.com. This web based program allows you to select from many pre-designed shapes to create the chart that you need. The blog provides entries to help you better use the program. Check it out for help - even how to move the flowchart to your Word document!

2008 SAT Dates

Had a request for SAT dates, so I wanted to send out a reminder:

SAT dates remaining for Spring 2008 include - March 1, May 3, and June 7. Get registered!

Visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/reg.html to register. Remember there are limited fee waivers available. In most cases if you qualify for free and reduced lunches, you qualify for a College Board waiver. However, you must visit your high school guidance counselor to access this service. If you have any questions or problems, contact your ETS counselor!

Stay warm!

Read the '08 Caldecott Winner

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of reading Brian Selznick's book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It was the winner of the 2008 Caldecott Award. The Caldecott Award is presented annually "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children", according to ALA. (Check out http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.htm for more information and past award winners.)

Well, this book isn't a traditional picture book. It incorporates text, photos, drawings, and movies. In fact it has over 300 pages of pictures. Need something interesting to read; need something to grab your interest; need something new and different? Then check it out; I don't think you'll be disappointed!

This website gives you more details, historical information, and a preview. I'm excited to hear what you think! (http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_hugo_intro.htm)

ALA 2008 Printz Winner Announced

ALA has announced the 2008 award winners for young adult literature:

Winner: The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean

Honor Books:

Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet, by Elizabeth Knox

One Whole and Perfect Day, by Judith Clarke

Repossessed, by A.M. Jenkins

Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath, by Stephanie Hemphill

As always, I am excited to hear what you think of these books. Let me know or bring your opinions to the Book Brunch on April 26th. It should be a lot of fun, especially since I'm cooking!

Admission Terms

Just a few terms for those of you planning on heading to college-

AP - Advanced Placement - credit for passing certain courses and exams can be then used for college credit.

Common Application - form used to apply to more and more colleges, http://www.commonapp.org/.

Conditional Acceptance - acceptance as long as specific requirements are met by the student.

Matriculate - move from high school to college.

Open Admission - accepts all applicants that meet basic requirements.

Wait List - not accepted or rejected, waiting on an opening.

FAFSA Means FREE

Please remember:

The URL for the official FAFSA site is www.fafsa.ed.gov . There are many for-profit FAFSA filing web sites - they will charge you! These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. Students should file at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

FAFSAs should be filed online. If you have specific circumstances prohibiting this and are an ETS participant, please contact me ASAP as I have a few paper forms for your use.

PHEAA will be holding free workshops throughout the state on Saturday, February 9. One will be held from 10-1 at Brother Bean Coffee Shop, Rte 257, Cranberry (Venango County). Another will be held from 10-1 at Clarion Free Library (Community Room), Main Street, Clarion.

Clarion County Youth - BUSTED!

BUSTED! Youth Reorganization Meeting
Compliance Recruitment/Training and PIZZA Party!
Kids Age 14– 18 needed

Clarion County Drug and Alcohol would like to invite you to take part in Tobacco Free Advocacy Activities: Compliance Checks, Prevention/Awareness Activities, Educating Legislators, and Fun Recruitment Activities.

Come learn more about Clarion County BUSTED! Youth
February 13, 2008 from 4:30-6:00 PM
Clarion County Drug and Alcohol Office
214 South 7th Avenue, Clarion PA

For more information call Vicky Hilborn at 226-5888 Ext. 522 by February 11, 2008.