Brown County Graduation - 2020

Page 1

CLASS OF 2020

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

Honoring Our

2020 Graduates

We’d like to extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2020.

As you celebrate this milestone achievement, please know you have made your community and your loved ones proud!

EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL FAYETTEVILLE-PERRY HIGH SCHOOL GEORGETOWN HIGH SCHOOL RIPLEY-UNION-LEWIS-HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL WESTERN BROWN HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2020

Page 2

How to save on college housing costs College is expensive, and the costs are only rising. Scholarships and grants can help mitigate the costs of higher education, but even students who receive such aid could find themselves scrambling for ways to make college more affordable.

Housing is one of the more expensive costs for college students and their families. According to the College Board, the average cost for room and board during the 20162017 school year was $10,440 at four-year public schools and $11,890 at private colleges and universities. And those costs typically cover housing for just the school year, which may last anywhere from six to eight months.

However, there are ways for students and their families to reduce those costs.

• Examine your dormitory options. Many schools assign students to dormitories for their freshman years, giving students little say with regard to where they will live.

However, students might have more input in their housing come their sophomore, junior and senior years. Some dorms might be more attractive and offer more amenities than others, but students and families looking to save money on housing costs should opt to live in the most budget-friendly dorms available to them.

In addition, choose to live with a roommate rather than in a single room, as singles tend to cost substantially more than double rooms.

• Sign up to be a resident advisor. Resident advisors, or RAs, often receive free housing in ex-

change for living in dormitories when they are upperclassmen or graduate students. RAs help newly enrolled or younger students adjust to campus life while also ensuring nothing untoward happens on the floors they’re tasked with looking after.

Students who may want to apply for RA positions should first confirm if serving as an RA will affect their overall financial aid package and how great that impact might be.

• Live with roommates even after leaving the dorms. Due to limited space, many colleges insist dorm residents live with roommates. Upperclassmen who are moving out of the dorms and into university or off-campus apartments can save money by continuing to live with roommates. This can be especially benefi-

cial to students who will be living in off-campus housing where amenities such as electricity, cable television and water are unlikely to be included in the cost of the rent.

• Commute to school.

While it might not be ideal, commuting to school can save college students and their families substantial amounts of money. Public university students who did so during the 2016-2017 school year might have saved nearly $11,000, or $44,000 in four years.

That’s money that can be used to pay tuition or finance postgraduate educations.

College housing costs can be considerable. But budget-conscious students and families can save on such costs in various ways.

College majors that can lead to higher earnings Choosing a college major is an important decision that many students delay making until their sophomore or even junior years. Only after taking a few courses and uncovering one’s interests do some college students figure out what they want to do with their lives.

Each student is different, and while some may pursue a degree based on a particular passion, others may choose majors that can lead to high-paying jobs.

While men often lean toward majors like engineering and computer science that have

traditionally been linked to high earnings, women have historically gravitated to lower-paying specialties like education and social sciences. But in recent years a shift has occurred, and more women have begun to choose majors associated with higher post-graduate salaries.

Reports from the career guidance site Glassdoor analyzed how much male and female professionals with the same college degree earned and identified many instances in which women went on to earn more than men in the first five years of their career.

They’ve identified several majors where female college graduates can earn as much or more than their male counterparts and find successful careers.

• Architecture • Pharmaceutical sciences • Information sciences • Chemical engineering • Computer science • Electrical engineering • Mechanical engineering • Computer engineering • Business economics • Civil engineering • Sports management Despite these findings, the college resource Col-

legeFactual and the U.S. Department of Education says that women remain likely to pursue education, design and applied arts, health services, and social work as career options.

Female students unsure of which major they want to pursue can take career assessments to help narrow down their options.

Working with mentors or engaging in internships also can present a firsthand idea of high-paying career paths.

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

What is a gap year?

And should grads take one?

Members of the class of 2020 have many decisions to make in the coming months.

