MHS Announcements

The Muscatine High School Attendance Office phone number is 563-263-6616. Please use this number when calling in for a student absence, early release, etc.

November 16, 2015

Go Muskies!

• The first Student Council Movie Night will be held this Friday, Nov. 20th in the Commons.  All proceeds will go to the Student Council Hunger Drive. Doors open at seven (7 PM). You can vote for the movie to be played at  the Attendance Office by putting your money in the can for the movie of your choice. No outside drinks will be allowed. Concessions will be available. Bring a blanket or pillow or beanbag chair and come enjoy the show!!
• Popcorn Wednesday – Student Council will be selling popcorn on Wednesday outside of the Commons! The cost is one dollar ($1) or two canned goods. Proceeds go to our November Hunger Drive!
• Turn Off That Tune!, a Student Council-sponsored event for the MHS Hunger Drive, will take place next week, Nov. 16-20.  An annoying song, “Happy”,  by Pharrell Williams (voted on by the student body) will be played during each passing time. If you want the annoying song to stop, please donate money into a bucket that will be located outside of the Attendance Office. There will be a fill line on the bucket that must be reached before we turn off the tune! All proceeds will go towards the MHS Hunger Drive.
• New Silver Cord Opportunity – see Silver Cord section below.
• Muskie Baseball Online Store: If you’re looking for Muskie Baseball apparel we’ve decided to open an online store similar to what we did last year. The online store will be open starting today until November 29th at midnight. We have items ranging from youth sizes to adult, as well as a Muskie Baseball hat and stocking cap. There also is a headband for purchase and it will be in purple (picture looks pink).  Keep in mind that there is a $15 flat rate shipping fee to your home but if you don’t want to pay for shipping you can chose to have all items shipped to me (team coordinator). We will set up a date and pick up location most likely at the high school for individuals to pick up their orders. Items will be delivered about 2-3 weeks after store is closed. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Edwin Colon.
  Online store link: http://breedlovesports.tuosystems.com/stores/muscatine-baseball-fall-2015
• The Muskie Band’s Annual Nut Fundraiser is underway! Order cashews, mixed nuts, puddles, and chocolate dipped cherries and blueberries now – they make great holiday gifts or a treat for yourself!  For a flyer with pictures and prices, or to make a purchase, contact any Muscatine High School band student or Mr. Heid at Muscatine High School, email JEFF.HEID@MCSDONLINE.ORG to be put in contact with a student selling nuts, or call 563-447-1647.  Walk-ins are welcome at the band’s “nut house” at 215 W. Mississippi Drive (former Button Factory restaurant). Hours are every Tues. evening from 6-7:30 pm and Sat. morning from 10 am till noon until Dec. 19, so buy now before we run out!
• Student Council Coat Drive – Nov. 12-19th. View the Coat Drive link for more information.  Coat Drive
• Countdown to the Holidays with delicious German chocolate!! $4 each.  In Germany many children have ‘Adventskalendar’ to help count down the days to the winter holidays. Starting December 1, they open one window on the calendar each day to reveal a tasty German chocolate until they’re all gone on December 24.  You can participate in this tradition too!  See a German Club member or stop by room 202 to buy one for $4.  Let your parents and grandparents know too – they make great gifts!
• 2015 Muskie Winter Kickoff – Monday, Nov. 23 @ 7PM in the MHS Gym.  Please view the Winter Kickoff link for more information.  Winter Kickoff

** Silver Cord Opportunities **

• The Manta Rays Swim Team (formerly the Muscatine Swim Club) has a volunteer opportunity for students at our first home swim meet.  Our meet is Saturday, November 21st and we need people to help in concessions, swimmer escorts and timers.  We have shifts mornings, afternoon or the whole meet.  The meet will start around 9 AM so volunteers for morning sessions or all day need to be there around 8:45 am.  If they can only work first half of the meet they should be done around 11:30 am/noon.  If they can only work 2nd half they would need to be there around 11 am we are hoping the meet should be done around 2 or 2:30 pm at the latest.  If anyone is interested, please email Jocelyn Paxton at jpaxton@muscatiney.org by Wednesday, November 18th.

