For the past 10 to 15 years The Search Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota has been doing research to answer these questions. Their research shows that there are many factors which influence why some young people have successes in life and why others have a more difficult time. Certainly genetics, economic circumstances and trauma play a role.  According to Search Institute research, these factors – although difficult, if not impossible to change – are not all that matters. There are things that teachers, parents and other members of the community can do to help nurture.

At the heart of the institutes's work is the framework of 40 Developmental Assets, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

• Support – Young people need to experience support, care, and love from their families and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive, supportive environments.
• Empowerment – Young people need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.
• Boundaries and expectations – Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are “in bounds” or “out of bounds.”
• Constructive use of time – Young people need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs, congregational involvement, and quality time at home.
• Commitment to learning – Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.
• Positive values – Youth need to develop strong values that guide their choices.
• Social competencies – Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life.
• Positive identity – Young people need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth, and promise.

The asset framework is a framework that includes everyone. Families, schools, neighborhoods, congregations, and all organizations, institutions, and individuals in a community can play a role in building assets for youth.

Paula M. Bynum
Director of Student Services

Need help with graduation plans?

If you have any questions relating to your graduation status, please contact your lab advisor or Mrs. Bynum in the Sequoia Choice Labs District Office. 480-461-3200 ext 3004 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Diplomas are awarded to students who have fulfilled all graduation requirements and received their final grades. Sequoia Choice Labs holds a full graduation ceremony annually in Mesa, Arizona at the end of May. Graduates who can not attend the ceremony receive their diplomas by mail. We will loan caps and gowns to all of our graduating students.

Credit Transfers

Sequoia Choice Labs accepts credits from most other accredited secondary schools. We reserve the right, however, to accept, reject, and adjust credits at our discretion. Students hoping to transfer credits must provide official transcripts from their former schools, then consult with their Sequoia Choice Labs advisor to determine how their previous courses will apply toward a Sequoia Choice High School diploma.

Because Sequoia Choice High School is a CITA and NCA Accredited distance learning school, our credits are generally transferable to other institutions. Even so, each school has its own policies regarding the acceptance of credits, and any student intending to earn a diploma from another institution should consult with that school to determine its transfer policies.

Want to try a college class?

Sequoia Choice Labs offers dual credit (e.g. high school and college credit) for many college level courses. These courses are taken through local community colleges. Students may take up to two college level courses each semester. To find out if you are eligible to start taking dual credit courses or if you are eligible to continue taking dual credit courses, please see the criteria listed below.

Criteria for College Credit

• currently a junior or senior in high school
• provide proof of consistent, quality academic progress during freshman and sophomore years
• obtain passing scores on the ASSET placement test
• receive high school advisor approval for each college course
• ensure the college course corresponds to high school graduation requirements
• earn a minimum college course completion grade of “C”
• maintain high school GPA of 2.5 or better
• complete a minimum of one college level course and three high school level courses per semester or two college level courses and two high school level courses each semester

Arizona Revised Statute 15-1. Admission to the community colleges in this state shall be granted to any student who is under eighteen years of age and who achieves a composite score of 930 or more on the scholastic aptitude test or a composite score of twenty-two or more on the American college test.

 A community college may limit the number of semester hours in which the student may enroll to not more than six credit hours.

Students may be admitted on an individual basis with the approval of college officials if the student meets the established requirements of the courses for which the student enrolls and the college officials determine that the student's admission is in the best interest of the student.

SAT/ACT Information 

If you are planning to attending a university it would be advised that you take the SAT and ACT tests. You can find the testing dates and other information at the following links. You can also register online for the ACT test by clicking here . Additional information and online application for the SAT test can also be found by clicking here

General Information For Financial Aid (Links).

