SEPT 2010

Vital Signs

September 13, 2010 Volume XIV Issue I

Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School

Bravo’s 20th Anniversary Celebration For twenty years, Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School has upheld its high standards in academics. Originally established at Lincoln High School prior to moving to Wilson High School in 1985 then finally at its current location in 1990, Bravo has come a long way. Members of Bravo’s community, including alumni such as Ms. Nora Melgar, retired teachers as Mrs. Rowena Vrabel, and numerous current students, sought a way to honor Bravo’s twenty years of success.

They accomplished their objective on July 31, 2010 by hosting a celebration for Bravo’s twentieth anniversary on campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m The crowd of alumni, teachers and students initially met in the lobby for donuts and coffee which were sold by Bravo’s leadership students. After about half an hour of catching up with old friends, everyone was ushered into the gym by a PA system announcement.

The commemoration ceremony began with guest speakers such as Dr. Rosa Maria Hernandez, Bravo’s first principal and one of its founding members. Her speech was succeeded by, as was her position as principal, our current principal Ms. Maria Torres-Flores.

The speakers verbally recalled Bravo’s history and enunciated that Bravo is not just about academics, but deals in creating experiences for its students and staff. To further illustrate those points, a video montage of Bravo through the years was shown. Subsequently, the cheer team gave a performance that included alumni cheerleaders (they still fit into their outfits!) followed by Bravo Maria-

What Did You Do This Summer? collected by Angie Martinez

chi, which never fails to entertain. The audience clapped enthusiastically and was then released into the lobby.

The performances did not end there. The Dances of the World girls put on a collaborative show with Folklorico in the Lecture Hall. A variety of ethnic dances and upbeat dancing as well as a performance by the alumni yo-yo master David Ung (’10) left the audience in awe. As they clapped, the gleam in the eyes of the alumni was apparent as they were unable to hide the pride they felt for their old school. As the dancers displayed Bravo’s miscellaneous side, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Larsen and Mr. Quimby highlighted the academic, yet entertaining aspect of Bravo through their chemistry demonstrations.

Five floors down at the cafeteria students were babysitting children of staff members and alumni at the teacher’s lounge. The kids watched attentively as The Incredibles played on television in a room decorated with balloons and took their eyes off the TV only to grab another pouch of Capri-Sun. At the upper-level cafeteria, kids and adults alike were getting their faces painted by Bravo’s array of student artists. Outside, hotdogs, chips, drinks, nachos, and pizza

The Prop 8 Battle Continues During the state elections in 2008, Proposition 8 was passed in California after 52% of votes were cast in its favor. On August 4th, 2010, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker stated that the anti-gay-marriage law was unconstitutional, under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, and violated the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians to marry.

However, gay and lesbian marriage did not resume in California because Judge Walker issued a temporary stay, halt in legal proceeding, until August 18th This stay was intended to give Proposition 8 supporters and opponents time to appeal the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On August 16th, three federal judges from that Court of Appeals issued

by Neelema Ahmed

were being sold. As everyone ate lunch, they were serenaded by the Jazz Band and alumni performer Jamal Davison (’10).

The day came to a close with an alumni basketball game. Throughout the day, it was obvious that Bravo changes lives in ways other than in academics. The long-lasting relationships formed in high school with not just close friends but with teachers were visible all day long. The event epitomized that even though we can’t wait to graduate and leave this school which has become synonymous to prison in our vocabulary, some day we will miss it because it taught us more than just our A-G requirements.

“Since my friends aren’t coming to Bravo, I took an Algebra 2 class this summer to spend more time with them before school started.” - Alyssa Medina (‘14)

“I played XBox with my brother and tried to get my sister off the computer.” - Bernardo Campos (‘13)

Former principal Dr. Rosa Maria Hernandez, Councilman Jose Huizar, Mrs. Torres-Flores, and LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia accepting Bravo’s Certificate of Congratulations.

by Gabriela Campos

another stay until the court rules whether Proposition 8 is unconstitutional or not; the decision is scheduled for early 2011.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Prop 8 will remain enforced until the week of December 6th, when the appeal will be heard by the Ninth Circuit. Some who oppose Prop 8 are hoping that the case goes to the Supreme Court. Their logic behind this according to Loyola Law Professor Rick Hasen, is that if the case is taken to the Supreme Court, other U.S. states will have approximately one more year to consider approving gay marriage.This may influence those in the judiciary branch to also support same-sex marriage.