** Upcoming Events **

• Student Council Movie Night – Nov. 20 – 7PM
• Student Council Coat Drive – Nov. 12-19th
• Muskie Winter Kickoff – Nov. 23 @ 7PM   Winter Kickoff
• 2 Hr Early Dismissal – Nov. 25
• No School – Nov. 26 & 27

** Scholarships **

Drake Physics Prize: First place is full tuition to Drake University for 4 years.  The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Drake are sponsoring this contest. The exam covers topics in Physics that would normally be studied by students in their first semester of high school physics. The exam must be taken at MHS on a scheduled time between January 27th and January 29th. Students wishing to test must register online by 1:00 pm, Monday, January 25th, 2016 at http://tinyurl.com/DrakePhysicsPrizeStudent2016

For Further questions, contact the Physics Department at Drake at 515-271-3141 orsharyn.oconnor-beener@drake.edu

Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.: The Masonic Charitable Educational Corporation is offering the MCED Technical Scholarships (the Mark Earl and Esther Ruth Spencer Technical Scholarships). Students who plan to enroll in a mechanical or trade course of study at an accredited Iowa Community College may apply.  Applications are available in MHS Student Services.  Due Date: March 1, 2016

Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.: The Scholarship Selection Committee of the Grand Lodge of Iowa is again offering scholarships to graduating seniors with a focus on Leadership roles in the area of school and community.  Applications are available in MHS Student Services. Due Date: February 1, 2016

Hy-Vee Foundation Scholarship: Forty (40) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Student must have worked at Hy-Vee since September 15, 2015 or a high school senior son and/or daughter of a full/part time employee.  Student must attend any accredited 2 or 4 year school leading to a Baccalaureate degree.  Applications are available at MHS Student Services or online at www.hy-vee.com under company info.  Due date is February 10, 2016.

Catherine McAuley Scholarship/Mount Mercy University: This scholarship provides free tuition to Iowa students whose family income is $45,000 or less annually. This scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years. The student must be a graduating Iowa senior and enroll at Mount Mercy as a new freshman.  Students must reside on campus for all 4 years and participate in Mount Mercy’s College Success Program during their first year on campus.  Students must complete the FAFSA. To maintain the scholarship, students must successfully complete 24 semester hours per academic year and maintain a 2.0 GPA. *Students are automatically considered for the Catherine McAuley Scholarship upon admittance to Mount Mercy University.

Young Entrepreneur Foundation Scholarship: NFIB is sponsoring a scholarship for graduating seniors who own their own small business.  Scholarships range from $2,000-$25,000. Apply at www.NFIB.com/YEA  Due date: December 18, 2015.

Iowa Student Loan/Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship: 30 Iowa High School seniors will be awarded $2,000 each for use for their Fall 2016 college expenses. Interested seniors must visit www.iowastudentloan.org/SeniorScholarship to register and read the complete rules. Students must complete all three steps before 4:00 pm on March 4th, 2016.

Christina Hixson Opportunity Award: This award is a four-year grant of one-half tuition and fees to be used at Iowa State University. One hundred high school seniors will receive the award.  For eligibility criteria and to apply go to Hixson Award Application or www.hixson.dso.iastate.edu  Due date is February 1, 2016.

United States JCI Senate Foundation Scholarship: This is a $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors planning to attend an accredited college, university or vocational school. The application and more information are at www.usjcisenate.org under scholarship.  Applications are also available in MHS Student Services.  Due date is January 15, 2016.

National Scholarship Search Websites:

1. bigfuture.org
2. scholarships.com
3. fastweb.com
4. icansucceed.org

Seniors interested in the UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME: The Hesburgh-Yuscko Scholars Program is a merit based opportunity for incoming students attending Notre Dame. This is a leadership development program that seeks to attract, encourage, and equip extraordinary students who will have a transformational effect on the Notre Dame community, the Church, and the world.  Benefits of the program include: $25,000 per year toward the cost of attendance at Notre Dame for 4 years (total of $100,000), 4 fully funded summer enrichment experiences, intellectual engagement, etc. Visit www.hesburgh-yuscko.nd.edu for more information and to apply. Deadline is November 15th, 2016.

