BrACE NEWS 02.20.2026

New News

(News from Ms. Lynn, BRACE Advisor):

Please call (754)321-5805 for any additional information, attachments, and any questions you may have regarding BRACE News

Congratulations to the following students who were admitted to these schools. Jhoulissa Dorelien – NSU, Mazharul Haque – Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Santiago Jimenez – Virginia Tech, Skye Johnson – FAU, Eckerd College, Stetson, & Genesco College, Jasmine Tacheny – FIU & UCF, Alder Torres – USF & FIU Honors. Great Job, everyone!

Financial Aid Videos – Seniors, most of you will be receiving financial aid offers from schools soon. Although incredibly exciting, there is often quite a bit of confusion about the various terminology. SaAI? Verification? COA? Financial Need? What do these terms mean, and what do I need to know about them? Sallie Mae has created multiple “4-step” videos to help your understanding. It is free, and no registration is required. https://vimeo.com/showcase/12048766?fl=so&fe=fs Keep in mind that I am here to help as well.

Introducing Khanmigo - https://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/khanmigo-for-students Khanmigo is an AI-powered personal tutor and teaching assistant from trusted education nonprofit Khan Academy.
For learners and families, Khanmigo offers engaging, on-topic, and effective learning for students, and is ethically designed with safety and learning as a top priority. Unlike other AI tools such as ChatGPT, Khanmigo doesn’t just give answers. Instead, with limitless patience, it guides learners to find the answer themselves. In addition, Khanmigo is the only AI tool that is incorporated with Khan Academy’s world-class content library that covers math, humanities, coding, social studies, and more. When rating AI tools for learning, Common Sense Media gave Khanmigo 4 stars (https://blog.khanacademy.org/four-stars-for-khanmigo-common-sense-media-rates-ai-tools-for-learning-kp/ ), rising above other AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard.

Now Enrolling Ready, Set, Build Construction Apprenticeship Opportunity – An introduction to a career in construction for individuals ages 17 and up., $15/hour payment for 27 hours, OSHA 10 certification, Scholarship to continue education with ABCI. When: March 16 – 20, 10 am – 4 pm Apply at: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LVTrJajKq0SZQQqkEnznP9uXd_33qkdIhNIDaL1TiF5UMEcyQVc0OUczR0NNWVRGNEsxNFEzSkozOC4u

Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) EcoExplorers and Aviation Academy Internship Program – MODS offers students entering grades 10 – 12 (Currently 9 – 11) a year-long paid internship at eligible Broward County public high schools in environmental education and workforce development. https://mods.org/?ff_landing=27 Additionally, they have a similar Aviation Academy which provides a year-long paid internship for students entering grades 10 – 12 in Museum education, industry connections and workforce development, drone instruction, and licensing. https://mods.org/?ff_landing=26

QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship Program – Scholarships and awards for high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds. Full summer scholarship programs at Rice, UChicago, Yale, and more are valued at up to $20,000 each. Personalized support with college essays, standardized tests, and 1:1 college application guidance. Deadline: March 24th Application and details at: https://www.questbridge.org/apply-to-college/programs/college-prep-scholars-program/apply

Don’t forget about Going Merry – Going Merry has thousands of active scholarships. Check out this month's scholarship spreadsheet (attached). Some scholarships to pay attention to include FIU -Golden Drum, iCoast CIO Council Technology, TheDream.US National UCF – R. David and Dana Patton Endowed Scholarship.

New Scholarships added to the Scholarship section below: Friends of the Oakland Park Library Scholarship, BBA Financial Literacy Essay Contest, and Firefighters Benevolent of Davie High School Senior Scholarship.

Not New but Still Important

Attention Seniors wanting to complete a new technical program at Atlantic Technical College, McFatter Technical College, or Sheridan Technical College – Each high school is allowed to nominate one graduating senior to receive a scholarship that will pay for a technical program. I have attached the BTC Scholarship application. McFatter students must return their scholarship to me (Ms. Lynn) by March 6th. The scholarship committee will then select one McFatter student to receive this award.

FSU Regular Decision Update – Florida State University released its Regular Decisions yesterday, Feb. 12th. I hope that you all have positive offers to share with me. My good friend, Mrs. Dahlia Orris, Educational Consultant, Mrs. Orris Post Secondary Education Advising, LLC., took fabulous notes and allowed me to share them with you. Please see me.

As FSU releases its decisions, it is time to revisit this article. Dealing with your admissions decision - Applying to college can be a highly anxiety-driven time in a student’s life. It may be the first time that they have ever had to deal with rejection. Keep in mind that a college’s decision is not a reflection of your worth. You will find “your right place/path.” You will continue to thrive and be successful at whichever institution you end up at. I found this article, which might give you some pointers on how to deal with the disappointment of not being admitted to your dream school. https://www.collegedata.com/resources/prepare-and-apply/rejected-how-to-cope-and-what-to-do

BC Senior Application Day - 2/10 – A Broward College Enrollment Services Representative was on campus this past Tuesday. He met with 27 students and helped them complete their BC application and/or helped them with their next steps. I will be scheduling a BC Jump Start event (tentatively April 14th) for all seniors who would like to register for BC. BC representatives will be on McFatter’s campus. McFatter students will receive their new student orientation, select classes/schedule, and learn what’s next. Be on the lookout for this event.