Many high school students enroll in trade schools or colleges after graduation, while college graduates start their careers or begin their pursuit of advanced degrees when their undergrad days draw to a close.

But more and more high school and college graduates are taking gap years.

According to the American Gap Year Association, a gap year is defined as an experimental semester or full academic year taken between high school and college grads in order to deepen practical, professional and personal awareness. Students often take a break from school as a chance to travel or gain some professional experience. Others use gap years as a chance for personal exploration before moving on to the next chapter in their lives.

Gap years may once have been looked at unfavorably, but they have evolved from such perceptions into opportunities to volunteer abroad, learn a new language in a foreign land, visit one’s ancestral homeland, or work as an intern.

While many students take gap years prior to entering college, even college graduates can benefit from taking time off after earning their degrees.

Gap years are now seen as a way to improve a curriculum vitae and gain relevant work experience in a particular field. The resource GapYear.com indicates employers actively employ people who have taken a gap year, prefering candidates who have real-world experience.

Preparation is necessary before diving head first into a gap year. Students can speak with people who have already taken gap years and ask questions.

Graduates should approach the decision of whether or not take a gap year just as they would any other large, life-changing decision. Experts say that it can take between nine and 12 months to plan a gap-year itinerary. Finances are a consideration, and gap years require ample savings and a carefully constructed budget in order to be transformed from a dream into a reality.

Gap years are a growing trend that can help students improve their résumés, see the world and gain invaluable experience.

CLASS OF 2020

Page 3

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL

Brett Applegate

Joseph Becknell

Vanessa Bellamy

Cody Bess

Olivia Broughton

Titus Burns

Peyton Caraway

Blade Carrington

Brianna Childress

Hannah Clark

Tiffany Comberger

Corban Cornett

Katelyn Cowdrey

Caleb Crabtree

Logan Creighton

Logan Crooker

Allison Daniels

Abby Danner

Joshua Darnell

Kaylee Davis

Maggie Dorsey

Taylor Dotson

Nathan Dowling

Clayton Fannin

Emily Fannin

John Fisher

Reece Fist

Nicole Freimuth

Juanita Frost

Abigail Gillespie

Miranda Gloff

Tony Goodman

Joel Graham

Skye Green

Elijah Hall

Jasmine Hamilton

Hailey Hampton

Benjamin Heinzl

Austin Hodge

Jessica Hodgson

Jep Houghton

Logan Houston

Dustin Jimison

Jayson Jones

Regan Kaetzel

Logan Kelley

Kaycee Klein

Brianne Klickner

Jasmine Lainhart

Wyatt Makstaller

Christian Manning

Evelyn McCay

Jansen McCord

Brett McCoy

Madison McKenzie

Ashlee Minnix

Madilynn Murphy

Nolan Parker Murphy

Clay Newman

Cody Noble

MyKenzie Parker

Raymond Parlier

Stevie Pettit

CLASS OF 2020

Page 4

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL

Camryn Pickerill

Landyn Pickerill

Eric Poettker

Hailey Price

Jake Rager

Robert Rau

Ryan Renchen

Kathleen Renville

Kalle Reynolds

Sean Robinson

Dylan Sawyers

Isabella Scott

Kyndra Simpson

Nathan Simpson

Kelsey Smallwood

Myra Stalbosky

Trevor Stamper

Logan Stephan

Kyler Stratton

Hayden Strecker

Kameron Tomlin

Adrianne Troutman

Hannah Troutman

Gary Turner

Grant Turner

Emily Underwood

Jadon Walkup

Ian Wiles

Megan Williamson

Lily Wirth

James Woods III

Congratulations To All Eastern Graduates!

The next step in your future could be...

Southern Hills Post-Secondary 151 - 32 Parkway, Williamsburg OH 45176

937-378-6131 x401

Cy Young

“Success is not the key to happiness.

Happiness is the key to success.

If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

Albert Schweitzer

Kaytlynn Young

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong.

Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”

George Washington Carver

Why do grads don caps and gowns?

Graduation ceremonies are steeped in tradition, the most noticeable of which may be the caps and gowns worn by students on hand to receive their degrees. This attire likely dates back to 12th century Europe, when students would wear hoods and gowns that resembled those worn by their teachers, who were members of the clergy. According to Colorado State University, in 1321 a statute of the University of Coimbra in Portugal declared that all “Doctors, Licentiates, and Bachelors” wear gowns. That means that the mandatory graduation gown is on the cusp of celebrating its 700th anniversary. Hoods, caps and gowns not only signified a certain status of the students wearing them, but they also served a more practical purpose, helping to keep students warm in the unheated buildings where they were being taught. Ironically, many modern graduates, particularly those whose graduation ceremonies are held outdoors, may lament that their caps and gowns make them feel hot.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2020 Graduating Class of

Eastern High School from

H&R Block of Georgetown 717 E. State St., Georgetown, Ohio 45121

937-378-3808

CLASS OF 2020

Page 5

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

FAYETTEVILLE-PERRY HIGH SCHOOL Nathaniel Anderson

Trevor Bailey

Ian Banks

Colton Bone

Joseph Brinkman

Jami Brossenne

Jacob Burson

Kyle Busam

Ashley Busch

Austin Busch

Chase Calvert

Jeremiah Castle

Kyle Castle

Coleman Catron

Dominick Clarke

Casey Cole

Wyatt Cole

Nicodemus Crawford

Nathan Deininger

Alexis Dericks

Isabella Durham

Aidan Dye

James Evans

Brianna Fay

Dakota Fehring

Karlie Fleming

Kurtis Friedhof

John Gherman

Ariel Henderson

Cole Holden

Skyler Holden

Ryan Hughes

Makhayla Icard

Zoey Jacobs

Madilyn Johnson

Kiana Kennedy

Aaron King

Nathan Kingus

Stevie Kombrinck

Jillian Korte

Wyatt Kuyper

Jeffery Lawson

Lynsey Leggett

Wade Lewis

Morgan Mahaffey

Samantha Mahanes

Taylor Malone

Christopher Murphy

Brennon Nichols

Caylee Noble

Brody Purdin

Emily Purdin

Hana Ritt

Alyssa Robinson

Alexandra Rumpke

Jayson Savage

Alycia Saylor

Logan Schirmer

Sierra Schnelle

James Sebastian

Ethan Seymour

Alexis Short

Taryn Smucker

Logan Stannus

Nathan Stanton

Megan Sword

Zoe Vilvens

Caleb Wagner

John Welte

Isabelle Wiederhold

Not Pictured Alexus Riley

Ciara Woods

Trey Zinsmeister

Congrats Fayetteville Graduates!

Congratulations to all 2020 Graduates!

Congratulations Fayetteville Grads!

Fayetteville Hardware & Supply, LLC 19535 U.S. 68, Fayetteville

Tel. 513-875-3030 • Fax 513-875-2371

Congratulations To All Fayetteville Graduates!

The next step in your future could be...