The GE-Reagan Foundation: This scholarship is looking for students who display leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.  Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, must show financial need, must be a US Citizen and be seniors intending to enroll in a four year college or university.  This scholarship is $10,000 and is renewable for a total of $40,000. Application is available at www.reaganfoundation.org/scholarships. Deadline is January 7th, 2016.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC): The organization offers 4 types of scholarships to apply for.  Students may only apply for ONE: Scholars, Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage, African-American or Black Caribbean Heritage, Hispanic/Latino Heritage. Seniors must plan to graduate from high school and enroll full time in a 2 year, 4 year, or technical school. Other requirements can be found at www.rmhc.org.  Application is at https://aim.applyists.net/RMHC. Deadline is January 20, 2016.

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council is accepting applications for its 2016 college scholarship awards from area high school seniors. Applications are due by January 22, 2016. The winners are selected based on a committee review of their application. This will be our 23rd year of encouraging students pursuing an engineering or science college degree.  Last year we awarded twelve scholarships with a total value of $20,500.
You can download a copy of the scholarship application from http://www.qcesc.org under the scholarship link.

The Quad City and Engineering Science Council Scholarship Program was established and is administered by the Council.  This program provides multiple one-time grants/scholarships between $1000 and $3000 each for high school seniors pursuing a STEM degree at a 4-year university. These are awarded on an objective basis without regard to race, sex, or religion.  Criteria include academics, civic/community service, extracurricular involvement, career goals, and an essay on why you want a STEM degree

This year we are pleased to also offer engineering scholarships from Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Western Illinois University Quad Cities Campus, and St. Ambrose University.

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) is an umbrella organization representing 36 technical societies totaling about 5,000 members here in the Quad Cities. The QCESC proudly sponsors annual events such as the National Engineers Banquet and the Engineering and Scientist of The Year Awards. We also provide judges for the local technical activities including Invent Iowa and FIRST LEGO League among other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)-related activities.

Muscatine Chapter of the Iowa Engineering Society: Must plan to pursue a career in engineering. Must attend either University of Iowa or Iowa State University in the Fall of 2016. Must have a 3.0 GPA for 10th and 11th grades. Must have an ACT composite score of at least 24.   Two scholarships available; each worth $1000. The application is available in MHS Student Services. Application deadline: January 15, 2016

Horatio Alger Scholarship: Must demonstrate financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required). Must be involved in co-curricular activities and community service activities. Must display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity. Must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Must be a US Citizen.  Scholarships range from $7,000-$22,000.  The application is available at www.scholars.horatioalger.org   Application deadline: October 25, 2015.

Hagan Scholarship:  Must have 3.5 GPA or Higher.  Must have 23 on the ACT or higher. Other eligibility requirements are on the website.
The scholarship award ranges from $1,000-$40,000. The average disbursement is $24,000.  This scholarship is only available in 10 states, including Iowa.  The application and more information is available at www.hsfmo.org   Application deadline: November 15, 2015.

Jerry Woods/Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) Scholarship: Must be enrolling in the first year at an Iowa community college or tech school building trades program including concrete technology and practice. Must be a resident of Iowa.  Scholarship is $2,500 per year for 2 years.
The application is available at www.iowareadymix.org or in MHS Student Services.
Application deadline: November 30, 2015.

Young Entrepreneur Foundation Awards: Must have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative. Must be a graduating senior that owns/operates his/her own small business. Must plan to attend a 2 year, 4 year or vocational school.  Scholarships/awards range from $2000-$15,000
The application is available at www.NFIB.com/YEA   Application deadline: December 18, 2016.

Iowa Newspaper Foundation: Must be preparing for a newspaper career.   A total of 9 scholarships, all available with ONE application.  Total awards will be approximately $6,700. The application is available at www.INAnews.com   Application deadline: February 12, 2016.

Pearl Hull Falk Scholarship: Must be of Protestant Faith, resident of Iowa, and will attend the University of Iowa full time in the Fall of 2016.  The scholarship award is $800.  The application is only available in MHS Student Services.  Application deadline: May 2, 2016.

Midwest Technical Institute Scholarship Program: Must plan to attend MTI in Fall of 2016.
The application is available in MHS Student Services or with an admissions representative at MTI www.midwesttech.edu   Application deadline: July 1, 2016.