Guidance Office
Welcome to the KC Guidance Department online.
We’re here to help you succeed.
Welcome, Kennedy Families
This page contains information for your family from the Kennedy Guidance office. You can find information here about college and career preparation as well as social and emotion resources. If you have further questions or an immediate need to talk to someone, please contact guidance director, Allison Zreliak.
College & Career Information
For helpful links in researching and preparing for what comes next…
Scholarships & Financial Aid
For resources on making college affordable…
Enrichment Opportunities
For summer programs and other enrichment opportunities…
Social & Emotional Resources
For information on social and emotional needs…
Student Assistance Program
For more information about this program to help students…
College & Career Information
At KCHS we’re proud of the fact that more than 95% of our students enroll in four-year college or university after graduation. We also know that the process of selecting the right institution can be time consuming and confusing. Please follow the links below for helpful information about college and career preparation.
SAT & ACT Prep & Registration
- SAT – practice, register, and get your scores for the SAT test
- Khan Academy – free test prep for the SAT
- ACT – practice, register, and get your scores for the ACT test
College Resources
In order to help make the college search and application process easier, we suggest students visit the following websites to gather information about colleges and universities in the United States and around the world.
- Niche – college reviews, rankings, and statistics
- KnowHow2GO – information and advice on college preparation
- Cappex – college search, compare, matching and more
- CollegeNet – college information, applications and financial aid info
- SchoolGuides – directory and search of colleges and universities
- College Board – college, scholarship and testing information
- SAT – practice, register, and get your scores for the SAT test
- Khan Academy + SAT – free test prep for the SAT
- ACT – practice, register, and get your scores for the ACT test
- My Majors – assessments for finding a major, college and career path
- Best Schools – a guide for finding the right online college
Career Resources
- PA Career Zone – assessments and planning tools for career options
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – research career information and statistics
- PA Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation Services – The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
There are many scholarships available for graduating seniors attending college. Please check back for updates on what new scholarships are available. If you have questions about applying for scholarships, please contact the guidance office.
- PHEAA.org – help with FASFA and PA State Grants for PA students
- YouCanDealWithIt.com – information and advice on finding, applying for, and managing financial aid
- FinAid.org – information and advice on finding, applying for, and managing financial aid
- Cappex.com – find and search for financial aid information
- Scholarships.com – find and search for financial aid information
- Fastweb.com – find and search for financial aid information
- StudentScholarships.org – find and search for financial aid information
- Commununity Foundation of Western PA & Eastern OH Scholarships – find local scholarship opportunities
- Universityhq.org – financial aid, scholarship, loan, and grant information
**Scholarships are now posted in google classroom. For the most up to date information on scholarships, visit the senior class google classroom.**
Citizens Bank’s Citizens Scholarship
The Citizens Scholarship awards a monthly prize of $2,500 and a grand prize of $15,000; with no essay required. Both students and their parents/sponsors can enter! Recently, Citizens Bank launched a Minority Scholarship prize of $2,500 to be awarded on a quarterly...
Western PA Golf Association
Student must have worked at a Member Club of the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association for at least 2 season. Local member clubs include Tam O'Shanter in Hermitage, Castle Hills Golf Course and Lawrence County Club in New Castle, and The County Club of Meadville in...
Elks Scholarship
Since 1931, the Elks National Foundation has helped students recognize their academic dreams. Each year, we award more than $3 million in college scholarships to at least 800 outstanding, service-minded high school seniors. These scholarships range from smaller,...
2021 Heisman High School Scholarship
Criteria For Application: Students whose senior year of high school is the 2021–2022 academic year, graduating with the class of 2022. Students who have at least a weighted “B” grade average (3.0 GPA) during grades 9, 10, and 11. Students who participate in at least...
April Scholarships – studentscholarships.org
SCHOLARSHIPS DEADLINES FROM: APRIL 30th to JUNE 30th, 2021 2021_April_Scholarship_Newsletter
Mechanical Contractors Association of Western PA Scholarships
The MCA of Western PA will reward 4, $1,000 scholarships. Students must be accepted into plumbing, HVAC, Mechanical Engineering, Construction/Project Manager, Architecture, or other construction related majors. More information, other eligibility requirements, and how...
2021 Whalen Scholarships
Two Scholarships are available to students. The 2021 Donna Marie Anderson Whalen Memorial Scholarship for students attending school for nursing and the 2021 Patrick James Whalen Memorial Scholarship for student attending school in PA or attending University Notre Dame...
