BrACE News 04.17.2026

(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

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.Ridwan Ajao – UNF, UWF, & UCF, Akil Muhammad – FAMU, and William McLeod - FGCU. Great Job, Everyone!

BC Jumpstart – We held our Annual BC Jumpstart Orientation and Registration event on Tuesday, April 14th. It was very successful. We had 40 students participate. There are many ways to have your first two years at BC paid for. First would be the Pledge2Success program. Every student who has applied to BC and submitted a FAFSA will be reviewed for this award. Basically, if the household income is less than $100,000, the student will get two years of tuition paid for. There are also monetary incentives for completing 12 credit hours and maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Students can apply for the Honors College AND the Irms Scholar Award. This will cover tuition for two years. Lastly, McFatter will be nominating two (2) students for the Voucher of Excellence. McFatter is open to deciding which students will receive this award. The Voucher of Excellence requires a 3.0 GPA, US Citizen, and completion of FAFSA. I have attached the McFatter Common Scholarship Application. Interested students must submit their application to me by 3:00 pm on April 22nd.

April 28th Senior Awards – Senior awards will be held on April 28th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, in our Gymnasium. All seniors and their families are invited. A sample of the items being recognized includes Academic (Gold) cords, Service (Silver) cords, Biliteracy medals, Scholarship offers, School recognitions, Class officers, SGA, and NHS stoles. 

Senior awards are very early this year. Many students have not decided on their final choice. Therefore, they are not notifying me of their scholarship offers. Please, please, please, share your scholarship/financial aid offers with me so that I can determine whether it is something that should be included in the ceremony.

Not New but Still Important

Brace Cadets Application Open – Brace Cadets are peer mentors who help their classmates prepare for college, career, and life after high school by designing and implementing projects to complete applications for college, Bright Futures, scholarships, FAFSA, and much more. If you have a minimum 2.8 GPA and you would like to have a positive impact on your community while earning a $500 stipend, you should apply. https://browardschools.instructure.com/enroll/8CGXBR Deadline: April 25th  

College Board National Recognition Program (NRP) - The College Board National Recognition Program awards academic honors to high-performing students within the context of their community to celebrate their hard work and be seen by colleges. Students can receive up to three award designations—School Recognition, First-Generation Recognition, and Rural/Small-Town Recognition.
Colleges use the National Recognition Program to support their recruitment strategies. The program helps colleges recruit talented students of all backgrounds and across communities. We hope that you’ll encourage your students to claim their award on BigFuture®.
Students are selected for this opportunity based on their exceptional performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, or AP® Exams. It only takes about 5 minutes for students to verify eligibility by sharing their GPA and confirming they meet all award criteria. All students who meet the eligibility criteria will receive an award.

Summer Programs –

FIU Junior Doctors of Tomorrow (JDOT) is a week-long summer enrichment program designed to provide high school students with an opportunity to explore a career in healthcare. 

Date: June 15th – June 19th

Location: FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Cost: Free

Application deadline: May 1st

Requirements: High school student (rising junior and/or senior). Minimum 3.0 GPA. 500-word essay. Letter of recommendation. High school transcript. Application and details: https://jdot.medicine.fiu.edu/

Summer Justice Internship Program – The Youth Summer Justice Program will expose high school students to the inner workings of the court system. The program focuses on the criminal justice courts, law enforcement, crime lab, and the medical examiner’s office.

Date: June 15th – June 26th (9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Requirements: Ages 15 – 18 years old. Enrolled in a Broward County High School. Be a rising 10th grade (completed 9th grade by start date of program). Minimum 2.0 GPA. Two letters of recommendation. Application and details at:   https://www.browarddefender.org/jobs-internships/intern-summer-justice-program/

Seniors intending on attending Broward College – The Broward College Enrollment Services Team will be on campus on April 14th for their Jump Start Orientation and registration session. There will be two (2) sessions (10:30 am & 1:00 pm). In order to participate, students must be seniors who have already completed a Broward College application. Students need to register for one of the sessions through Ticket Leap. 

10:30 am – https://tinyurl.com/9st7ykp8

1:00 pm -  https://tinyurl.com/46nxk3z3

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. 

Requesting information for Senior Awards - Attention Seniors - Graduation (5/31) and Senior Awards (4/28) are just around the corner. I want to go over some details in preparation for both of these events.

