PYLA (Prudential Youth Leadership Institute) Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute Training Session I July 21 to July 25, 2008 at UAA and Session II July 28 to August 1,2008 at UAA Mat-Su Campus. Training for all students in grades 9-12 interested in service and community leadership to make a positive difference in the community.  Clubs, honor societies, student government, sports teams, youth organizations, church and community youth groups all are invited to participate in this world class student leadership training for diverse youth across the community.  This 50 hour PYLI Institute supports Prudential’s Spirit of Community Initiative, America’s Promise to Youth and the President’s Call for Students in Service to America. The fee is $100.00.  Some need based scholarship assistance is available.  For more information contact alaskayouthasresources@alaska.net or call 561-6630 to reach Beau Bassett. Submit application with participation fee no later than July 1, 2008.

Alaska Points of Light Leadership Institute is sponsoring a "Student Leadership for Community Participation & Service Change" workshop for students interested in volunter work. You will learn how to build a team to help you, select a meaningful volunteer project, recruit volunteers, and anticipate trouble shooting. There is no fee to participate. The volunteer workshop will be held on Friday, October 19 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Prudential Centerpoint Building, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Anchorage. You may pre-register by calling 561-6630 or emailing alaskayouthasresources@alaska.net.

Interested in Sports Medicine? If you are interested in sports and medicine, combining the two can lead to an exciting future in sports medicine. Courses will be held at Advanced Physical Therapy of Alaska. No previous experience is required. Learn techniques to prevent injuries, learn about common athletic injuries, learn about career opportunities and more. Free lectures will begin Monday, January 28 from 5:45 pm to 7:00 pm at 1917 Abbott Road, Suite 200. For detailed information, contact Barbara Taylor, Certified Athletic Trainer at 907-279-4266 or via e-mail at act_aptak@hotmail.com.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Big Brothers Big Sisters of Anchorage, Inc. Be a High School Big.  High School Big is an opportunity for young people to grow, learn, and serve.  The main role of a High School Big Brother/Big Sister is to be a positive role model and friend to an elementary school student.  The mentors see their mentee one hour a week consistently throughout the school year.  Volunteers must meet with the student at the mentee's school and spend time together working on school work, playing games, shooting baskets, doing craft, having lunch, or talking.  Big Brothers/Big Sisters staff provides ongoing support of the match.  High School Big mentors must be at least 16 years of age and be willing to make a minimum one-year (school year) commitment.  Call 278-2621 and enroll today.  Information and applications can be found at www.bbbs.ak.org or in the CRC.
 
SCHOLARSHIP HELP: Use the following website to help you understand more about the scholarship search. Find out how you can avoid scholarship scams. www.scholarshiphelp.org http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/

UAA and AVTEC Nursing Program Partnership: If you are considering going into the Nursing Profession this may be of interest to you.  Through a partnerhsip between UAA and AVTEC, you can get your LPN at AVTEC and then enroll in the second year of UAA's program that leads to an RN degree.  More information is available in the CRC or call Marcia Olson, CTE Program Specialist at (907) 465-8704 or check the following website:
http://labor.state.ak.us/news/2004/news05-21.htm

Alaska Vocational Technical Center has certified training available in Culinary Arts, Business Office, and Information Technology training programs.  Over 96% of the graduates from these 8-10 month certificate programs find great training-related jobs.  For more information online, go to www.avtec.alaska.edu or call 1-800-478-5389.

Alaska Career Information Systems (AKCIS) on the Internet. The CRC has four computers that are up and running for your convenience.  You can surf the web on Alaska Career Information System (AKCIS) with links to related sources of information throughout the Internet.  Some of the features available on the internet version of AKCIS, "My CIS" electronic portfolio, "Real World" Interviews, Compare Occupations, a Graduate School Sort, and a Resume Writer.  It also allows the viewing of occupational videos online.  The URL (web address) for AKCIS on the internet is:   http://akcis.intocareers.org  Once you create your own "MY CIS" account, you can then use your own user name and password to log on to AKCIS.  Come to the CRC for more information.

STUDENT-ATHLETES.  The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse has online registration for prospective student-athletes.  To register, prospective student-athletes should access the registration materials by visiting the clearinghouse website.  From the home page, click on "Prospective Student-Athletes," which will link the student-athlete to the necessary information.  The website is www.ncaaclearinghouse.net <http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net>. Scholarship web site: The Sports Scholarship Depot provides you with access to and contact information for more than 1,200 NCAA and NAIA Schools. It also provides over 16,000 contacts (email) for over 40 men's and women's sport programs. Go to http://www.sportscholarshipdepot.com/.

Thanks! Tack! Spasibo! Arigato! Merci! Kiitos!  Each year more than 9,000 young people from across the United States and many other countries go to northern Minnesota to surround themselves in language and cultural activities geared to prepare them for responsible global citizenship.  Concordia Language Villages offers thirteen world languages.  They offer a summer program that provides an opportunity to enhance the language instruction that you might be receiving in school.  To learn more about this summer opportunity, check in the CRC. Contact information is:Concordia Language Villages, 901 8th Street South, Moorhead, MN 56562, telephone 1-800-222-4750 or 1-218-299-4544, and website www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org

WESTERN UNDERGRADUATE EXCHANGE (WUE):  WUE is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in western states may enroll in two-year and four-year public college programs at a reduced tuition level.  Tuition for WUE students is the regular in-state tuition plus 50 percent of that amount. A list of participating institutions are available in the CRC. When you apply to a WUE program, submit your college application as early as possible to ensure consideration because the many programs are based on a space available basis. Most schools have no specific application form for the program. Use the college's admission form and place at the top in red letters "WUE APPLICATION/major area of study" (area of study is listed in the booklet). Detailed information about WUE can be found at www.wiche.edu/sep/wue

INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES:  These websites have information about scholarships, financial aid, and higher education in general.

100 Minority Scholarship Gateway List:  http://www.blackexcel.org/100minority.htm
101 Top Colleges & Scholarships: http://www.college-scholarships.com/100college.htm
American Indian  Graduate Center Scholarships:  http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/minsch1.htm
American Indian Scholarship Program:  http://www.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/amerind.html
College Board’s Financial Aid & Scholarship Service:  http://www.collegeboard.com/
College Net:  http://www.collegenet.com/
Fastweb Scholarship Search:  www.fastweb.com <http://www.fastweb.com/>
Federal Scholarship Resource Network Search:  http://www.srnexpress.com/index.cfm
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):  www.fafsa.ed.gov <http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/>
Free Scholarship Search:  http://www.scholarships.com/
Free 4u Scholarships:  http://www.free-4u.com/minority.htm
Gates Millennium Scholars:  http://www.gmsp.org/main.cfm
Grants for Minorities:  http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3specpop.htm
Scholarships Based on Ethnicity:  http://www.college.ucla.edu/UP/SRC/ethnic.htm
The Financial Aid Information Page:  www.finaid.org <http://www.finaid.org/>
US Department of Education/Financial Aid:  www.ed.gov/studentaid <http://www.ed.gov/studentaid>
Sports Scholarship Depot: http://www.sportscholarshipdepot.com/

 A Comprehensive Website for College-Bound Students:  A comprehensive website has been produced to assist students looking for a college or career school.  It includes information about higher education and thousands of links to four-year institutions, two-year colleges and training schools.  In addition to a free custom college search, a number of specific listings are featured that cater to the needs of students.  Such indexes as the Multicultural Students Directory, and a Collegiate Sports Search and Coaches Directory, www.collegeprofiles.com <http://www.collegeprofiles.com>