The Lois Macaluso Foundation Scholarship
The purpose of the Lois Macaluso Foundation Scholarship is to provide educational opportunities to students pursuing an education in Healthcare. (For example: nursing, physical therapists, recreational therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants, doctors...
2021 Post High School Education Scholarship
Applicants must be a member of their credit union prior to submitting an application. Members must be between the ages of 17 – 24, pursuing post-high school studies at a college, university, or vocational trade school. For more information and how to apply, visit the...
Enrichment Opportunities
Below is listing of enrichment opportunities for students. These include both summer academic programs along with shorter programs. There are opportunities for learning and credit available in many different fields. If you have questions about these programs, please contact the guidance office. Enrichment programs are available at many colleges and can be found on their individual websites. PeopletoPeople.com is a recommended program for travel enrichment.
Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business High School Summer Research Program
The School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology is offering a paid virtual summer research program for high school students. In this six-week program, students will have the opportunity to work alongside a faculty member from the School of Business and...
I Look Like a Cardiologist program at UPMC
I Look Like a Cardiologist program at UPMC is a free medical mentoring program for high school students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. Specifically, we like seeing young women, Black/African-American/LatinX/Indigenous, rural, low SES, and immigrant...
2022 Xavier & Tina Williams Summer Youth Business Academy
The Edinboro University School of Business invites students to apply for the 2022 Xavier and Tina Williams Summer Youth Business Academy. The Summer Youth Business Academy will be held on Edinboro University’s campus from June 12th through June 16th, 2022....
Summer 2021 Career Camps
Please see the attached flyers below for more information on local 2 summer career camps. Medical Detectives Parent Flyer - Summer 2021 Human Body Investigations Parent Flyer - Summer 2021
The Joy of Coding, July 5 – August 13 online course by the University of Michigan
Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan is excited to be offering a virtual course that high school students can participate in this summer, The Joy Of Coding, which takes place July 5, 2021-August 13, 2021. The Joy of Coding is an online...
Young Writer Workshop – John Carroll University
John Carroll University Young Writers Workshop (YWW), a week-long summer camp at John Carroll University, is now accepting applications. Both day and residential options are available, so students from anywhere can experience and learn inspiring and rigorous creative...
Powering Our Future: Women in Cyber, Engineering & Computing
Gannon University is hosting a virtual event, Powering Our Future: Women in Cyber, Engineering & Computing. The event is on Thursday, April 29th at 8:00pm via Zoom. Registration is open now. For more information, please see the attached flyer.
Human Body Investigations Career Camp
This camp is generously funded through a grant received by the United Way of Mercer County. Who: Students entering grades 9 through 11 who have successfully completed the Medical Detectives Career Camp. Please do not register your child if they have not or will not...
Medical Detectives Career Camp
This camp is generously funded through a grant received by the United Way of Mercer County. Who: Students entering grades 8 through 10 When and Where: June 15-19, 2020 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Lunch served for FREE each day. - HOPE Center for Arts and Technology (115...
Counseling Services:
- Catholic Charities of Mercer County
- Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission
- Suicide Awareness Policy
Drugs/Alcohol Information:
Suicide Intervention/Help:
Bullying:
- The Office for Safe Schools, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), is pleased to announce the availability of the PA Bullying Prevention Consultation Line. The Bullying Prevention Consultation Line is a toll free number that will allow individuals experiencing chronic and unresolved bullying to discuss effective strategies and available resources to deal with school-based bullying. This supportive resource has been developed in collaboration with the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (CHPDP), and is available, at no cost, to students, parents/guardians and schools across the state of Pennsylvania. Messages can be left 24 hour a day, seven days a week, and will be returned Monday-Friday during normal business hours. The Consultation Line number is 1-866-716-0424. Click here to visit the PA Bullying Prevention Website.
Violence Prevention:
Student Assistance Program
The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. Click here for more information about SAP.
Referral
Anyone can refer a student to SAP if they have a concern including school staff, a student’s friend, a family member, etc. The students themselves can go directly to the SAP team to ask for help as well. The SAP team contacts the parent for permission to proceed with the SAP process
Click here to download SAP referral form
For any questions regarding SAP please contact, Allison Zreliak at azreliak@kenneedycatholicschools.org
Social & Emotional Resources