19535 US Route 68, Fayetteville

513-875-2017

Southern Hills Post-Secondary 151 - 32 Parkway, Williamsburg OH 45176

937-378-6131 x401

CLASS OF 2020

Page 6

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

GEORGETOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Jeremy Ackley

Addison Adams

Peggy Alexander

Isaiah Antrican

Robert Aubry

Alyssa Barrow

Thomas Baumgartner

Karragan Bellamy

McKenzie Benjamin

Corey Bolington

Austin Bradford

Cody Burch

Mason Caldwell

Jasmine Camery

Anthony Carrington

Cameron Cluxton

Cody Colwell

Katlin Colwell

Marissa Croswait

Jesalyn Duncanson

Caleb Dunseith

Trace Dyer

Terri Ealy

Garrett Ernst

Josie Ernst

Kolby Evans

Regan Gable

Cody Graves

Macy Graves

Hailey Gregory

Hannah Gregory

Elicia Hamblen

Austin Helbling

Dylan Hodges

Abigail Hughes

Noah Hunt

Trinity King

Shaylee Kirker

Katelyn Lilly

Fred Linville

Alexis Livengood

Isabella London

Austin Maggard

Kayla Matlock

Austen McCann

Allyson McHenry

Joshua McKinzie

Hunter McMullen

Austin Meranda

CLASS OF 2020

Page 7

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

GEORGETOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Elizabeth Meranda

Jacob Meranda

Thalia Merwine

Madison Moore

Faith Morrow

Isabella Motto

Kaden Mountain

Emma Murrell

Jessica Palmer

Alyssa Parvino

Chandler Patrick

Jonas Pfeffer

Alexis Pille

Brenton Ramey

Chris Schick

Libby Scott

Collin Sexton

Tyler Simmons

Brianna Snapp

Mason Staggs

Diana Stanze

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

Christopher Reeve

Wesley Sweet

Emilee Thomas

Brittney Twaddle

Jordyn Watson

Logan White

Ava Williams

Congratulations to all 2020 Graduates!

Congratulations To All Georgetown Graduates!

The next step in your future could be...

Southern Hills Post-Secondary 151 - 32 Parkway, Williamsburg OH 45176

937-378-6131 x401

204 W. State Street Georgetown, Ohio

101 Liming Farm Rd. Mt. Orab, Ohio

1011 S. Second Street Ripley, Ohio

937-378-6384

937-444-0323

937-392-1112

KENNETH A. CAHALL • STEPHANIE R. DYER • JOE VAUGHN • JEFFREY EGBERT • CLAYTON CAHALL Directors

www.cahallfuneralhomes.com

CLASS OF 2020

Page 8

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

RULH HIGH SCHOOL

Matthew Akers

Kolby Alexander

Destiny Barbee

Clinton Bartley

Danielle Bennington

William Blank

Madison Bradford

Joseph Boone

Hope Brizendine

Tiffany Bullock

Kylie Carrington

Jacob Castle

Savannah Cluxton

Damion Corns

Colter Cottrell

Calysta Crawford

Isaiah Dawson

Alexis Dearing

Quincy Ellis

Kailee Fisher

Tristan Fisher

Chelsey Frazier

Elliot Fryman

Gregory Fyffe

Peyton Grayson

Zachary Heflin

Takeila Henderson

Tabitha Hensel

Joel Herrmann

Kaylien Hesler

Cassidy Higle

Britney Hoffman

Morgan Jodrey

Kylee Johnson

Tori Lewis

Different ways to showcase a diploma The following are some ideas about how graduates can showcase their diplomas, whether those diplomas were earned in the recent past or decades ago.

Frames - One of the more traditional ways to display a diploma is to have the document professionally mounted and framed under glass. Consider framing with UVprotective glass to prevent the diploma from fading through the years. Avoid having your diploma permanently affixed to the back of a frame or plaque so it can be removed

should the frame or plaque become damaged.

Much like a cherished piece of artwork, diplomas can be displayed on walls in a home. They can fit in well as conversation pieces in a sitting room, home office, hallway, or library setting.

Surround with molding - Framed diplomas can be made to look more ornate when built into the design of the room. Coordinate it with bookshelves or molding laid out throughout the space.

Some accent lighting can draw further attention to

the document.

Bound books - For those who would rather not display their diplomas on the wall, consider sealing the diploma in a photo album or have it classically bound in a decorative book. Include photos of graduation or other special accomplishments in one’s school or professional career to complete the book.

The diploma also can be scanned and digitally reprinted before being added to a custom-made photo memory book, with the real document tucked away for safe keeping.

Personalized tables Work the diploma into home decor in another fashion. Graduates who do not plan on moving the diploma can place it into a display case or in a glass peekaboo coffee table. It also can be affixed to a wooden side table and clear-coated so that it becomes another source of conversation in a sitting room.Diplomas are hardearned and worthy of display. With some creativity, grads can incorporate their diplomas into their home decor.