Esmeralda Escarzaga (’11) stated, “Love has nothing to do with gender. I don’t understand why two people of the same

sex can’t marry one another and be happy.

I know that I’ll support my friends and it won’t matter if they’re gay, straight, or lesbian; their sexual orientation isn’t a problem. People should be allowed to live their life as themselves without being ashamed or restricted.”

When Prop 8 was deemed unconstitutional by District Court Judge Walker, supporters of gay marriage rejoiced because they realized that their fight for equal marriage rights wasn’t over and their fight for equal marriage rights in California isn’t over. Every American wants to be treated equally. If America is a country that prides itself on being the land of opportunity and equality then why is gay-marriage still an issue? Equality shouldn’t be subjective.

Principal’s Welcome

Welcome back Bravo, hope everyone had a relaxing but productive summer. A special welcome to the class of 2014, very soon you will feel at home just like the rest of the Bravo student body.

This is a very special year because we are celebrating our twentieth anniversary as a standalone magnet high school. Class of 2011, you will be the twentieth anniversary graduating class. I expect great things from you and strong, positive leadership.

To all Bravo students, let’s always remember to be respectful and kind to each other and be your best everyday. Together we will continue to make Bravo a special place to be. I am looking forward to a terrific school year. Always remember to reach for the stars and never let any challenge become an roadblock to attaining your goals.

- Mrs. Maria Torres-Flores

“I caught up with my old friends and slept. I also met up with some Science Bowl members to study and hold lectures at the Central Library for fourhour sessions.”– William Paja (’12)

“I went to the Anime Expo. It was a day for Otakus, like myself, to be themselves without criticism and to be around people with similar interests.” – Jose Gallegos (’11)

“I’ve gone to USC’s Summertime Writing Program, went to Hollywood with my friend, and went shopping for my dorm stuff.” – Erica Lee (’10)

mR. jIMENEZ SAYS GOODBYE

Dear Bravo,

It has been my sincere pleasure to have worked at Bravo for the past two years.

Although I wouldn’t trade substituting at Bravo for almost anything in the world, the time has come for me to take the next step in my journey as a teacher. This upcoming year I will no longer be substituting, but will instead be teaching 7th and 8th grade science at Foshay Learning Center. I look forward to and welcome the challenges of a first-year teacher.

Over the course of the past two years I have met and worked with a number of amazing teachers who have helped shape me as an instructor. I would like to thank all of the teachers whom entrusted me with their classrooms and students. Most notably, Mr. Chavez and Mr. Bellos, both of whom allowed me to substitute their classes for extended periods of time. I would also like to give a special thanks to Mr. Marks and Mr. Hua, both of whom not only allowed me to substitute their classes on more than one occasion, but wrote amazing letters of recommendation that

without a doubt helped me on my journey of finding a teaching position. Last and certainly not least, I would like to give the biggest and warmest thank you to the one person who made all of my experiences at Bravo possible. Lilia Saldivar, because of you I was able to accomplish so much inside and outside of Bravo. Thank you for everything. I will miss you very, very much.

With these last words I can only hope to express how much I will miss what made Bravo so special: the students. I have watched students from the classes of 2011 and 2012 grow and mature (most of you) for the past two years. Thank you for all the memories and countless number of Hot Cheetos. As for the class of 2013, I only had one year to work with you, but I am certain that you guys will succeed in your future endeavors. In closing, let me give a special thank you and goodbye to the students whom I had the pleasure of working with at the beginning of last year.

Five wonderful periods of then freshmen and sophomores who will always hold a

Banning SB 1070’s Hate

Bring the World Cup to the United States

by Jorthana Torres

special place in my heart (especially my favorite class). I will forever miss you all.

