Counselor's Corner                                                           Kimberly Pittman 
                   [email protected]

Seniors:

     This week only (Oct. 7-11, 2024) is the University of South Alabama's free application week.  If you think you may be interested in attending USA, this is the week to apply!  

Click on the link provided for information.  The deadline to apply is Feb. 14, 2025.

MORA will be awarding the Allie Carruth Memorial Scholarship, the Chuck Stinson Memorial Scholarship, the Annie Lucious Gift of Life Scholarship, and the Dr. Shirley Schlessinger Scholarship.  The applications must be postmarked no later than midnight Friday, November 1, 2024.  Please click on the link below for the guidelines and application.

The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that recipients may use for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2026 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major.

Academic excellence is the primary criterion considered by the Coolidge Scholarship. Secondary criteria include an interest in public policy and an appreciation of the values President Coolidge championed. Successful candidates will also demonstrate humility and have a record of genuine service to their communities. 

The scholarship application, along with additional information, can be accessed on our scholarship site below.

Please know that the application requires that candidates read President Coolidge’s Autobiography and a few other reading assignments, and then write three essays. We therefore encourage students to begin the application early. Candidates who begin the application at the last minute are unlikely to be successful. The submission deadline is 5:00 PM Pacific time, Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Students with an aptitude for the STEM field are excellent candidates.

What is a Land Surveyor:

• Boundary or Land Surveyors determine the legal property lines and help determine the exact locations of real estate and construction projects.
• Geodetic Surveyors use high-accuracy technology, including aerial and satellite observations, to measure large areas of the Earth's surface.
• Topographic Surveyors determine the ground topography of the earths surface to aid in engineering and building construction.
• Hydraulic Surveyors determine the size and volume of bodies of water and determine the ground topography of the bottom.

What does a Land Surveyor Do?

• Measuring: Using math and technical skills to measure distances and angles between points on the Earth's surface 
• Mapping: Creating plots, maps, and reports of their findings 
• Establishing boundaries: Establishing official land and water boundaries for legal documents 
• Researching: Searching legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries 
• Presenting: Presenting findings to clients
• Advising: Helping clients to understand issues and advising how to proceed to resolve issues
• Testifying: Testifying in court regarding survey work when appropriate 
• Using equipment: Operating survey equipment such as theodolite, levels, and electronic measuring devices such as robotic total stations, gps, drones (aerial & hydraulic), vehicle mounted LiDAR and more.
• Maintaining Records: Maintaining accurate records of survey work performed 
• Using Software: Using computer-aided design (CAD), surveying, and coordinate geometry software to draft survey documents and descriptions
• Working in the Field: Working in varying types of environmental conditions, all seasons, urban areas, rural areas, forested areas and sometimes wading through rivers and streams
• Working in the Office: Maintaining Equipment, Managing Crews, Meeting with Clients, Researching, Preparing Plats and Reports
• Working on a Variety of Projects: Retracement Survey for Clients buying a house or getting a loan, Subdividing Land for a Developer building a Subdivision, Engineering Surveying to build roads, bridges and more (often working with Engineers and Contractors), Site Surveying for Building Construction (often working with Architects)

Types of Jobs Available:

• Private: Self-Employed
• Private Company: As Part of a Surveying Firm or an Engineering Consulting Firm
• Public: Government Agencies (State, County or Local)
• Public: Federal Government – Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management
• NSPS Scholarship application
• MAPS Scholarship application

For every “A” on a student’s report card, it qualifies them for a chance to win a scholarship! Each “A” earned allows a separate chance to enter a drawing to win $1,000 scholarship! The more “A’s” earned, the better the chances of winning! We will draw and announce a winner at the end of the school year and announce the winner the first week of June. The Citizens Bank will award a total of fourteen $1000 scholarships. Eligibility applies to high school juniors and seniors in each county we serve. It does have to be the current year’s report card, they cannot turn in report cards from previous years. The student does not have to bank with The Citizens Bank to qualify. To enter, all they have to do is bring a copy of their report card to a branch of The Citizens Bank or they can email me a copy of their report card directly to  [email protected].

Every year, students leave $3 Billion in money for college unclaimed simply because they do not file the FAFSA. Chances are good that your senior qualifies for money for college that you do not have to pay back! The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The 2024-2025 FAFSA application is now open. FAFSA ID's must be completed at least three days before logging into the FAFSA. The MS Office of Student Financial Aid has grants and scholarships that your student may qualify for by completing the MS Financial Aid Application. Please visit https://www.msfinancialaid.org/ Grant and Scholarship Programs for more information. If you choose to complete the FAFSA on your own when it opens in December, you may access the application at FAFSA.gov.