Senior Razors

All Things Graduation

Graduation Information & Senior Awards Night

Graduation Supplies

HERFF-JONES will be here during FLEX on October 24 to talk about all things Graduation supplies.

Herff-Jones will be here during lunches 12:15-2:15 on October 29 to take any Ring/ Graduation supply orders. You are HIGHLY encouraged to order this day.

You may also order online at the Herff Jones website. All Seniors who plan to walk at graduation need a cap, gown, and diploma.

Order graduation supplies

Senior Newsletters / Senior Meeting Notes

Graduation Dress Code

Dresses/skirts must not be longer than the robe and must not show through the robe.
Collars on dresses and blouses must not show above the top of the graduation robe.
Shoes
- Ladies: Black dress shoes or black dress sandals (no flip flops)
- Gentlemen: Black dress shoes; NO BOOTS, HEY DUDES, CROCS, or sneaker-style shoes
White dress shirts (long- or short-sleeved)
Dark trousers (black or navy) and dark socks -- no jeans
Dark-colored necktie or bowtie (no Western ties)

Students who have any issues with obtaining dress items for graduation are encouraged to contact Mrs. Tabitha Harvey for assistance. Email: tharvey@sdoc.org

Honor and High Honor Graduates

HONOR ROLL

Honor Roll status is determined at the end of each quarter. All calculations are completed by our District Office. In order to receive Principal's Honor Roll, students must be on the All A Honor Roll for Quarter 4 from the previous school year and Quarters 1-3 for the current school year.

Principal's Honor Roll: Students maintain 90 or higher in each class

Honor Roll: Students maintain 80 or higher in each class or achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher with no D's or F's

HONOR GRADUATES

Based on cumulative S.C. Uniform Grading Policy GPA at the end of 7 semesters or 8 semesters (whichever benefits the student)

High Honor Graduate: GPA at least 4.75

Honor Graduate: GPA 4.25-4.74

VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN

1st and 2nd ranked student according to final class rank using the S.C. Uniform Grading Policy GPA

Per SDOC Board Policy: To be eligible for Valedictorian or Salutatorian, a student must be completing the fourth year of high school and have been enrolled for the last seven consecutive quarters (beginning of the second quarter of grade 11 through the fourth quarter of grade 12).

College Planning

College Visits

Students are encouraged to visit college campuses. Seniors are allowed three excused school day visits.

Students should contact the institutions ahead of time to set up visits. It's best to visit on days when events are planned. Many open houses and other events are listed on the senior bulletin/newsletter.

Students must complete a College Visitation Request Form before the visit date. These forms can be picked up in the guidance office, or printed from the link below. The top portion of the form must be completed and given to Mrs. Crane in guidance three days prior to your visit. The bottom half is to be completed and signed by an official college representative on the day of your visit. Documentation on official college letterhead must be returned to WHS Attendance, or the absence will be coded as an unexcused absence.

College Visit Request Form

College Entrance Exams

Seniors bound for technical colleges should take ACCUPLACER (FREE on first sitting) on the campus of their chosen technical school or use ACCUPLACER score from their junior year in high school. (To use these scores for schools other than TCTC, students must request scores from TCTC.) Make an appointment on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Oconee Campus to retake the parts you didn’t pass. Oconee Campus #: 613-1900

Seniors bound for 4-year colleges (and some 2-year colleges) are encouraged to take the ACT and/or SAT this fall. See act.org and collegeboard.org for details.

Most colleges superscore the SAT.

Colleges will take SAT / ACT scores for admissions consideration. Apply NOW -- don't wait on test scores.

Seniors planning to enter the military should take ASVAB at WHS. We will offer it sometime during the school year; please take note of announcements so you won't miss this opportunity.

College Application Month

Transcript Request

Scholarship Opportunities

Playing College Sports

NCAA AND NAIA ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

All student-athletes who intend to play NCAA Division 1 or 2 or NAIA sports must be cleared by the governing bodies.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY

All athletes who intend to play Division 1 or Division 2 athletics must register online with the NCAA Eligibility Center at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3.

Now is the time for seniors to register.

SAT/ACT scores must be submitted by the Testing Agencies (Code 9999). The Eligibility Center superscores the SAT and ACT. Official transcripts are required.

Students must sign a release sheet in Guidance to have a transcript sent. Current cost is $80.

Full Qualifier:

Complete 16 Core Courses - 10 of the 16 must be completed before the senior year and 7 of those 10 must be in English, math, or science
Minimum Core GPA of 2.3 plus test score based on NCAA sliding scale

Academic Redshirt: (Student-athlete may practice but not compete)

Complete 16 Core Courses
Minimum Core GPA of 2.0 plus test score based on NCAA sliding scale

NAIA ELIGIBILITY

All athletes who intend to play NAIA athletics must register online with the NAIA Eligibility Center at https://play.mynaia.org.

Now is the time for seniors to register.

SAT/ACT scores must be submitted by the Testing Agencies (Code 9876). The Eligibility Center superscores the SAT and ACT. Official transcripts are required.

Students must sign a release sheet in Guidance to have a transcript sent. Current cost is $80.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is necessary for most need-based scholarships, grants, student loans, work-study positions, etc.