- Erik Jimenez

by Gabriela Campos

On April 23, 2010, Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, signed Senate Bill 1070, which would take effect on July 29th. This controversial bill would require police to check the immigration status of anyone they suspected of being an illegal resident, immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and make it illegal for undocumented immigrants to have a job. Many, including civil rights activists, President Barrack Obama and his administration, and everyday people, opposed this bill; there were nationwide boycotts of Arizona and protests in which people showed either their support of or opposition to the bill.

Court actions were filed against the bill, one of which included a federal lawsuit by the United States Justice Department against Arizona’s District Court. On July 6th, the Justice Department requested that the federal courts issue an injunction, that would keep Arizona from enforcing Senate Bill 1070 until the bill’s constitutionality could be determined by the Court.

On July 28th, while police were making last-minute preparations to begin implementing the law and protestors were gathering for a large demonstration, District

Court Judge Susan Bolton issued a temporary injunction, or ban, on several key parts of the controversial bill. The banned key parts were those that made it illegal for undocumented immigrants to have a job, required police officers to check the immigration statuses of suspected immigrants during traffic stops and arrests, and immigrants to carry their papers at all times.

Bolton’s ruling was seen as a “bump in the road” for Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer, but a victory for those who opposed the bill for it’s civil rights violations and its potential for racial harassment. However, Brewer immediately sought an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District in San Francisco on July 29th.

Bolton explained her ruling by stating that it was likely that “officers will wrongfully arrest legal resident aliens” and this would “burden” American citizens. This injunction has made it clear that the federal government has the power to regulate immigration, not state government.

This legal issue is likely to make its way to the Supreme Court, where the it will determine whether Senate Bill 1070 is constitutional or not. However, other states,

such as Florida, Colorado, and Alabama, are looking to create their own versions of SB 1070-inspired laws. For those who oppose SB 1070, it is important to remember that the illegal immigration fight does not begin and end in Arizona, so they must continue to express their opposition towards this bill and any other bill’s civil-rights-violating provisions.

Supporters of SB 1070, I understand your frustrations but two wrongs don’t make a right. Yes, it’s wrong for people to come to the United States illegally but it’s also wrong to target someone just because they “look illegal.” You may argue that it was in no way a bill that enabled racial profiling, but targeting someone based on how they look, especially their skin color, is racial profiling. Although, it’s not up to me to decide the constitutionality of SB 1070, I have and will continue to oppose this bill because any bill or law that targets a race, no matter how carefully its intentions are hidden, is unacceptable.

The recent FIFA World Cup in South Africa proved to be a success, not just for soccer, but for the host country itself. Even though their home team didn’t qualify for the second round, the South African people showed so much passion by attending matches and organizing a successful soccer tournament, the first in African soil. Now imagine all of the excitement of the World Cup here in the States; that’s the goal the USA Bid Committee wants to accomplish for either 2018 or 2022.

The organizing committee, headed by officials like U.S Soccer President Sunit Gulati and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, has already sent its nearly 2,000 page report to FIFA. This report mentions the host cities and stadiums that may be used, three of which are here in California! The U.S. would benefit greatly from such an honor; tourists from other countries would spend money on American goods, local businesses would receive a much-needed financial boost, the U.S. could show off its newly remodeled stadiums, but best of all, take part in a historical event for the first time since 1994.

Although the sport is still growing in America, and not as popular as baseball or basketball, this bid is the perfect way to demonstrate that soccer also has passionate followers in the United States. For those who want this to become reality, just go online at www.gousbid.com and sign the petition to help the U.S. become the host nation of a World Cup. You have until December to get all the people you know to sign it. Even if you don’t like the sport, sign it for the soccer-crazed fans in your life!

Gulf Oil Spill Still Threatens Wildlife On April 20, 2010, the world was intro-

duced to the Gulf of Mexico oil leak as the cause of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion, which took the lives of 11 people, and injured as many as 17. It would continue it’s maniacal murdering rampage by releasing an average of 53,000 barrels of crude oil per day, a grand total of 4.9 million barrels by the time it was capped off in early July, into the throws of Mediterranean wildlife, making it the largest accidental marine oil spill in petroleum history.

The spill stemmed from a cracked seafloor oil pipe on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. After much investigation, the U.S. government named British Petroleum, the global oil and gas company, as the responsible party, holding the company accountable for all the cleanup charges and other damages. As a result, BP’s stock price has plummeted over 50%, but its ecological impact has proved far more costly.

More than 400 species that live in the Gulf islands and marshlands are at risk, including five species of endangered turtle. A comprehensive inventory of offshore Gulf species in 2009 counted 15,700 and of that, the oil spill reaches 8332 of them. As of August 13, 4,768 animals had been collected, either from direct contact or lack of food.

The long term effects of the spill are potentially more severe, threatening to change the whole chemistry of the surrounding waters, killing off essential microbes and reducing oxygen levels by an insurmountable degree.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has profoundly impacted the environment, doing in four months what would’ve taken humankind decades to destroy. But despite all the recent awareness, this oil spill is merely the latest in a long string of man-made grievances.

by Leah Manacop

Pelicans are just some of the many species suffering from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (Photo from mirror.uk)

Dead weather at the palladium

by Audrey Salas

I didn’t love The Dead Weather before I saw them in concert on July 21st. I liked a couple of their songs, but I only went to see Jack White perform live. The man is a demigod in my eyes and my boyfriend paid for it. The White Stripes have rhythm and soul; The Raconteurs have a bit of pop and country in their rock, but The Dead Weather had too much background noise in their music; it made their sound seem too busy. But, after the amazing show, it was that very noise that made a fan out of me.

When the Dead Weather made their way onstage, I was all too ready to see Jack.

And when I did, I let out a blood-curdling, Jack White fan girl scream.

We were about five people behind the barricades. My boyfriend grabbed my hand and we shoved ourselves inch by inch to the front. As we did, lead singer Alison Mosshart, began to sing the first song: 60 Feet Tall. The crowd in front of us did all they could to prevent us from cutting in front of them, and one guy in particular was a little too fond of elbowing me in the chest.

About midway through the show, though, we finally made it to the front.

From there, I could see that the band members were just as sweaty as we were.

Alison’s black, shredded blouse clung tightly to her skin; it made her look even more disheveled and as a result, cooler.

Jack White’s feathered hat seemed to

lights shone bright in my face and Jack took that opportunity to steal a glance at the crows. The he did something I will cherish forever: Jack White looked right at me and smiled back. I nearly cried.

Jack White’s drumming, many people would be surprised to know, is just as awesome as his guitar playing. It came

be pouring sweat onto his face. But he was still a vision almost too beautiful to behold.

The highlight of my night only lasted for about a second. As everyone was watching Alison sing her guts out on top of an amp, my eyes focused on Jack White drumming. I remember feeling my face stretch out into a huge smile, because I was actually seeing one of my idols perform in person. Then, the yellow stage

naturally to him; he didn’t look strained and his hands seemed to move without his knowing. After about three more songs, he switched to playing the guitar and his bassist, Jack Lawrence, took his spot on the drums. He let out earsplitting wails from the guitar every time he soloed and it drove the crowd wild. So wild, that I was being repeatedly crushed and hit by the people behind me. I didn’t care though. All I could think about was that

dimpled smile of his.

The final song of the night, and my personal favorite, was their single “Treat Me Like Your Mother.” The crowd, myself included, felt it coming. It was one of their biggest hits and they hadn’t played it yet. When Dean Fertita, guitarist and keyboardist, played the opening notes, it was like something exploded in the audience. The pushing and shoving hit a new high; I was struggling to stay on my feet. When it got to the “M-A-N-I-P-U-LATE” part of the song, the shoving stopped. It was replaced by something even more fun: jumping. I saw a mass of jumping, screaming bodies and had to join in. It was then that I knew that this was the most fun concert I had ever been to. I also realized that the Dead Weather, not just Jack White, made the experience as awesome as it was. The “noise” in their music that distracted me so much before was nonexistent; it was all music now.