The Robert “Bob” Elmore Honors College @ Broward College – Many colleges and universities offer Honors programs. They are all excellent opportunities for our students. I like to make everyone aware of BC’s Honors College. There are many benefits to this program: 1. Smaller class sizes, 2. “better” professors, 3. One academic advisor, 4. Priority registration for classes, 5. Stronger transfer student, 6. Can receive a scholarship that could pay for your first two years. The criteria for getting into the Honors College at BC are either a 3.5 unweighted GPA, or specific test scores (SAT, ACT, or PERT). Students must 1. apply to the Honors College and 2. complete the IRM’s Scholarship application. The applications are open. See attached flyer for more information.

Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships - Multiple scholarship foundations have contacted our district, stating that they have zero or very few scholarship applications. Don’t let this money go unclaimed! Apply! Apply! Apply!

More Fastweb – Fastweb recently published Financial Aid Awareness Month Resources and Black History Month Scholarships.

Top College Scholarships for African American Students in 2026 - https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/scholarships-for-african-american-students?utm_source=solo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260203_EDU_HS

Financial Aid Awareness Month Essential FAFSA Deadlines & Funding Tips - https://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/february-is-financial-aid-awareness-month?utm_source=solo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260203_EDU_HS

The Ultimate Junior Year College Planning Checklist: A Month by Month Guide: https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/planning-for-college-as-a-high-school-junior-month-by-month-guide?utm_source=solo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260203_EDU_HS

Xello survey for underclassmen – Students in 9 – 11 grades, please log in to Xello and complete the underclassman survey. It is open now through March 13th.

Are you aware of the Craig & Barbara Weiner South Florida Holocaust Museum? - I was lucky enough to attend a Holocaust Awareness Day event recently. It was held at the NSU Library. As part of the activities, I was introduced to the Craig & Barbara Weiner South Florida Holocaust Museum. What a fabulous museum. It is free and open to the public whenever the library is open. I encourage everyone to stop by and check it out.

Community Events:

BRACE4IMPACT – Feb. 27th – 6 – 8 pm… Get Help with: FAFSA applications, Access Scholarships, Apply for college, etc. … Bailey Hall, Broward College A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, 3501 Davie Road, Davie, 33314. (Flyer with registration QR code attached)

Introducing/Re-introducing BCPS CCLR Department – The Broward County Public Schools College, Career, and Life Readiness Department offers so many resources for student success, including multiple workshops. Here is a link to their weekly email https://sway.cloud.microsoft/9qX5f4hZibNHBQJj?ref=Link

Feb. 25th – Scholarship Game Plan: Don’t Leave Money on the Table – 6 – 7 pm

College Board Offers Free SAT Practice Resources – I highly recommend students take advantage of this awesome opportunity to prep for upcoming SAT exams. Practice and familiarity with a style of test are the key to improving standardized test scores. https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice?SFMC_cid=EM1524072-

FloridaShines’ new Parent and Guardian Persona App - FloridaShines has added a new user persona to its free mobile app. It provides convenient on-the-go access to FloridaShines resources. These trusted resources for exploring college and career options, understanding college admission requirements, and financial aid.

Seniors – The district likes to make sure that our students are aware of financial aid opportunities. They also like to keep data on this information. As such, they would like students to log in to their Xello account and list whether they have completed their FAFSA and FFAA. Quick clue – All McFatter seniors have completed the FFAA (Bright Futures Authorization/Application). Please see attached instructions and then update your Xello account.

Also, for Seniors – The district released the Senior Graduation Survey on Feb. 6th. The survey is used to collect data on final school choice, transcript requests, scholarship awards, etc. The survey will be conducted in Xello, under tasks. All seniors are required to complete the survey. Once completed, the survey is locked. If you want or need to make changes after completion, the survey must be deleted and restarted. Therefore, I strongly recommend students hold off on completing the survey until they are 100% positive of their final school choice, etc.

The Broward County Chapter of FAMU Alumni is offering its Spring Preview. It will take place on March 27th – 28th. There is a cost of $155 with a non-refundable $50 deposit required. For more information, go to: scholarship.browardrattlers@gmail.com

Military ROTC Scholarships – (Reserved Officer Training Program) Students who are interested in enlisting in the military as well as attending college should be aware of the multiple ROTC scholarship opportunities. Most branches offer this program. It is a way for a student to have their education paid for and then enter the military as an officer. Details available at: https://www.todaysmilitary.com/education-training/rotc-programs

Graduation Date Change - Class of 2026 – Mark your calendars! The McFatter High School Graduation will be held at the Broward Center for Performing Arts on May 31st at 7pm.

Mid-Year Transcripts - Mid-year transcripts for the Class of 2026 & 2027 have been uploaded to students’ Xello accounts and to Bright Futures. Juniors and seniors, if you need your unofficial (all the same information as an official) transcript, you may access a pdf copy in Xello under the college applications section.

Class of 2026 – Congratulations for stepping up! I was extremely pleased with the number of applicants for the George Snow scholarship. The number of applications exceeded their expectations. I wish luck to all of you who applied. There are two more scholarships that I have been advertising for a while now. I don’t want you to miss out on these. The first is the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program, which is specifically for first-generation students attending FAU (information below). The second is the Broward Education Foundation scholarship (also below). Please, please, please take advantage of these wonderful opportunities!!!

Reminder – Broward Education Foundation – I advertise this every year and have very few applicants. I would like to challenge McFatter’s Class of 2026 to apply for these scholarships. Last year, we only had 8 students complete the application and we had 5 winners whose awards totaled $29,000.

