HHS Students Are Looking Forward to Their Future

Now that 2024 has come to an end, many seniors at Hastings Senior High are preparing for the future by filling out scholarships and applying to the colleges of their choice. 

Senior Avery Larsen recently applied and was accepted into Hastings College. His athletic performances and ability to stay involved expands his ability to apply for more scholarships. 

“Apply for more scholarships… try to not flunk your grades. If you take a class, you should excel in it; never skip,” Larsen said.

Jeff Bittfield, one of the four counselors at HHS, is currently spending his time with senior students in order to help them apply for numerous scholarships. He believes it is important to fill out as many scholarships as possible, even if they are for 500 dollars. 

“I think some kids see… it’s 500 dollars, that’s not worth my time, but if you are starting to stack up 500 dollars on top of a thousand, on top of two thousand, that adds up pretty quickly,” Bittfield said.

Each year, all seniors are invited to a senior meeting with their counselor between mid-September and mid-October. These meetings stay one-on-one with the exception of students’ parents or guardians. 

An annual college fair is also hosted in the morning during the second and fourth periods of the day to help both juniors and seniors opportunities they might be interested in. 

Coffee With the Counselors is a new addition this year to the list of opportunities to speak about one’s future. This event, which includes optional free coffee for seniors, is held in the Tiger Lounge between 12:45 p.m. and two p.m. every Tuesday. 

“Starting in, I think it’s April…, we’re actually going to open up Coffee with the Counselors to juniors, so they can kinda maybe start that post-secondary [planning] process,” Bittfield said. 

This year, the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is required for graduation and is assigned to seniors to fill out to see their options for financial aid by Nebraska Legislative Bill 705, which was passed in 2023, unless a waiver is signed. It is seen as an opportunity for those who may have not been thinking going to college was an option due to money. The program would provide a financial aid package the student may not have known about if he or she did not fill out the FAFSA. 

As the time for ACT testing approaches this spring, juniors are busy preparing for their desired scores. Depending on the score, the ACT can provide a substantial amount of money, or even a full-ride scholarship to the college of the student’s choice. Along with high scores on the ACT, it is also a necessity to stay involved and stay on top of one’s classes to maximize scholarship and college admission opportunities. 

“Build up that resume; get involved. Yes, [your] GPA is important, but getting involved and showing that you are a well-rounded student is going to take you a long, long way,” Bittfield said.