I no longer consider myself a halfhearted Dead Weather fan. After that concert, I deemed them one of the coolest bands ever to grace my musical library.

Inception Review

Addicted to the Shore

Eat Pray Love Review

by Angie Martinez

by Fabian Avellaneda

When you’re not getting what you want out of life, pack your bags and go on a road trip around the world! That is one of the messages Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts gives to the unsuspecting audience that idly sits in to watch this flick. Basically, Elizabeth “Liz” Gilbert leaves for a year to indulge herself after a messy divorce, spending a year traveling the streets of Italy, India, and Bali. Throughout her travels, she meets an array of people who guide, advise, and are helped by her in this extremely lavish journey.

She also stumbles into a few flings, played by men who are certainly drool-worthy.

After eating everything on the menu in Italy and finding her inner peace in India, Liz ends up in Bali, where she literally gets run into by yet another dashing and attractive bachelor, Felipe, played by none other than Javier Bardem. The movie quickly turns into a romance, and in the end, Liz has to decide whether falling in love with an irresistible Spanish factory worker will ruin balance she took two and a half hours of the movie to find.

While most hopeless romantics will come out of the theatre praising the idea of leaving it all behind for a year and be inspired to fly where the heart desires, the other 98% of earthlings who live in the real world will come out totally dumbfounded by the whole movie in general. Apart from the obvious eye-candy and breathtaking scenery, the film just feels fake. Though Roberts does bring some quirkiness and charm into the film, the audience never really connects with Elizabeth. It all seems more like two hours of a narcissistic Julia Roberts whining about herself, stuffing her face with pizza and gelato, and flirting with random men in order to find her inner peace, or rather, her inner “piece.”

What seems more unreal is the fact that everyone she meets just happens to “love” her and want to help her out, including some random lost elephant that somehow appears in front of her. Everything just seems so unreal and glamorized, that it’s hard to connect to the film at all. Even the idea of it seems so out of reach.

The only reason she did half of that stuff was because she got an advance from a book deal she made. Only the rich and privileged can afford to do all the things Liz did, rendering this film completely unrelatable.

In the end, Eat Pray Love seems like a replica of Sex and the City, without the horse-looking Sarah Jessica Parker. Don’t expect any spiritual connections or epiphanies from this flick; you’ll have better luck with a five-dollar slice of Little Caesars than you will paying $12 to watch some chick gob down a pint-size Italian ice cream and grope a ten-foot tall elephant.

With such stars as Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page, Inception was bound to be a sure fire hit. Even though sci-fi might not be your thing, this film’s originality makes up for it.

As hard as it is to describe this film, it can be summarized like this: An “extractor” named Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his team, including the incredibly intelligent architect (Ellen Page), are helping him with the hardest mission he’s ever faced. They must construct the dreams of their victim and use those dreams to subliminally implant an idea, to benefit the person that hired them. Not only is the mission difficult, but Cobbs’ own subconscious makes the mission all the more complicated.

The only flaw of this film is that one must pay attention completely to understand it.

Its plot is a lot to take in, but it’s imaginative and intriguing enough not to matter. The amazing action scenes of the film take away from the mind-blowing puzzle that is the plot. One fighting scene, in particular, is just as mesmerizing as it is gravity-defying.

Personally, what also contributed to the film’s success were the characters.

No character is trivial in the film; every character not only has a particular skill and task, but has a personality that mirrors their job description. We learn about the other characters through their dreams and memories and their interactions, as well.

The most important interactions in the film though, would be of Cobb and his wife, who are the core of Inception.

Inception is worth every penny. It is rare to find a film that actually makes you think.

Even the ending was debatable, which only added to its puzzling appeal.

Since Jersey Shore’s premiere last December, MTV has aimed for total pop culture domination. The first season had nine episodes and its January finale brought in 4.8 million viewers!

You have helped make these eight alcohol-fueled, fake-tanned Italians famous. As a result, on July 29th, MTV generously bestowed upon us a second season of Snooki, The Situation, J-Wow, Pauly, Sammi, Ronnie, Vinnie, and Angelina.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, I both pity your lack of touch with pop culture and envy you because your soul hasn’t been sold to the devil. When I first saw the show’s promos, I thought that a reality show about conceited strangers living in New Jersey up to their antics would be too chaotic.

However, I set my cynicism aside, sat down, turned to MTV, and sold my soul.

It was filled with obnoxious people, wild partying, mindless drinking, pointless hook ups, girls hitting girls, boys hitting boys, boys hitting girls, and Italian stereotypes. However, the strangest thing about the show wasn’t J-Wow’s gravity-defying chest, The Situation’s abs on his back, or Sammi and Ronnie’s surprisingly sweet relationship. The strangest thing was that I liked it.

Jersey Shore is guaranteed to make you laugh, either from the fights that the gang gets into or because the show is so easy to mock.

Although the second season won’t be set in Jersey, the new Miami house promises lots of fist-pumping drama and stages the return of the infamous hot tub.

Whether you watch the show or not, there is no denying its popularity. Time will tell if that is a good thing or not. As of now we can take comfort in knowing that at least President Obama has never heard of Snooki.

by Peter Guerrero

BRAVO THEATRE AUDITIONS!

Wednesday, Sept. 15th in the Lecture Hall from 3:15 to 5:00 pm Callbacks are on Thursday, Sept. 16th at 3:15 pm All Bravo Knights are welcome to audition. Break a leg.

Freshman Tips

Senior Tips

by Liliana Sanchez

by Neelema Ahmed

Ah, it’s a new school year at Bravo Medical Magnet, the beginning of regrettable haircuts and fresh starts. This couldn’t be any more true than for the upcoming freshmen. But for those who feel intimated by the thought of high school, have no fear; these few words of wisdom may help you survive the first day: • High school isn’t what the movies make it out to be. At Bravo, nerds aren’t stuffed into lockers and jocks aren’t the greatest thing since sliced bread. But if you act like an annoying fifteen year old, you may have a Bunsen burner thrown at you.

• Dress in layers, it’s either too hot or too cold at Bravo.

• Never, under any circumstances, enter the sixth floor. Unless you want a three-headed dog named Fluffy mauling you before you finish puberty.

• Get to know the floors and staircases.

We’ll be able to tell if you’re a freshman if you go around shouting, “WHAT FLOOR IS THIS?” • Avoid the staircases in the morning.

They’re usually overcrowded by teens sucking face; they’re like one of those shows at Sea World where you get wet if you sit too close.

• Most kids figure that Freshman year isn’t important for college. Wrong.

Since it affects your overall high school GPA, you shouldn’t slack off.

• Get involved in something now.

Whether it’s a sport or volunteer work, colleges would love it if you were involved for four years.

• Remember to have fun. Freshman year is the last year that you’ll be able to get away with armpit farts and roller backpacks, so enjoy them while you can.

Senior year is going to be our most exciting, yet most difficult year. We’re going to spend half the year applying to college and the other half anxiously biting our nails in hopes that we get accepted to the places we applied. As if that’s not enough to worry about, we have to think about financial aid, prom outfits, and the daily dosage of homework. To ensure that our sanity remains intact, here are some tips: • Prioritize. No matter what you think, the daunting Common Application is significantly more important than finding a date for the next school dance.

• Be nice to your teachers and counselors. They will be writing your recommendation letters.

• Avoid giving into senioritis. You can relax when you actually complete high school. A year of slacking off can jeopardize three years of hard work.

• Keep track of all deadlines. Dates are indubitably the most important aspect of senior year. So just like you don’t want to forget to wake up on the day of prom, you don’t want to miss the FAFSA deadline either.

• Remember that it’s not where you go, it’s what you do. It is okay to go to a no-name college if it suits your criteria. Success comes from people, not places.

• Plan campus visits. If you plan on attending a college, it’s in your best interest to visit that college. You don’t want to find out on your first day that the population of hot guys/girls is lower than Bravo’s.