*The deadlines this year will be hard stops. Some are March 15th and some are April 1st. Students must complete ALL requirements quickly and on time… Essays are required, Free/Reduced Lunch letters or “I am not qualified” letters are required. FAFSA SAI or “I am not qualified” is required.

The Broward Education Foundation offers multiple resources to Broward County students. One of the biggest resources is their scholarship program. This is one of the easiest applications to complete. Students who complete this one simple application can be reviewed for 30+ scholarships. Many of the scholarships are based on “Unmet Need,” which is different than having “financial need.” In addition to the BEF scholarship, students can apply for other programs, such as the iCoast CIO Council Technology Scholarship, City of Sunrise Outstanding Citizen Scholarship, William T. Hennessey, Jr. Scholarship, and Marlene Methelis Memorial Art Scholarship.

Students with financial need can also apply for Destination Dorm. Destination Dorm helps alleviate the financial stress of furnishing a freshman residence hall space for graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, despite financial hardship. This scholarship program assists students going to college through a Destination Dorm Box. These items will bring some basic comforts to their home away from home and provide an environment more conducive to learning. What’s Included: One (1) Twin XL Comforter, Two (2) Standard Pillows, One (1) Twin XL Mattress Cover, Two (2) Twin XL Sets of Bedsheets, One (1) Set of Towels (includes 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 2 wash cloths), One (1) 3-piece Shower Set (includes 2 bathmats, 1 shower curtain), One (1) Shower Caddy, One (1) Set of Plastic Drawers, One (1) Standing Lamp, One (1) Desk Lamp, One (1) Area Rug, One (1) mattress topper/egg crate.

I advertise this every year and have very few applicants. I would like to challenge McFatter’s Class of 2026 to apply for this scholarship. Come on, BIG money! Last year, we only had 8 students complete the application and we had 5 winners whose awards totaled $29,000.

The deadlines this year will be hard stops. Some are March 15th and some are April 1st. I have quite a few donors that want to select as early as possible, so we need to guide your students to complete ALL requirements quickly and on time… (I know I say it every year, but I REALLY must get back to pre-covid timelines so I can report and process first payments before the January 😊 Essays are required, Free/Reduced Lunch letters or “I am not qualified” letters are required. FAFSA SAI or “I am not qualified” is required.

Are you a First-generation Senior who is interested in attending FAU? The Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program is designed to support academically talented, first-generation, Pell-eligible students from Florida. This program provides financial resources, academic support, and mentorship to help your student graduate from FAU debt-free in four years or less. Applications for the program are now open, with a deadline to apply of February 27, 2026. For more details, you can visit https://kellystrulscholars.fau.edu/.

HSF College Camp – Feb. 21st 8:00 am – 1:00 pm - HSF’s College Camp is FREE, bilingual, half-day program hosted at Miami-Dade North Campus. It is designed to help students (grades 6 – 12) and their parents prepare plan and pay for a college education. Space is limited. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-hsf-college-camp-miami-registration-1969990018175?aff=oddtdtcreator

Seniors – Don’t Forget to Order your Cap & Gown – Seniors must order their graduation paraphernalia (caps, gowns, announcements, etc.) through Herff Jones. The cap and gown package is $20. Students can order online at: https://www.highschool.herffjones.com/secom/home

Broward College Virtual Application Sessions – I held an in-person Broward Application Day event on Feb. 10th (11:00 am & 1:15 pm). Students who could not participate on that day may sign up for one of the virtual events on Feb. 23rd @ 3:00 (during school). See Ms. Lynn for registration links.

Interesting article – The Truth About 8 Common College Admission Myths - https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/applying/slideshows/the-truth-about-common-college-admission-myths

Broward County Libraries are a great resource for our students and families. They offer many FREE SAT/ACT Prep and College Readiness Workshops. Details at: https://www.broward.org/Library/Pages/SATACTProgram.aspx

Fastweb Scholarships for the Class of 2027 – Juniors, it is never too early to start your scholarship search. Check out this article from Fastweb. https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/scholarships-for-high-school-juniors?utm_source=external_educator&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=HSCM_nlet2026

Message from Becca’s Closet - We are happy to share that Becca’s Closet South Florida is now accepting appointment requests for military ball and prom dresses. Becca’s Closet is a nonprofit organization that provides free formal dresses to high school girls who cannot afford to purchase one. Students shop by appointment, select their own dress, and keep it at no cost. Appointments can be requested: • Online: https://www.beccascloset.org/i-need-a-dress/ • By phone: 954-424-9999 We are now located at Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale and operate by appointment only. Please share this information and the flyer at https://bit.ly/bcformal2026 with girls and families who may benefit. Early requests are strongly encouraged, as last-minute appointments are difficult to accommodate during the busy season. We also ask that you encourage girls who submit appointment requests to answer phone calls, check voicemails, and respond to emails, as a Becca’s Closet volunteer will reach out to schedule their appointment.

Class of 2027 Post Secondary Conferences – I have begun holding post-secondary conferences with juniors. Letters will be mailed home soon. My appointment times are at 8:00 am or 2:00 pm on select days (limited). You can schedule your appointment through my bookings link: https://bit.ly/4bvxIpx. Make sure that you click on the post-secondary conference link. Please list your students’ name when making the appointment.

All meetings are held in person, in the BrACE office.
Post-secondary conferences take approximately 1 hour.
Students are expected to attend, as the information is mostly for them.
Make sure that you click the PS Conference tab so that you will see the correct times.

