Post-Secondary Bulletin
The Holiday Edition
Fulfillment Fund, 6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048 www.fulfillment.org (323)939-9707
December 2007 Volume 9
How a Thank You Card Opens Doors
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2 3 3 4 5 6
Personal Development: How a Thank You Card Opens Doors. News: Volunteer Opportunities College Money: Free Money for College Student Spotlight: Antonio Galvan Classifieds: Scholarships, Fellowships and More Win a $50 Gift card of your choice! Upcoming Dates
Thank you cards are great ways to show appreciation. Writing a thank you note speaks very highly of your character, and potential employers are very impressed by your professionalism when you send a thank you note right after an interview. When to Write Thank You Cards When in doubt, write a thank you card. They can never hurt, and they show people that you are grateful, organized and responsible. Most people know that they should write a thank you card when they receive a gift, but did you also know that you should write a card when someone goes out of their way to do something for you, and after a job interview? How to Write a Thank You Card When you are getting ready to write your card, keep the following in mind: 1. Be honest. Writing a thank you card should feel natural, not forced. Don’t say anything you don’t mean. 2. Be brief. You’re not writing a letter, so keep it short and sweet. It should be exclusively about thanking someone for their kindness. If it’s too long, it could loose its power. If you have a lot to say a thank you card may not be what you want to do. A better idea might be writing a formal letter. 2. Spell Check! Handwritten thank you cards have a much more personal feel to them and they are definitely recommended, but be sure to, practice on a computer first! Spelling errors send the opposite message you are trying to give, especially if you are writing to a potential employer. What Should You Write It is not enough to buy a card with a pre-inscribed message and sign it. No matter what type of thank you note you are writing, make sure you: 1. Greet the reader (Dear Sally Mae,). 2. Express gratitude (Thank you for your hospitality.). 3. Make it personal (You spent a lot of energy making me feel at home in your beautiful Spanish villa.) 4. Mention the past, allude to the future (I’ll never forget the good times we had on your farm, like when we went horseback riding. I hope to one day be able to repay your kindness). 5. Regards (Sincerely, John). For extra power to your note, include a Worldly Theme. This is something that can be applied to many other situations (I am reminded of how it is always the little things that make a person feel special.). Final Tips: 1. Think ahead. Chances are you will have to write a good share of thank you cards from now on, so always have a stash of thank you note cards at hand. 2. Avoid pre-inscribed cards so that you can personalize each note card. 3. Be respectful. 4. Avoid clichés.
*Important Loan Information you can’t afford to miss in the next issue of the Post Secondary Bulletin.*
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Post-Secondary Bulletin
Volunteer Opportunities
“It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” -Albert Einstein
With the Holidays in full swing, consider investing vacation time into making someone’s life a little merrier. Here are some great local involvement opportunities this winter break for those who have a big heart plus a weekend, a day, or an hour to give.
One Hour to Give
Friends of Animals Foundation: This is a fantastic “no-kill” cat and dog shelter in West L.A. that is always looking for volunteers to walk the dogs and feed the cats. Call in advance to let them know you’re coming. You can also donate used towels and bedspreads for the animals. Website: http://www.foafla.petfinder.com Phone: (310) 479-5089 Behind Closed Doors: They need volunteers to support their new program, Behind Closed Doors which helps women who have been emotionally abused. Duties would involve writing nice cards to women who have been in abusive relationships. Visit their website today at www.freewebs.com/dionne and click on Behind Closed Doors.
One Day or More to Give
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles: The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers for a wide spectrum of activities. Here are some of the ways you can get involved: Blood Drive Assistant Disaster Relief Volunteer (respond to local emergencies. On call, one week of the month, 6pm-8am. Free training) • Peer educator (more than one day commitment) • Presenter at fairs and special events (more than one day commitment) Contact Information: Address: 11355 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Email: info@redcrossla.org Website: http://www.redcrossla.org Phone: 310-445-9900
Try this Sudoku challenge. It is an easy one. Remember, the object of the game is to get all of the rows, columns, and the three by three boxes within them to contain the numbers 1-9 without repeating any numbers. Have fun! If you really need to know, the answers are on page 3.
• •
The Hospitality Kitchen: Located in the heart of L.A.’s skid row, the Hospitality Kitchen serves a huge homeless population. They are always looking for individuals to help prepare and serve meals. If interested, call in advance to reserve your spot. Location: 821 E. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021 Phone: (213) 614-9615
For more volunteer opportunities visit:: www.volunteermatch.org
What do you think of the Post Secondary Bulletin?
Because we really want to know we are giving you the opportunity to win a to your favorite store (Target, BestBuy, Amazon). Just go to the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Rlr1c3tUWFtDzWxpmoGpuw_3d_3d Take the 5 minute survey and you could be our winner! Please submit your answers before January 1st , 200 8. Good luck!
$50 Gift Card
Post-Secondary Bulletin
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Student Spotlight: Antonio Galvan
Antonio Galvan, first year student at UC Davis, came out to greet Fulfillment Fund High School seniors who visited his campus this October while on the Fulfillment Fund’s annual Northern California College Trip. “I liked meeting them,” he said, “because they are going through what I went through.” The high school students spent a week on the road visiting different colleges throughout the state, including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Mills and Stanford. Antonio believes he made the right choice by selecting a college he visited just two years prior on that same Northern California trip. In thinking about his first year college experience he says, “The best thing about college so far is dorm life. I enjoy it so much because I live in a suite and it can’t get any better than that. Plus, my neighbors are very fun too. We are all good buddies.” However, all colleges have their perks and their downsides. When asked what he dislikes about college Antonio responded, “The only thing I don’t like about this place is that
Antonio Galvan (center) giving a tour of his campus to Fulfillment Fund High School Students.
when it rains- and it rains more than down south, we get what is called a freshman stripe. The freshman stripe is a stripe of mud that goes on your back when you ride your bicycle without a fender.” We wish him luck with that freshman stripe!
Grants: Free money for College!
Whether you are you’re at a four year school or planning to transfer, chances are you have thought about how to finance your education. Below are a few grants to consider when applying for financial aid. Entitlement Transfer Cal Grant- This is one of the least used grants because few students don’t know about it. Students are eligible to receive it when transferring from a Community College to a 4-year school. Students must have a minimum 2.4 GPA and be graduates of a California high school. Everyone who qualifies and submits their FAFSA and GPA verification on time will receive it. Cal Grant A- This federal grant is given to those in low to medium income families. It covers tuition and fees. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and it pays up to $2,772 for CSU students, $6,636 for UC students and $9,708 for private school students. Cal Grant B- This federal grant is given to low-income families. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. This grant provides students with $1,551 the first year of college. After that, during the 2nd- 4th year of college students will receive $1,551, as well as the same tuition payoff offered by Cal Grant A. If you have questions regarding which grant is best for you, please make an appointment to meet with Yvonne Berumen or Adriana Publico. For appointments please contact Karina Santos at 323-900-8734 or ksantos@fulfillment.org.
Sudoku Answers
Please see Grant on page 4
ATTENTION: Give the Post-Secondary Bulletin its new name and Win a
You choose the store (Starbucks, Bestbuy, Amazon, Target or your favorite store!!). To make your suggestions, email ksantos@fulfillment.org. Your suggestion must be received by January 1st, 2008.
$50 Gift Card!
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Grant from page 3
Cal Grant C- It is given to low or middle income students who are planning to attend vocational or technical programs. It is a competitive grant that will give students up to $2,592 for tuition and $576 for books and supplies a year. Students must submit a supplemental application after the FAFSA to receive it. To be eligible for these grants you must: A. File a FAFSA. B. C. Submit a GPA Verification before the March 2nd Deadline. For Cal Grant C, submit the supplemental application.
Post-Secondary Bulletin
Additional Grant Info: Chafee Grant- This is a grant intended for foster youth. It will supply up to $5,000/year for college. SMART Grant- Need-based grant that provides grants of up to $4,000 for 3rd and 4th year students who major in computer science, math, engineering, physical or life science, technology, or designed foreign languages. Must be a Federal Pell Grant recipient and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. ACG- Academic Competitiveness Grant is a needbased grant available to Federal Pell Grant recipients for 1st year ($750) and 2nd year ($1,300) of college. Minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0.
To monitor your Cal Grants, you can go to: www.mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov
Classifieds: Scholarships, Fellowships, and More…
Applications for the Capital Fellows Programs are now available online at: www.csus.edu/calst/programs. The application deadline for the 2008-09 class is February 27, 2008. The Capital Fellows Programs consist of four individual fellowships: • • • • California Senate Fellows (www.csus.edu/calst/senate) Executive Fellowship Program Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program Judicial Administration Fellowship Program information: http://www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htm Check out this great scholarship website! Scholarship Deadlines for minority students approaching… http://www.collegescholarships.org/ourscholarships/minority.htm Google Policy Fellowship The Google Policy Fellowship program offers undergraduate, graduate, and law students interested in Internet and technology policy the opportunity to spend the summer contributing to the public dialogue on these issues, and exploring future academic and professional interests. Fellows will receive a stipend of $7,000 for 10 weeks during the summer of 2008 (JuneAugust). Applications are due by January 1, 2008. http://www.google.com/policyfellowship/
(www.csus.edu/calst/executive) (www.csus.edu/calst/assembly) (www.csus.edu/calst/judicial) These nationally recognized fellowships are an outstanding opportunity for college graduates to engage in public service and prepare for a future career. Fellows work 10-11 months as full-time staff members in the California State Assembly, Senate, or Executive Branch or within the California Court System. The only prerequisite for the programs is a four-year college or university degree and a demonstrated interest in state government and public service. Fellows come from all economic, cultural, political, career and educational backgrounds, and no previous legislative or political experience is required. For further information please see the website www.csus.edu/calst/programs or contact the Center for California Studies at 916-278-6906. Do you know any black male High School seniors who want to be teachers and want to go to college for FREE? This program is a collaboration between four historically black colleges who would like to ameliorate the critical shortage of black male teachers. Visit their website for more
Upcoming Dates:
December 6th- Spring Scholarship Request December and January- Sophomore and
Senior career advisement sessions. If you are in the Scholarship Program, are in your second or last year of college, and have not come in for career advisement this year, you are required to do so in order to receive your spring scholarship money. To schedule an appointment, contact Karina Santos at (323) 900-8734 or ksantos@fulfillment.org. January 20, 2008- Date USC requires FAFSA. Don’t rely on the March 2nd deadline. Check with your school to see when they need your FAFSA. January 22, 2008- Date UC’s require FAFSA. sent out.
February 7, 2008- Fulfillment Fund
Scholarship Deadline