Congratulations To All Ripley Graduates!

The next step in your future could be...

Southern Hills Post-Secondary 151 - 32 Parkway, Williamsburg OH 45176

937-378-6131 x401

CLASS OF 2020

Page 9

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

RULH HIGH SCHOOL

Lily Maines

Montrez McGill

Jacob McLeod

Emily Miller

Nicole Mock

Lucas Moran

Jaslyn Morton

Payton Nickell

Emma OʼConnor

Michael Perrigo

Ean Phillips

Lauralie Pierson

Savanna Proffitt

Kobe Rigdon

Alexandra Ross

Nigel Royal

Brittany Royster

Jacob Seaman

Hana Schwierling

Tyler Sizemore

Dallas Smith

Kaitlyn Smith

Katherine Smith

Aliyah Tenkotte

Carly Wagner

Austin Watkins

Thomas Whaley

Tray Wile

Not Pictured Jacob Cann Logan Felts Jordan Fields Penny Spires Hayley Burnett MacKenzie McMillion

Mason Williams

Nicholas Wilson

Jordan Winters

Savannah Wood

Hailey Workman

Expert advice for college-bound grads Only 60 percent of college freshmen will graduate within 6 years according to the latest report from the National Center for Educational Statistics. That’s pretty scary stuff for collegebound students and their tuition-paying parents — especially if loans are part of the financial formula.

Even for those students who make it to graduation, there may be some question as to whether they made the most of their time on campus.

As this Northern Michigan University senior reflects, “There I was, about to graduate with some random degree and feeling like I’d wasted my parents money.”

And from a University of Florida senior: “The problem with college is that you figure it out about the time you’re ready to graduate.”

Helping college students “figure it out” sooner rather than later is what the latest edition of the awarding-winning “Been There, Should’ve Done That — 995+ Tips for Making the Most of College,” (Front Porch

Press) continues to do. The 4th edition again draws from interviews with seasoned collegians across the U.S. According to author, Suzette Tyler, a former academic adviser at Michigan State University,

things like time-management and self-discipline,” Tyler explains, “but when a fellow student says, ‘I got great grades and I never missed a party and here’s how to do it,’ it has far more impact.

due in the same week! If you weren’t hitting the books right along, you’ll spend the rest of the term digging yourself out!” Senior, University of California, Santa Cruz • “Gather all the syllabi

Wake Forest • “Sitting in a classroom is the easiest part of college and it cuts study time in half. Why make it hard on yourself? GO!” - Senior, University of Iowa • “What separated me

“their ‘expert’ advice is refreshingly insightful and often more encompassing than might be found in an adviser’s office.”

“I could talk until I was blue in the face about

Here are some tips from ‘the experts’: • “The first few weeks are great. You’re meeting people, partying ... no tests, no papers. Then ...WHAM! Everything’s

during the first week of classes and write down the due date for every single paper, project, test or whatever. You’ll see instantly which weeks are potential killers.” - Junior,

from the masses was ‘connecting’ with a faculty member. I didn’t even know what the possibilities were until he laid out a ‘roadmap’ and showed me a few shortcuts to get

there. When my confidence was shaky, he reminded me that I could do it.” - Graduate, University of Michigan.

• “Pick the professor, not the time of day.” - Junior, Duke University • “Get a job in the office of your major. You’ll get to know everyone from the secretaries to the dean, all of whom can be very helpful. If any great opportunities come along, you’ll be the first to know.” Senior, Indiana University • “There’s no reason to fail! There are people here to help and it’s free. Actually, you’ve paid for it so you might as well use it.”

- Senior, Michigan State University “The students who make the most of their college experience aren’t necessarily the smartest ones.

It’s often the average kids who know how to utilize the system, connect with the professors, take advantage of extracurricular activities, and manage their time well who reap the rewards,” Tyler says. “Been There, Should’ve Done That” can help students get all they can out of the next four years.