Be on the lookout – Many of our cities/municipalities have scholarships for their residents. I recently received two scholarships for students who live in Hallandale (1 for Aventura) (info listed below). Broward Education Foundation manages a scholarship for residents of Sunrise. I pulled a list of our seniors and their addresses and emailed students who lived in these areas. I am waiting on the city of Plantation and the Town of Davie. I will email the students once I get the applications. Students should proactively reach out to their municipalities to see if there are any scholarship opportunities.

Attention Class of 2026 – Letter from Torey Alston, President and CEO of Broward College – The letter from Torey Alston, President and CEO of Broward College, specifically addressed to our 2026 graduates was sent to the senior class via Xello.

This letter offers congratulations and highlights immediate opportunities available to them at Broward College beginning this summer or fall. It includes information on programs, affordability, transfer pathways, and more.

The College Tour (available on Prime Video) – Amazon Prime Video and TheCollegeTour.com have over two hundred streaming episodes highlighting various colleges. They are now featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

Scholarship Push – Finding ways to pay for post-secondary education should be a concern of every student (9-12). It is never too early to apply. The following are a few resources.

Check out the “Explore Scholarships on Xello” flyer.
Check out The Scholarship Plug. www.TheScholarshipplug.com They hold a Scholarship “Power Hour” Study Hall every 1st Wednesday of the month 7 -8 PM. (There is a membership fee.)
Broward County Public Libraries Fall Workshops – Dec. 9th “Top Scholarship Picks to Apply Before the New Year.”

The College Tour (available on Prime Video) – Amazon Prime Video and TheCollegeTour.com have over two hundred streaming episodes highlighting various colleges. They are now featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

OSFA (Bright Futures) Update – OSFA’s recent memorandum addresses ACT Composite scores for the Class of 2026. As the Science section on the ACT is now optional, students who have never taken the Science section will have their ACT composite score calculated using three sections (English, Math, and Reading). Students who have ACT scores with science reported, will have two averages calculated. One calculation will include four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science). The other calculation will be based on three sections (English, Math, and Reading). The higher average of these two composite scores will be used for Bright Futures evaluation purposes.

*It is important to remind students that they must send their test scores to one of the Florida Public Colleges or universities for Bright Futures to have access to their scores. Students can also have their ACT scores sent directly to Bright Futures by using the CEEB code 0095.

Test Scores – As a reminder, College Entrance Exam test scores are not part of the high school transcript. Students are responsible for sending their test scores to the schools that they want to share them with. Official test scores are sent directly from the testing agency (College Board, ACT, CLT). At the time of registration, up to a few days after the test, students can send 4 score reports for free. Students who do not send their scores within this window will need to pay to have their scores sent to various schools. It can take up to 2 weeks for schools to receive test scores. Therefore, you need to send them ASAP.

Five of our public SUS schools (FAU, UF, FSU, FPU, and New College) will allow students to self-report their scores on their student portal. If the student decides to attend one of these schools, the student will need to send official test scores to that one school, their final school choice.

Xello College Application Manager – New this year, we have integrated Common App with Xello. If you are unsure how to link your accounts, please watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N45gOPQy0dE

Interesting Information Regarding AI and College Admissions/Essays – I recently participated in a CGN webinar discussing AI in college admissions. The presenters did state that AI can be good if used properly. Some general points that stood out to me are:

· Use AI to help brainstorm, not create. Use it as a “Thought Partner.”

· Be transparent and stay in control.

· Think about using different devices (i.e. - computer and phone) to prevent copying and pasting, thus triggering AI usage flags.

· Use AI and a prompt such as,

· “I’m a college reader, what did you learn from my essay?”

· “What are three things/adjectives that stand out about me?’

· Some colleges have created AI usage policies.

They mentioned that, as Human readers can get tired and may be triggered by certain topics, when reading multiple essays and applications, AI will stay fresh and unbiased.

The last point is something that I often recommend. The presenter referred to it as the “Stranger Test.” Have someone who does not know the student read the essay and give one -2 sentences as feedback describing what they learned about the student from the essay.

Broward County Library College Readiness Workshops - Broward County Library is offering FREE SAT/ACT programs along with other College Readiness Workshops. For a list of workshops, go to: https://www.broward.org/Library/Pages/SATACTProgram.aspx

Volunteer Service – It is a Broward County graduation requirement that all students must earn a minimum of forty volunteer service hours. Bright Futures also requires service hours (one hundred for the highest award). Many colleges and universities are looking at students holistically, meaning what the students are doing outside of the classroom. Students who earn over 250 service hours will receive a silver cord for graduation. Students often wonder where to get service hours. It must be from a not-for-profit agency. A couple of websites that I recommend for students are HandsOn South Florida https://www.handsonbroward.org/ and Volunteer Match https://www.volunteermatch.org/.

Volunteer Service Opportunities –

Feb. 21st – Crafting Kindness: A Morning of Service – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Feb. 28th -Literacy Garden – 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

March 7th – Smiles Across Generations – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

March 28th – Spread the Love One Sandwich at a Time! – 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Now Open – Summer Service Camp – Session 1: June 15th – June 19th, Session 2: July 13th – July 17th.

HandsOn flyers attached

Attention Student Athletes – Are you an athlete who needs guidance on the “Best Fit” school for you or the requirements to play sports in college? I recommend that you check out the NCAA resource page: https://www.ncaa.org/sports. We are also extremely lucky to have an expert (and FREE resource) within the BCPS system. TJ Lawrence is more than happy to help our student athletes. He can help find a good fit school/program as well as advise on how to put together a great marketing plan. You can reach out to him at tjlawrence@browardschools.com.

Attend an Open House – I highly recommend every student to visit their potential school (college or university). It is important to “get a feel” of the campus. Even better than campus tours are Open House events. The open house events are much larger and have multiple activities, from a campus tour to speaking with the financial aid department and even meeting with the Deans of the various Colleges. Most schools advertise open house dates.

Florida Trends NEXT Magazine - The school just received the 2025-2026 Florida Trends NEXT Magazine. Magazines are available in the high school Student Services and the Counselor’s offices. It is full of valuable information for all grade levels. Ms. Lynn has a few articles: College Admissions FAQ, 5 Common Myths, Busted, and a chance to win a $500 Amazon Gift Card. (email her for the digital copy)

If you missed the Florida Shines College 101 Free Webinars, you could access the recordings – Florida Shines is holding a three-part series, “College 101: Your Path After High School.” It is designed to help high school students and parents successfully navigate the various education paths after graduation. https://www.floridashines.org/college-101-event

Message from Common App regarding Direct Admissions - Later this month, we’ll launch a new year of Common App Direct Admissions with more than 200 participating colleges! This program extends college admission offers to eligible first-generation and low- and middle-income students based on information they have entered their Common App before they even apply. You may have students who receive one or more offers.
A direct admissions offer means the student meets a college’s qualifications. Students who receive direct admissions offers report feeling relieved and more confident about their college journey.
Students can view these offers in the direct admissions section of their Common App account. They are sorted by state, with home state shown first. Many include extra rewards to make filling out the application even easier, like guaranteed financial aid or no required personal essay. Plus, all application fees are waived.

Application Tips and Videos from Johns Hopkins University - Advice for crafting your strongest application… Colleges and Universities want to get to know you, the student —your background, your perspective, your interests—and the application is your opportunity to tell us who you are. Below you will find video tips and workshops to help you make the most of each section of your application. https://apply.jhu.edu/college-planning-guide/application-tips-videos/?utm_campaign=counselor-engage&utm_content=e3&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email&utm_term=cy26

Going Merry – Have you signed up for Going Merry yet? If not, you should. Going Merry offers so many resources.ms. Lynn has a junior and senior year checklist available if you reach out to her. They also have resources on how to compare colleges. And most importantly, they have a plethora of scholarship opportunities. And it is all FREE! https://goingmerry.com/

Announcing Varsity Tutors – Varsity tutors is a FREE tutoring resource that is available to all our students. They offer multiple platforms. There is the On-demand, AI based chat format as well as live tutoring. They offer test (SAT, ACT) tutoring with adaptive diagnostic tools. Many aspects of Varsity Tutors are free. They also have programs that are one-on-one and /or small group tutoring, which are fee-based. Students can access Varsity Tutors on their Clever home page. Scroll to the bottom.

The Scholarship Plug - The Scholarship Plug is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to bridging scholarship and financial aid opportunities through presentations, workshops, and support services to inspire students and families to “Get Paid to Go to College.” It was founded by Mrs. Shedly Casseus, a renowned College & Scholarship Advisor (former BRACE Advisor and very dear friend of mine). There are free and fee-based parts to The Scholarship Plug. One of the free opportunities is their College Readiness Workshops, which are online sessions offered through the Broward County Library, starting Sept. 9th.

FastWeb – FastWeb is one of many free scholarship search engines. Not only do they help to match students to scholarships, but they also have some good articles. One such article is: “3 Reasons Students Should Apply for $500 Scholarships”. As the dollar value has overlooked them by the student majority, you can use this lack of luster to your advantage. Here are three reasons you should apply for $500 scholarships:

· Your odds of winning a $500 scholarship are higher. The applicant pool for $500 scholarships is much smaller than those from Big Brand or national scholarships.

· Applying for a $500 scholarship is fast. You can apply for many of these scholarships in less than an hour. Look at it this way, if a $500 scholarship is won, where else can you earn $500 per hour as a student?! Not many places!

· You have a wider variety of application types. $500 scholarships are offered as no-essay, contest entry, photography or video submissions, social media challenges or networking, short essay and more.

The full article can be found at: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/Five-hundred-dollar-scholarships-3-reasons-they-sparkle?utm_source=solo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20250725_EDU

Another great FastWeb link is their $10,000 Scholarship article. Please review all the scholarship opportunities that are listed. **We have had two students win the “Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship.” https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/fastweb-10-000-scholarships

General Advice for all students - While most of the information that I share is most pertinent to seniors (and juniors), I do try to share information for all grade levels. Over the years, the most common question that families ask me is: "What should my child be doing now to prepare for college?" My answer is: Your child should be doing whatever they can to make themselves marketable. That means:

· Challenge themselves by taking their courses at the highest level of rigor that they can handle.

· Get the best grades that they can get.

· Get involved, both in school and out of school.

· Become a leader if possible.

· There is no magic formula for getting into college or a specific college. Schools are looking at students holistically. They want diversity and students who "fit" what they are looking for. They are trying to build an interesting student body. You want to be true to who you are. Try to find a passion.

· It is not about checking all the boxes or having a laundry list of activities. Schools would prefer students to do one or two activities that they are devoted to over 20 or 30 activities as bystanders. Be transparent and genuine and portray yourself well through your application and essays.