  College Financial Aid

www.finaid.org

  Weekly Scholarship Alert Service

www.WeeklyScholarshipAlert.org

Federal (Need-Based) Financial Aid
www.ed.gov/studentaid

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov

Help completing the FAFSA
www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA

National and Regional Scholarships

Scholarship Search
www.fastweb.com

   Western Undergraduate Exchange Program
   www.wiche.edu/sep

   Sallie Mae Fund

   www.salliemaefund.org

  University of Arizona

  http://financialaid.arizona.edu

  DeVry University

  www.devry.edu/scholarships

 Quest Bridge

 http://www.questbridge.org

  Arizona State University

  http://clas.asu.edu/students/grants/scholarships.htm

  http://www.asu.edu/fa/scholarships/departmental.html

  http://www.asu.edu/fa/scholarships/private.html

  http://www.asu.edu/fa/scholarships/other.html

 Fast Web (Multiple Scholarship Opportunities)

 http://www.fastweb.com

 Mesa Community College

 www.mc.maricopa.edu/services/finaid/scholarships/apps.html

scholarships.com (Multiple Scholarship Opportunities)

http://www.scholarships.com

Hispanic College Fund
www.hispanicfund.org

Service Learning Grants and Awards!

www.YSA.org/awards

www.Payitforwardfoundation.org

www.neafoundation.org

www.nea.org/readacross/volunteer/index.html

Scholarship Information

1. (SR) MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES, PRESIDENTS’ SCHOLARSHIP…Applicants must graduate from a Maricopa County high school and rank in the top 15% of their class at the end of the 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th semester of high school. For more information, see your Counselor, Career Specialist, or click here.
   
   
2.  (SR) ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, ADVANTAGE SCHOLARSHIP… “ASU ADVANTAGE SCHOLARSHIP,” is targeted to AZ families whose total annual income is $25,000 or less. This scholarship does not require repayment, and would cover the annual cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board for 8 semesters of full-time enrollment and completion of the FAFSA. For details,online click here.
   
   
3. (SR) ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY PRIVATE DONOR SCHOLARSHIPS…. Employers, private individuals, organizations and corporation are all contributors to private scholarships. These scholarships are awarded through the Scholarship Office and through department within the colleges. To view Private Scholarships online click: here. Additional scholarships can be found on the departmental/college scholarship web page. A student seeking to apply for a private scholarship must complete the proper scholarship application(s). Deadline dates vary.
   
   
   
4. (SR)  CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PRESIDENTS’ SCHOLAR…The Presidents’ Scholarship pays full-time in county tuition and registration fees for up to four (4) consecutive fall and spring semesters of MCCCD course work, excluding summers. Applicants qualify by class ranking (top 15%) or by Placement Test Scores. See your counselor or Career Specialist for details. For application and information online click here.
   
   
5.  (SO, JR, SR) KIDS’ CHANCE OF ARIZONA…The entire purpose of Kids’ Chance is to raise money for scholarships for qualified applicants: the children of permanently or catastrophically injured or deceased workers whose parent has a valid Arizona workers’ compensation claim. Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 25, meet certain financial needs, and possess certain academic standards. For applications and information online click here. The Board meets monthly and applications are reviewed and awarded monthly. 
   
   
6. (JR, SR) SCHOLARSHIPS…These scholarships are available to ALL students, REGARDLESS of immigration status. Through the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, there is a list of private scholarships to help with educational expenses. There are also private lenders who may have less stringent eligibility requirements. Deadline dates vary. See your Career Specialist for details. For more information and applications online click here.
   
   
7. (JR) UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, NROTC…The NROTC Program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the unrestricted line Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Students may start the application process during the second semester of your junior year of high school. For more information, see your Career Specialist. For the application and information online click here.
   
   

To have access to the Weekly Scholarship Alert Service click here.

 BEWARE OF SCAMS:

There are many legitimate scholarship databases, according to the Federal Trade Commission, but there are also scores of fraudulent ones. Each year, thousands of families get bilked out of the fees they pay these official-looking web sites and offline services. The FTC says to watch out for: 

1. A company that guarantees a scholarship or your money back, or that says it will do all the work;

2. Scholarship services that charge fees for their listings or claim to have “exclusive” information; and

3. Services that ask for a credit card number or say you are a “finalist” in a contest you didn’t enter.

 TUITION WAIVERS FOR IN-STATE SCHOOLS

This Bulletin is published on a monthly (September-May) basis for all students in grades 9-12, as a service of Mesa Youth Placement. There will be a variety of scholarship information advertised for all grade levels. The grade level will be indicated before the scholarship description by SR for senior, JR for junior, SO for sophomore, & FR for freshmen

Information for the Arizona Board of Regents Tuition Waiver can be found at the following link.

http://www.ade.az.gov/asd/tuitionwaiver/ABORFAQs.pdf

If you think you meet the criteria for this tuition waiver, contact Mrs. Bynum at the following number. 480-461-3200 ext 3004 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .