'Facebook' to Help Greendale Students Search for Scholarships

College scholarship application season is underway and is making it easier than ever for students to find out how to get their share of the money.

Guidance counselor Trish Matlock was looking for a better way to get the word out on scholarship information to GHS students than just through the high school's website, so she decided to give the social networking site Facebook a try.

"I know we have had great success with the website, but I also know that teenagers are more apt to log into their Facebook than look at the website."

Once students 'like' the page, Greendale High School Scholarships, on Facebook, they will receive updates on all available scholarships as they become available.

Matlock came up with the idea due to her own experience with Facebook and a favorite television show. 

"I had 'liked' a TV show and as a result, I was getting updates on the show. I thought this would be a very efficient way to get the word out on scholarships and potentially meet the needs of more students."

When a student finds a scholarship that they want to apply for, they will just need to follow the directions on how to apply, as most have a direct link on the website. 

Matlock says the high school website listed 140 different scholarships last year and that the busiest time for scholarship applications to be due is typically between January and April. 

The guidance office's new Facebook page was launched earlier this week, but Matlock says she is already getting a positive response. 

"I pulled some students in to try to 'like' the page when I was setting it up since I wasn't sure if I was doing it correctly and the kids thought it was 'cool'.  We have a senior meeting on Thursday where I will be talking more in depth about this option and I am hoping to generate some interest."

While most of the students who request information on scholarships are seniors, Matlock says it's never too early for younger students to start thinking about the whole process.

"I think people need to realize that you can't win a scholarship if you don't apply AND you can't apply unless you do what you need to do to potentially win.  It is never too early to research scholarships and figure out what they are looking for. Waiting until their senior year to do volunteer work and get appropriate grades isn't going to cut it.  The application process is basically a 3-4 year venture."

"There is nothing better than hearing a student has won some money, so this new idea is somewhat selfish.  I want more students to have opportunitites to go to college with less of a financial burden.  When I hear they have won, I think I am just as excited as they are. Hopefully scholarships on FB will open the doors even wider!"

According to the district website, last year's graduating class included more than 90 percent of GHS students going on to higher education and approximately $2.6 million in scholarship awards were awarded to those graduates.