CLASS OF 2020

Page 10

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

WESTERN BROWN HIGH SCHOOL Timothy Arey

Janelle Arn

Dylan Arnett

Dekaetah Ballard

Avery Barber

Kirsten Barnes

Sydni Barnes

Kimberly Barrackman

Emily Benfield

Zion Bennett

Dustin Bishop

Yasmine Blankenbeckler

Kindra Blankenship

Ricky Boehmer

Elizabeth Bolender

Kathryn Bolender

Elizabeth Booth

Christopher Bowman

Hannah Brashear

Victoria Brewer

Ethan Brooks

Evan Brooks

Michael Brusman

Allie Buttree

Colton Carroll

Zack Carter

Jacob Casey

Dylan Coffee

Keegan Collins

Elaina Colston

Jeffery Cook

Ryan Cooper

Paige Correll

Alyssa Craig

Madison Davis

Rose Dean

Madison DeRose

Josh Ehlman

Scott Enzweiler

Grace Erhardt

Alex Estep

Cade Eyre

Jenna Fightmaster

Jacob Finn

Elizabeth Fischer

Jordan Ford

Dylan Foster

Kiley Fox

Hailey Frederick

Madeline Galloway

Cole Garlesky

Morgan Gillham

Austin Grammer

Aaron Gray

Thomas Guthrie

Isabella Faith Hall

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” Robert Louis Stevenson

“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

CLASS OF 2020

Page 11

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

WESTERN BROWN HIGH SCHOOL Isabella Hall

Julie Hall

Thomas Hamilton

Jacob Henderson

Alexus Highfield

Carley Hinkle

Emma Holder

Christa Hopper

Faith Howard

Sarah Hubbard

Emily Huddleston

Jayla Hundemer

Zoe Hurst

Jarrett Ingle

Justin Ingram

Mahala Johnson

Jade Jones

Hunter Kattine

Abby Keith

Jasmine Kiser

Laren Kiser

Kaycee Klein

Cailyn Kohus

Jessie Kursim

Jacob Lang

Troy Lanson

Jeremy Lawson

McKenzie Leeth

Amy Lewis

Shawn Lewis

Taylor Lewis

Hannah Longbottom

Kaylee Loudon

Ty Lucas

Will Lucas

Chase Marcum

Ezra Marlow

Vanessa Martin

Devin McGuire

Clayton McIntosh

Josh McKinley

Nolan Mendenhall

Kaylyn Mingua

Chance Moore

Erin Morgan

Matthew Motley

Kaden Newberry

Zachery Otis

Brandon Partin

Thomas Phillips

Kaylee Planck

Kerina Pollitt

Iris Pratt

Hannah Purdin

Logan Reedy

Megan Richman

Congratulations to all 2020 Graduates!

Chad Robinson

Emma Sams

Alivia Sarver

Zach Segrist

Ian Shaffer

Madeline Shepherd

CLASS OF 2020

Page 12

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

WESTERN BROWN HIGH SCHOOL Alexander Sicurella

Samuel Silcox

Layne Sizemore

Cara Skillman

Brooke Smith

Debra Smith

Kiara Smith

Abbigail South

Alyssa Spears

Andie Stith

Gage Strunk

Alliyah Taylor

Isabella Tesmer

Tabor Tesmer

Divine Thompson

Emily Thompson

Bailey Tolliver

Taylor Tolliver

Isaac Trevino

Chance Turner

Clayton Vineyard

Aston Wagner

Samarra Wagoner

Tanin Wallace

Arianna Waters

Alexis Weber

Hannah Westerbeck

Christian Whisner

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high.

Look the world right in the eye.”

Helen Keller

Waylen Whitaker

Kayla Wilson

Nicholas Wilson

Matthew Wolf

Congratulations To All Western Brown Graduates!

The next step in your future could be...

Sidney Womacks

Rebecca Zahn

Southern Hills Post-Secondary

“Live all of your life. Understand it, see it, appreciate it. And have fun.”