Reminder regarding fee waivers – As students start planning for college entrance exams, it is important that they understand the testing fee waiver process. Any junior or senior who qualifies for free/reduced lunch and has given the school permission to know via the Meal Benefits Disclosure Form, is entitled to receive fee waivers to take the SAT and ACT in addition to college application waivers.

· The first step of this process is to apply for the lunch program. https://www.myschoolapps.com/

· The second step is to complete the meal benefits disclosure form, which is located under the forms section of the parent’s focus account.

· The parents need to add their student's name to their account.

· It is best to leave the default where the parent permits all school-related benefits.

· If the student qualifies for free or reduced lunch and they have their disclosure form in place, their name will appear on our list. These students are entitled to receive the benefits.

· All juniors and seniors are entitled to 2 SAT and 4 ACT testing waivers to be used between junior and senior years. After a student has tested using a waiver, they are then entitled to college application waivers, which are available in their senior year.

· Keep in mind that Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) pays for each student to take the SAT once during school day testing.

College Entrance Exams - There is always a great deal of anxiety regarding college entrance exams. The Florida State University System (SUS) has always and still requires SAT and/or ACT test scores for admissions purposes. There are some schools (out-of-state and private) that have gone “test optional.” This means it is up to the student to decide if they want to share their test scores or not. If the scores positively impact and support the students’ application, they should send them. There is no penalty for not sharing test scores for these schools.

There is another college entrance exam called the Classic Learning Test or CLT. At the start of the last school year, the Florida public universities and Bright Futures started accepting CLT scores in addition to SAT and ACT. As the BCPS district does not have a contract with CLT, these tests are not administered in any of our schools. Students who wish to take the CLT must register on their own at www.cltexam.com.

Traditionally, students take the SAT and or ACT for the first time during the spring of their junior year and a second time during the fall of their senior year. Both tests are college entrance exams. Schools will accept these tests equally. It is recommended that students take both the SAT and ACT. This way, they will be able to determine if they have strength on one test over the other. Keep in mind that most schools look at the scores that are most favorable to the student. At the time of registration, students can send their scores to four schools for free. If students wait until after testing to send these scores, they will have to pay a minimum of $14.00 to have their scores sent. It is the student’s responsibility to have their scores sent to the various schools. Schools will only accept official score reports that are sent directly from these testing agencies. *Students must send their test scores to at least one of the Florida public universities for Bright Futures to receive the scores.

When registering for the ACT it is strongly recommended that you register to take the test with the “optional” Science Section. Although ACT considers it optional, not every other entity will.

Florida Board of Governors (BOG) Admissions Policy: The Florida Board of Governors does not require the science section of the ACT for admission purposes.

Bright Futures Scholarship Requirement: The Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, per legislative Requirements, mandates that the science section is necessary for students seeking to qualify for a Bright Futures scholarship.

Juniors and Seniors – Pay attention to our on-campus college visits. An admissions representative from these various schools will speak about their school, the admissions process, specific programs, along general college advice. I am constantly adding visits. Students must register to attend. Space is limited. First-come, first-served. Registration does not guarantee attendance. It is between the student and their teacher whether it is appropriate for the student to miss class. It is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed classwork. Students must have a signed pass/ticket to attend. *See list and links below.

Keeping Track of College and Financial Aid – There were reasons that drove McFatter’s decision to integrate Common App and Xello. Most of all it was to streamline the College admissions process from application to financial aid. There is a way to list whether you have applied for FAFSA and/or FFAA (Bright Futures). By adding this information, your counselor and BrACE Advisor are made aware of the areas in which you need help. As mentioned previously, most seniors have completed the FFAA (Bright Futures). Please take a moment to log in to Xello and update this information. *Ms. Lynn has a flyer to share if you need it.

Unofficial Transcripts and Bright Futures Evaluations for Seniors – I have uploaded transcripts and Bright Futures evaluations for all juniors and seniors into Xello. If students need an unofficial copy (includes the same information as an official copy, it is just tamper-proof), they can access it through their Xello account. Click on the college planning section. Then click on college applications. The transcripts will be in this section.

Class of 2026 & Common App - https://www.commonapp.org/ Common App is a shared college application program that allows students to complete one application and share it with multiple schools. There are currently 1112 schools across the country and even outside of the U.S. that work with the Common App. All our Florida public universities use the Common App. When completing the Common App, keep these things in mind:

This year, we will be integrating Common App and Xello.

· If your last name is from A – God - Your school counselor is Mrs. Baez – Maritza.baez@browardschools.com

· If your last name is from Gon - M - Your school counselor is Ms. Bluth – Deborah Bluth@browardschools.com

· If your last name is from N - Z - Your school counselor is Ms. Crichlow – Veronica.crichlow@browardschools.com

· Feel free to list me as your Advisor – Brigitte.lynn@browardschools.com

Make sure that you check the “enable preview” box. This is needed for us to be able to view a PDF copy of your application.

If you are using a college application waiver, notify your counselor, and make sure that you follow each school’s application waiver process.

After completing your Common App, including your FERPA release, you need to log into Xello. Under the College Planning tab, add all the schools that you will be applying to. Click request transcripts. Go back to the top of the page and click “Connect” on the Common App banner.

Once you have submitted your application via Common App, you must then keep track of your student portal and all required documents at each of the schools to which you have applied.

On-Campus Events

College visits are open to juniors and seniors. ~ All students must have a college visit pass to attend. ~ The student must sign up through Ticket Leap to get a college visit pass/ticket. ~ Space is limited ~ Students must have their teacher's signature/permission to attend. ~ It is between the teacher and the student whether it is appropriate for the student to miss class time to attend the college visit ~ College visits are constantly being added. To see all of our college visits, go to: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/wm-t-mcfatter-technical-high-school

February 26th – Junior Assembly @ 10:55 am

March 3^rd – Annual Spring College Fair – 1:30 – 3:00 pm

March 25^th - In-School SAT for all juniors.

April 14th – Broward College Jump Start (Senior orientation and registration event) *details coming soon.

Off-Campus Events

March 5th – Coral Glades High School College & Career Fair – Open to the public – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

March 25th - Cooper City High School College & Career Fair - Open to the public - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Class of ‘27 College Admission Workshop – Feb. 10th 7:30 ET. College Guidance Network is hosting a monthly series of live programs focused on the Class of ’27. In this workshop, students will learn how to: Build a college list, Plan College visits, Research Colleges, and more. Register for this workshop at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vltrtVAFR6qG072_yyeKfg#/registration

Feb. 25th – Scholarship Game Plan: Don’t Leave Money on the Table – 6 – 7 pm

March 11th @ 7 pm and June 10th @ 8 pm – LAUNCH Collective Virtual Events… Cornell University, Emory University, Pomona College, Rice University, and Washington University in St. Louis are proud to present LAUNCH (Linking Access, Unity, Networking, Collaboration and Higher Education). At LAUNCH, you’ll virtually meet admission officers from all five partner institutions and learn more about what unites these schools. Register at: https://riceadmission.rice.edu/portal/consortium-virtual

May 31^st – Graduation at Broward Center

Scholarships!!!!

All students, especially seniors, should be familiar with the scholarship page on Xello. It is listed under the college planning tab. Students should build a profile so that potential scholarships can be matched with them. Each scholarship has its own deadline. I would like to make a scholarship search for part of your weekly routine.

RaiseMe - Students (all grade levels) and parents, are you aware of Raise.me? It is a way for students to earn micro-scholarships for things that they are already doing (i.e., completing a FAFSA, taking AP courses, earning an A). Raise/me has partnerships with many schools across the country. I highly recommend that all students create and update a Raise.me account. https://www.raise.me/

Going Merry - Going Merry was new to me last year. https://www.goingmerry.com/ Going Merry is a scholarship database. It is also a scholarship application. Many of the scholarships listed on Going Merry allow students to use the one Going Merry application to apply for multiple scholarships.

Big Futures Scholarship for Class of 2026 – The College Board Big Future scholarship is available to students between the junior and senior years. Students who sign up for the program will complete various tasks, which include researching careers, practicing for the SAT, exploring scholarships, strengthening their college list, completing the FAFSA, and applying to colleges. After a student completes the task, their name is entered in a random lottery drawing. Every month, two students will win a $40,000 scholarship, in addition to multiple $500 scholarships. If you are a senior and you have not already done so, I encourage you to sign up for this program! These are all steps that you will complete as part of your post-secondary planning.

Southern Scholarship Foundation, Inc. - Deadline: April 1st (for the Fall Semester) - Award: Low-cost housing Rent free housing for students admitted to FSU, UF, FAMU, or FGCU.~ Motivation demonstrated through awards and activities.~ Financial need.~ Minimum 3.0 GPA.~ Information and application available at: http://www.southernscholarship.org

Introducing the Horatio Alger Scholarship Program - While most other scholarships focus exclusively on academic achievement or leadership potential, Horatio Alger Scholarships are also intended for promising students who have critical financial need, demonstrate integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, and are determined to succeed. This program offers multiple scholarships. Two of these scholarships will open on Dec. 1st. Of the two scholarships that are opening on Dec. 1st, one is for Seniors, and the other is for Juniors. They are both looking for students who: Are a U.S. Citizen, Strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree, demonstrate financial need, are involved in co-curricular and community service, Minimum 2.0 GPA, and display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity. https://horatioalger.org/scholarships/

The deadline for seniors is Feb. 15th, and the junior scholarship deadline is March 1st.

The Horatio Alger Career and Technical Scholarship will open on March 15th and is for students who intend to pursue a technical degree. https://horatioalger.org/career-technical-education-scholarships/ Students can sign up now and receive an email when the application opens.

BABSE Scholarship 2026 – Deadline: Feb. 29th – Awards: Vary… Seniors pursuing degrees in Education and Health-Related majors. Application and details at: www.BABSE.org

Broward County League of Cities 2026 Scholarship – Deadline: Feb. 25th – Award: Vary… Senior graduating from Broward County. Major in Public Administration, political science, or a government related field. Minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA. Application and details at: https://browardleague.org/students/scholarship-program/

2026 BACE (Broward Alliance of Caribbean Educators) Scholarship – Deadline: Feb. 28th – Awards: vary… Graduating senior from Broward County. 1st or 2nd Generation Caribbean heritage. Essay required (4 Topics to choose from). Apply online at: https://www.bacesouthflorida.org/scholarships

2026 Upsilon Alpha Zeta Scholarship – Deadline: March 1st – Award: Varies… Femail. High School senior. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA. Letter and essay. Application at: https://www.jotform.com/form/253425947651161

Argo Spirit Scholarship – Deadline: March 1st - Award: Full tuition and mandatory fees, on-campus housing, meal plan, $800 per-semester book stipend… Students applying to University of West Florida. Pell eligible. Students who have overcome obstacles, fought for something important, or made an impact while in high school. Application available through students' portal. https://id.uwf.edu/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fmarina%2Euwf%2Eedu%2Fpass%2Fdynamicforms%2F%3Fformid%3D4e4a83c3%2De2e3%2D4e8c%2Db52b%2D50283b00b3ac%26utm%5Fcampaign%3DCounselor%26utm%5Fcontent%3DArgoSpirit%26utm%5Fmedium%3Demail%26utm%5Fsource%3DSlate

Chris Hixon Athletic Scholarship - Deadline: March 6th - Award: $4,000… Be a student athlete in a Broward County Public School. Minimum 3.25 unweighted GPA. Pursuing higher education. Minimum 50 volunteer service hours. Letters of recommendation and essay are required.

2026 IT Women Scholarship – Deadline: March 15th – Award: $8,000 ($2,000 x 4-year renewable) … Graduating female senior. Reside in tri-county (Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach). Financial need. Accepted and/or enrolled in a post-secondary institution. Pursuing a degree in the fields of Information Technology and/or engineering (specific programs of study). Application available at: https://itwomen.org/scholarships

Friends of the Oakland Park Library Scholarship – Deadline: March 17th – Varies… Graduating Senior. City of Oakland Park resident. Essay and Letter of Recommendation. See Ms. Lynn for the Application.

BCREA (Broward County Retired Educators Association) Scholarship – Deadline: March 21st – Award: $1,000 … Broward County Senior. Planning to teach. Strong academics. Financial Need. Apply at: https://www.browardrea.org/bcreascholarshipapplication.htm l

Broward County Pan Hellenic Council Scholarship – Deadline: March 22nd – Award: Varies… A graduating senior pursuing higher education. Demonstrate academic achievement, community service, leadership, and clear educational and career goals. Application available at: https://www.jotform.com/form/253425947651161

The Bankruptcy Bar Association (BBA) Financial Literacy Essay Contest – Deadline: March 31st – Award varies… Students from Palm Beach, Broward, and Dae County. Written or video essay contest. Essay topic (1000 words or less): “If you were to design a financial literacy workshop for students your age, what is one topic you would include based on your own experience with money? Why is it important, and how could it help others avoid mistakes or achieve success?” apply at: https://browardedfoundation.org/apply/

ABA $1,000 College Scholarship – Deadline: March 31st – Award: $1,000… African American students residing in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties who have been accepted and will attend the University of Florida. Application available at: https://form.jotform.com/team/250357887160059/2026-uf-aba-college-scholarship-app

Chi Mu Zeta Scholarship – Deadline: April 1st – Award: varies… Natural born female. High School senior. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA. Letter of recommendation. Essay. Application at: https://chimuzeta.my.canva.site/2026xmzscholarships.

Hallandale Scholarship Fund, Inc. – Deadline: April 1st – Award: Multiple levels … Graduating Senior. Resident (at least one year) of the City of Hallandale Beach (zip code 33009). Need documentation by a school official (BrACE or counselor). Application attached.

Hallandale Beach-Aventura Rotary Foundation Scholarship – Deadline: April 1st -Award: Varies … Graduating senior who either attends a school or resides in Hallandale Beach or Aventura for more than 1 year at the time of application. Minimum 3.2 unweighted GPA. Significant community service (at least 75 certified hours). Need documentation by a school official (BrACE or counselor). Application attached.

The Garden Club of Coral Springs, Inc. Scholarships – Deadline: April 20th - Awards: Vary… The GCCS, Inc. offers multiple scholarships for High School Seniors who are Broward County residents, minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, US citizens, majoring in fields of study related to the environment and horticulture. Applications and details available at: https://coralspringsgardenclub.org/scholarships/

GFWC Woman’s Club of West Broward – Deadline: April 24th – Award: $1,000… Female. Strong commitment to community service and leadership. Young women who make the community and world a better place. Application attached.

Firefighters Benevolent of Davie High School Seniors Scholarship – Deadline: April 30th – Award: $1,000… High School senior attending Western McFatter or Nova High Schools. I intend to enter EMS, Fire, or healthcare field (EMT, Firefighter, Nursing/PA, Radiography, Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, etc.). Application and details at: https://ibb.co/rf5NHYbR

American Muslim Alliance of Florida Inc. Scholarship – Deadline: May 4th – Award: $500 This scholarship is open to students of all faiths and races. Graduating senior within the State of Florida. Minimum GPA of 3.0. Two letters of recommendation. Counselor statement. One-page essay. Application available by reaching out to Ms. Lynn.

The Launchpad Scholarship – Deadline: May 24th – Award: The Acceptance Plan bundle with Private College Counselor, Mrs. Dahlia Orris… High school juniors (Class of 2027) US citizen. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA. College Readiness SAT /ACT test scores. First Generation College student. Essay. Letters of recommendation. Application and details at: https://tinyurl.com/26LaunchpadScholarship

Minecraft Scholarship – Deadline: July 31st – Award: $2,000… High school and College students. U.S. citizen. Minimum 3.0 GPA. 500-word essay about your opinion on how Minecraft can be a positive influence on education and career development. Application and details at: https://www.scholarships.com/scholarships/minecraft-scholarship

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BrACE NEWS 02.20.2026

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