The most important thing to remember is to enjoy this time while you can. Sure parents are a pain, school’s a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you’ll realize how wonderful it was to be in high school. So maybe you should start now. You’re welcome.

College Woes: Deadlines

by Peter Guerrero

College Deadlines.

Those two words combined are as scary as Steve Buscemi and Paul Giamatti’s illgened love child. It’s almost time for college, and what better way to start your year than with a reminder of just how behind you are with deadlines. For those Seniors who aren’t stressing about college yet, here’s a little wake up call: September: You should have your list of preferred colleges done by now. Begin writing your essays and get your applications ready, especially if you’re planning on Early Decision.

October: Requests for letters of recommendation should start piling up on your teachers’ desks; talk to them now to avoid any last minute begging. SAT or SAT Subject Tests should be taken on October 9th to have your scores in on time. To register for the November 6th SAT or SAT Subject Tests, register by October 8th.

November: Early Decision applications are due! They’re usually due during the 1st and the 15th, so check your colleges and see where your deadline falls. To register for the December 4th SAT or SAT Subject Tests, register by November 5th.

December: Regular admission college applications and essays should be wrapped up by now! Begin filling out financial aid forms, if necessary.

This is the last month for you to take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, so be sure to take them if you still haven’t.

January/February: College Applications are due! January and February 1st are the magic dates for most colleges, so make sure you have your applications in by then. If any one of your colleges requires a midyear grade report, have your counselor send them your first-semester grades.

March/April: Acceptance letters should be coming in now! If you got in to the college(s) of your choice, contact them. This is the time to decide which you would like to attend.

May/June: For most colleges, one’s Intent to Enroll must be submitted by May 1st or June 1st. Now comes prom, Grad Night, and Graduation! But don’t forget: AP Exams and Finals are this month, so finish your Senior year with good grades to avoid getting your college acceptance revoked!

College Scholarships

collected by Angie Martinez

Scholarships can be hard to find, so here are some to make the process a bit easier.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Provided By: Coca-Cola Scholarships Foundation, Inc. Description: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is open to high school seniors who plan to pursue a degree at an accredited post-secondary institution in the U.S. You must have the minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must be one of the following: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, temporary resident (in a legalization program), refugee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, or humanitarian Big Dig Scholarship parolee. Home-schooled students may also apply.

Provided By: Antique Trade Deadline: October 31, 2010 Description: The Big Dig Scholarship is available to high Amount: $20,000 school seniors who will be entering their first year of college Awards Available: 250 and to students who are currently in their first or second year Website: www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/page. of college. You must submit an essay between 500 and 1000 jsp?navigation=15 words that addresses the following issue: “In 200 years, one of your relatives is going to be digging in what is now your backyard. They are going to find something that you buried Atrisco Heritage Foundation Scholarship in 2010 and it is going to put any financial worries they have Provided By: Hispanic Scholarship Fund to rest. Your job today is to decide what to bury. Your goal is Description: This scholarship is open to students who to find something that will have immense value in the future.” are Hispanic American, Mexican American, or You must be a resident of the United States to qualify for this Puerto Rican and U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. award. residents. They must have the minimum of a 2.0 GPA. Deadline: December 03, 2010 One must also fill out their FAFSA. Amount: $3,000 Deadline: February 28, 2011 Awards Available: Unspecified Amount: $2,000 Website: www.antiquetrader.tv/studentscholarship.php Awards Available: unspeficied Website: www.hsf.net

Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award (SAMMY Award) Provided By: Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year and USA Today Description: The SAMMY award is open to high school senior student athletes who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, athletic excellence, leadership skills, and community service. SAMMY winners receive a $7,500 college scholarship.

Application Deadline: Varies Maximum Amount: $7,500 Website: www.bodybymilk.com

A GPA Isn’t Everything Scholarship Provided by: www.cappex.com Description: Get some cash for getting an A in street smarts. You just need a Cappex profile. Scholarships will be awarded based on a combination of extracurricular, leadership, and volunteer activities. Available for any high school student.

Deadline: September 30, 2010 Amount: $1,000 Awards Available: 1 Website: www.cappex.com