FSA IDs are required for parents AND students. Apply for these now (link below).

FSA ID

FAFSA opens in October 1.

SDOC FAFSA NIGHT IS October 21st from 4-6 PM at HCTC. Bring your Chromebook, social security number, and 2024 tax information.

You may use "prior prior" tax info (2024). For example, students starting Fall of 2026 will use 2024 tax information.

It is suggested that parents and students complete FAFSA before March if at all possible. Some schools could have earlier deadlines.

YOU SHOULD NOT NEED TO PAY ANYONE TO COMPLETE FAFSA. IT IS FREE.

WHS Guidance is not trained to assist with FAFSA.

Complete FAFSA

SC Lottery Scholarships

General SC Scholarship Types and Requirements

South Carolina Education Lottery Scholarships

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

U. S. Citizen/Legal Permanent Resident
S. C. Resident
No Felony Convictions
No 2nd or subsequent alcohol/drug misdemeanors
Not in default of any state or federal loans
Enroll in a degree-seeking program at an eligible South Carolina institution

This must be determined no later than the date of high school graduation.

TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS

Palmetto Fellows: $6700 for 1st year and $7500 for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years
Life Scholarship: $5000
Hope Scholarship: up to $2800
Need-based Grant: up to $2500

$2500 enhancements are available for specific fields of study in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years.

Palmetto Fellows

PALMETTO FELLOWS REQUIREMENTS - To be eligible, a senior must meet one of the following academic requirements:

1200 SAT*/25 ACT, 3.5 GPA, and rank in the top 6% of the class at end of either sophomore, junior, or senior year
1400 SAT*/32 ACT and a 4.0 GPA on the Uniform Grading Scale at the end of junior year or senior year
Without regard to rank (alternative criteria): 4.0 SC UGP GPA and a 1400 on the SAT or 31 on the ACT

*SAT Writing Score is not factored in -- only English and math. Superscoring is allowed.

Early awards

Qualifying SAT/ACT score must be earned by Saturday, March 9th, and ACT score must be earned by February 10th. Qualified students will be notified, and the counselor will complete the application for eligible students. The student is solely responsible for submitting designation sheet they will receive from CHE in the spring.

Final awards -- June 28 deadline

Qualifying SAT/ACT score must be earned by the June SAT (June 1st) and ACT (June 8th) administration. Qualified students will be notified by the counselor, and she will complete the application for eligible students. The student is solely responsible for submitting designation sheet they will receive from CHE in the spring.

If June scores are to be used to qualify for PFS, the test scores must be reported directly to CHE from the test agency. SAT Code = 4313, ACT Code = 6326

LIFE Scholarship

NO APPLICATION IS NECESSARY -- College of enrollment will determine eligibility status based on the final transcript.

To be eligible, a senior must meet TWO of these three requirements:

3.0 GPA on Uniform Grading Scale at the end of senior year
1100 SAT* or 22 ACT (SAT superscoring allowed)
Rank in top 30% of graduating class (no rounding allowed)

Please note: First-time-entering freshmen attending on an eligible 2-year or technical institution must earn a 3.0 GPA on Uniform Grading Scale on the final transcript.

*SAT Writing score is NOT factored in -- only English and Math.

Notes about the Life Scholarship:

If 14 hours in Math or Life and Physical Science or both are completed by the end of the first year, LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships will increase by $2500. Declared major must be in specific math, science, or health fields. It is the individual discretion of the college or university to determine which programs of study are considered math, science, or health.

Dual Credit, AP, and Summer School credits may be used to meet the 14 credit hour requirement for Enhancement.

HOPE Scholarship

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

NO APPLICATION IS NECESSARY -- College of enrollment will determine eligibility status based on the final transcript.

Eligible students attending a state 4-year or private institution receive up to $2,800 during the first year of attendance only.

To be eligible, seniors must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on the Uniform Grading Scale on the final transcript. Recipients must not be a LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipient.

Need-Based Grants

NEED-BASED GRANT

An eligible student may receive up to $2,500 annually if enrolled full-time and up to $1,250 annually if enrolled part-time.
Student must complete FAFSA AND must have financial need consistent with Pell Grant eligibility. The college at which the student enrolls determines the exact amount.

LOTTERY TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Must complete FAFSA
Must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours each term as a degree-seeking student in a certificate, diploma, or associate degree program
Must first apply for federal grants and the SC Need-Based Grant
Currently, eligible students may receive up to $100 per hour if enrolled part-time or up to $1200 if enrolled full-time.
The award amount is subject to change based on funding.

SOUTH CAROLINA TUITION GRANTS PROGRAM

Must complete FAFSA
Must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours each term as a degree-seeking student in a certificate, diploma, or associate degree program
Must first apply for federal grants and the SC Need-Based Grant
Currently, eligible students may receive up to $100 per hour if enrolled part-time or up to $1200 if enrolled full-time.
The award amount is subject to change based on funding.
Visit https://sctuitiongrants.org for more information.

Monthly Senior Newsletter

September 2025 Senior Razorback Newsletter by Pamela Pugh

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