• The District has created a 2026 Senior Survey that is a task on your Xello account. 
• This survey is a graduation requirement. (Students must complete this survey in order to receive their cap and gown.)
• The survey gives us valuable information. One of the most important items is your final school choice. This lets us know where you want your final transcripts sent. (They will be sent a week or two after you graduate.)
• If you KNOW your final school choice, you may complete the survey now.
• If you are unsure, please wait until you are positive about your final school choice.
• The next important part for me is your scholarship information. 
  • Please make sure that you list any scholarships that were offered to you by the colleges/universities and any outside agencies.
  • Please share this scholarship information with me. You can email me a copy or hand-deliver it. I need this info so that I can recognize it at the Senior Awards Ceremony. 
    • I will not recognize any awards without proof.
    • I only recognize awards that you will be using (i.e., NSU scholarship offer if you will be attending NSU.)
    • I can only recognize what I know. If you don’t share your awards with me, I will not know to recognize you.
• SERVICE Hour Deadline – April 10th
  • If you are trying to get 250 service hours for the silver cord, you have until April 10th for your name to be in the program.
  • We will still accept service hours through the end of the year. 
  • You will not be recognized or receive a silver cord at senior awards unless your hours are in by April 10th.
  • I will still give you a silver cord if you meet the requirement after April 10th, but it just won’t be at the awards ceremony.
• Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns (FAFSA, interpreting your financial aid offer, next steps).

Sallie Mae FREE Financial Aid Resource - There are so many FREE scholarship resources available. They are now accepting applications for the 2026-27 Bridging the Dream Scholarship for High School Seniors, administered by Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The program will award 30 scholarships of up to $10,000. Application and details can be found at: https://www.salliemae.com/landing/bridging-the-dream/  Sallie Mae offers more free tools and resources to help families plan and pay for higher education, including Scholly Scholarships (https://www.sallie.com/scholarships/scholly), a monthly $2,000 No Essay Scholarship (https://www.sallie.com/scholarships/no-essay), a quarterly $5,000 Grad School No Essay Scholarship, and Scholly Easy Apply (https://www.sallie.com/scholarships/scholly/easy-apply).

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.

New Scholarships added to the Scholarship section below: BTU Scholarship, Work Ethic Scholarship, and Horatio Alger CTE Scholarship.

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 that might offer some guidance 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

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

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.

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

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. 

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

A message to Seniors from U Penn - As we enter the spring semester, we recognize that this time of year can be both exciting and challenging for seniors. Many students have completed their college applications, and some have already received early decision or early action offers. With this major milestone behind them, it is not uncommon for motivation and academic engagement to begin to wane.

As “senioritis” becomes more prevalent, we wanted to share a few key reminders that you may find helpful to reinforce with your students as they navigate the remainder of the year:

• Academic performance still matters. For many institutions, including Penn, offers of admission are contingent upon continued academic success. A significant decline in grades can result in an offer being reconsidered or rescinded.
• Strong performance may lead to college credit or placement. AP, IB, and other advanced coursework can translate into college credit or advanced placement, helping students save time and reduce costs while avoiding repetition of material they have already mastered.
• Spring coursework is foundational. The concepts and skills covered during the final semester are essential for students' success in college-level coursework and contribute to a smoother transition in the fall.
• Character and consistency matter. Students are encouraged to continue demonstrating the qualities reflected in their letters of recommendation, integrity, effort, curiosity, and responsibility—through the end of the academic year.
• Balance remains important. While maintaining academic focus, seniors should also be encouraged to enjoy this meaningful transition by spending time with friends, family, and activities that matter to them.

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.

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).

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 –

April 18th – Beach Clean Up – 8:30 am – 10:30 am

May – HandsOn Learning DIY Mental Health Awareness Kits (see flyer for details)

Now Open – Summer Service Camp – Session 1: June 15th – June 19th, Session 2: July 13th – July 17th. (see Ms. Lynn for more information)

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.

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. 

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.

Introducing/Re-introducing Bridge2Life (B2L) – https://www.browardbridge2life.com/

“B2L aims to eliminate barriers and create opportunities for student success in education through community collaboration among partners with shared interests in enhancing college access, completion, and postsecondary success.”   In partnership with K-12, higher education, industry, and out-of-school providers, B2L seeks to overcome the obstacles of college affordability and needed advising/mentor resources by supporting:

·         FAFSA and financial aid guidance

·         Scholarship (including Bright Futures) and college application supports.

·         College bootcamps and college fairs

·         Career exploration

·         Work-based learning opportunities and internships.

·         One-to-one advising

·         Parent/Guardian engagement in all the above

Free/Reduced Lunch Program - There are many benefits to qualifying for free or reduced lunch, other than the meals themselves. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch are eligible to receive SAT and ACT fee waivers for both their junior and senior years (per test, per year). Additionally, seniors who have taken a test using a fee waiver can receive college application fee waivers. If a student were to take advantage of all the fee waiver offers, they could save over $500. It is well worth the time to complete an application to see if you qualify.

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.

SAT & ACT Test schedules – Ms. Lynn has a flyer for the 2025-2026 SAT and ACT test dates. Pay attention to the registration deadlines. Fee waivers are available to students who qualify and have their name on the Meal Benefits Disclosure list.

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.

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 of 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 in to Xello. Under the College Planning tab, add all of 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.

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

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

April 28th – Senior Awards Ceremony 6:30 – 8:30 *Details to follow

May 18th – Underclass Awards Ceremony – 3^rd period

Off-Campus Events

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.

Broward Teachers Union Scholarship – Deadline: April 20th – Award: $500…  BCPS graduating senior whose parent or grandparent is a dues-paying member of the Broward Teachers Union. Community Service hours. Parent/grandparent will have access to the application.

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/

Bridging the Dream Scholarship for High School Seniors – Deadline: April 24th – Award: $10,000… Graduating senior. Pell eligible for 2026-2027. Enroll full-time at an accredited post-secondary institution. Demonstrate leadership abilities and good moral character. Minimum 2.75 GPA. US citizen or legal resident. Application and details at: https://www.salliemae.com/landing/bridging-the-dream/

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.

2026-2027 TMCF/ McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship – Deadline: April 24th – Award: up to $15,000…  Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior attending an HBCU during 2026-2027. Minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA. Demonstrate leadership and financial need. Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.100- word essay. Application and details at: https://tmcf.org/open-scholarships/2026-2027-tmcf-mcdonalds-black-and-positively-golden-scholarship/?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18774679347&gbraid=0AAAAADepKq0KNbCRGWNKMz4Zj7VtMKtQy&gclid=Cj0KCQjw37nNBhDkARIsAEBGI8MgGsGUo-572s6HEae9YHml_9HMFeUYCm64kIyzadOtM9HEG6-MZqoaAvdNEALw_wcB

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

The Carl H. Grisham and Laura Estella Grisham Scholarship Foundation – Deadline: May 1st – Award: first semester tuition… Broward County Senior graduating in 21026. Minimum 4.8000 cumulative GPA for grades 9, 10, 11, and the first semester of grade 12. Resume. Application available through Ms. Lynn.

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.

Lonnie Lawrence Scholarship – Deadline: May 24th (postmarked)– Award: $1500… High school or college student. Intending to pursue a degree in law enforcement or criminal justice. Minimum 3.0 GPA. Demonstrate leadership and community service. Essay about “career goals.”  Letters of recommendation. See attached flyer

NOBLE Scholarship (South Florida Chapter) – Deadline: May 24th (Postmarked) – Award: $1,000…  Graduating senior with acceptance letter to an accredited college/university. Minimum 3.0 GPA. Demonstrate community involvement and service. Flyer attached.

The Launchpad Scholarship – Deadline: May 24th – Award: The Acceptance Plan bundle with Private College Counselor, Mrs. Dahlia Orris… High school juniors (Class of 2027), U.S. citizens. 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

The 2026 There’s Space for Everyone Scholarship – Deadline: May 31st – Award: $3,000… Must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college/university (in the US) for Fall 2026. Minimum 16 years of age. Legal US resident. Application and details at: https://www.extraspace.com/self-storage/scholarship/

Horatio Alger Career & Technical Education Scholarship – Deadline: June 15th – Award: $2,500… High School Graduate. Plan to attend a not-for-profit college or trade school. Enroll in an associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma program by September. Demonstrate financial need. Be under the age of 35. U.S. citizen. Application at: https://horatioalger.org/career-technical-education-scholarships/

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

Shirley S. Williams Scholarship – Deadlines: Aug. 15th – Award: $1,000… High School graduate. Enrolling in a technical college. Must graduate from Broward or Miami-Dade County public/charter school. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis. See Ms. Lynn for the application Q/R code.

Work Ethic Scholarship – Deadline: Oct. 31st – Award: Varies… Enroll in an approved program. Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. Answer 4 questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. Make a video. Have 2 solid references from a teacher or boss. Verify your school costs. Provide high school or college transcript.  Application and details at: https://mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/

Interesting Websites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scholarshipmoneyforstudents/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scholarshipmoneyforstudents/?hl=en  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNeevUe8tLB8PdF0JwWK2ag  

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/scholarshipsusa  

March2Success - www.march2success.com... Website includes test prep for the ASVAB, SAT and ACT.~ They also offer help with high school math and verbal skills.~ There is a high school science hub to help with Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science.~ Additionally they offer a college readiness online course.~ There is a Spanish option for this website.

MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) Scholarship List -  http://www.maldef.org  … This list is an informative resource for students, parents, and educators. ~ MALDEF is not a direct provider of the scholarships on the list, except for the MALDEF Law School Scholarship Program. (This can be a valuable resource for students who have residency issues.)