Joss Whedon

151 - 32 Parkway, Williamsburg OH 45176

937-378-6131 x401

Mt. Orab Food Court

Congratulations The Class of 2019

103 Glover Dr.

937-444-2601

Mt. Orab, OH

CLASS OF 2020

Page 13

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition

How to make applying to college less stressful Applying to colleges is exciting for many high school students. But that excitement is sometimes tempered by anxiety. The college application process can affect students’ lives for years to come, so it’s understandable why some teenagers might feel stressed as they apply to college.

The National Center for Educational Statistics says 69 percent of high school graduates in the United States enroll in college the fall after graduating from high school. Many students begin applying to college before entering their senior year of high school. Students can employ various strategies to make applying to college less stressful.

Create an inventory of student experiences and awards When completing their college applications, students submit a variety of materials. In addition to students’ track records in

the classroom, schools will be interested in kids’ extracurricular activities, hobbies, volunteer work, and even things they do during their free time.

Parents and students can work together to develop a master list that includes information about what students have accomplished during high school. These may include involvement in certain clubs, participation in sports teams, advanced ranking in scouting programs, or even a list of books read. Having this document handy will make it that much simpler to fill out college applications.

Investigate the Common Application The Common Application began as a niche program for select private liberal arts colleges, but now has grown into an organization that services more than 750 schools.

The organization enables students to create an ac-

count and complete one basic form that will be accepted by all institutions who are members. The CA helps students streamline the college application process and reduce redundancy. An alert system also helps applicants manage application deadlines.

Avoid applying everywhere Some students think that applying to dozens of schools will improve their chances of being admitted. However, applicants may be wasting their time applying to schools they have no intention of attending, and that only adds to the stress of meeting deadlines. Narrow down the possibilities to a handful of favorite schools and go from there.

Use the resources at your disposal Students who have access to guidance counselors, mentors, college centers, or even teachers who are willing to help

Gift ideas for high school grads High school graduation is a significant milestone in the lives of teenagers.

The moment a teenager receives a high school diploma marks the culmination of years of hard work, and many parents and extended family members reward that hard work with gifts.

The transition from high school student to college student or working professional is significant, and various items can help make that transition go as smoothly as possible.

• Travel gear: Whether it’s utilized during road trips with roommates or on those handful of occasions when students come home on holiday breaks, travel gear can make for a useful gift for new high school graduates. A sturdy backpack/duffel bag combo can be ideal.

It’s great for college students who might not be

ready for more expensive luggage, and it can be ideal for high school students taking gap years to do some overseas traveling before enrolling in college.

• Coffee machine: A pot of fresh coffee can make late-night cram sessions or hours spent typing research papers into the wee hours of the morning more manageable. For students who will be living in crowded dorm rooms, opt for small coffee machines that don’t take up much space, such as those that are traditionally found inside hotel rooms.

• Television: Parents want to imagine their college-bound teenagers spending hours holed up in the library. But college kids watch plenty of television, too, so a new television can make for a great gift that figures to get ample use.

• Academic planner: College course loads tend to be considerably more demanding than high school coursework. An academic planner can help new college students manage the rigors of their coursework by encouraging them to plan their days and weeks, ensuring no classes are missed and no assignments go unfinished.

• Cash: Cash can make a great gift whether a grad is heading off to college or entering the workforce.

Cash can help college students pay for their books and help those entering the workforce purchase a reliable car that will help them get around.

Gifts for newly minted high school graduates can help them transition to the next phase of their lives, whether that will begin on a college campus or in the workforce.

with the application process should use these resources wisely. In addition, iPhone and Android apps can help streamline the college application process.

Consider scholarships concurrently Some schools automati-

cally consider applicants for scholarships, grants and work-study programs.

But that’s not so with every school, so students may have to apply on their own or rely on third parties for scholarships. Fastweb is a leading online resource to find scholar-

ships to pay for school.

Advance preparation can make the college application process a lot less stressful for students and their parents.

Page 14

CLASS OF 2020

2020 Brown County Graduation Edition