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Mission Statement
ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) provides mentoring and resources to help students access education and training beyond high school.
Description
ASPIRE volunteers work one-on-one with high school students in helping them research and access post-secondary education. Our volunteer advisors help keep students on a timeline in applying for college and also in submitting their financial aid and scholarship applications. They assist them with their online research of careers and colleges. The most important role of an ASPIRE volunteer is in providing another adult in a student's life to encourage and support them in their pursuit of an education beyond high school. Training is provided by ASPIRE staff. Advisors generally serve 1 to 4 hours per month and all mentoring is done onsite at Seaside High School.
ASPIRE at Seaside High School
ASPIRE has been helping Seaside High School seniors prepare their postsecondary plans since 2000. ASPIRE is unique to Oregon, where some 88 schools participate in the program. At Seaside High School, every senior is assigned an ASPIRE advisor at the beginning of their senior year. However, students have the option not to participate in the program if they so choose.
Advisors must first pass a criminal background check and agree to do all advising at the high school during school hours. Advisors cover six lessons during the students' senior year: Introduction to ASPIRE, Identifying a Plan, Federal Financial Aid, College and Scholarship Applications, Decision Time, and Transition. ASPIRE advisors mentor anywhere from one to nine students at a time.
www.aspireoregon.org 
Seaside High School volunteers have included parents, retirees, working professionals and others over the age of 18. Applicants must apply to the program and then pass a criminal background check. Volunteers are trained by the ASPIRE administration team and school staff to become ASPIRE Advisors. The success of the program depends on their efforts and commitment. ASPIRE Advisors are assigned to work one-on-one with students, guiding them through important steps toward postsecondary education including: exploring career and college or vocational program options, planning ahead (doing things now in preparation for applying to postsecondary institutions), finding the college or program that best fits the student’s needs, and applying for scholarships and other financial aid.
Volunteer advisors do not have to be college graduates.
Volunteer Feedback
What our volunteers have to say about Seaside High School's ASPIRE Program:
"I like connecting with the kids."
"I feel like I'm helping educate our future adults."
"It was great to encourage students and help them realize how much they had to offer society in terms of their choices for the future."
"I feel I am helping teenagers and making a difference."
"I like getting to know the faculty, administration and feeling connected to the school community."
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
-All seniors planning on attending college should file their FAFSA in January, or soon after, of the year they plan to enroll in a postsecondary school. Submitting a FAFSA can qualify you for federal grants (free money), loans, and work-study. The FAFSA is not a scholarship and is not based on academic performance but solely on financial need.
Oregon Career Information System (CIS) - 
All Seaside High School students and parents can access the Oregon Career Information Service (CIS) from home. Find information on occupations, education and training, and financial aid. Make a skill assessment and interest profile. Contact the counseling office to obtain the username and password.
Register for the SAT 
- The majority of four-year universities across the nation require you to take either the SAT or ACT before you can apply for admission. The SAT is designed to be taken at the end of your junior year. Click on the link for test dates, fees, and registration information.
Register for the ACT 
- The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The majority of four-year universities in the nation require that you take either the ACT or SAT in order to be considered for admission.
FastWeb 
- With more than $3 billion in scholarships, the FastWeb scholarship search is the largest, most accurate and most frequently updated scholarship database. If you supply an email address, they will notify you when new awards that match your profile are added to the database. You can even submit an electronic application to some of the scholarships listed in the FastWeb scholarship database, saving you time and money. FastWeb also includes a college search and numerous other student resources.
Aspire Brochure - Print a brochure and learn more about ASPIRE and its partners.
