How to graduate: What a senior should know in their last semester
By Isaac Worley
At this point in the year, most seniors have at least one thing they forgot to do (or procrastinated) that is required for graduation. Whether PFL, college applications or scholarship applications, time is running out. In case you aren’t familiar with Owasso’s graduation requirements and opportunities, or you need a gentle push to overcome your ‘senioritis’, here is a list of some things all seniors should consider before May 18, 2022.
Personal Financial Literacy
All students who intend to graduate in Oklahoma must complete a standardized Personal Financial Literacy (PFL) course. Those who are enrolled in a class with embedded PFL—Accounting, Successful Adulting, Foundations of Business and Single Survival—have likely completed the 18 required modules, while those who have not taken one of the aforementioned courses must complete the program as an independent study.
Any student who has not completed a PFL course—especially seniors who need the certification to graduate—can access the program through ttcu.com. The site is listed underneath its “Resources” tab and is called “FoolProof Financial Literacy.” The class code for an independent study is CJB3J54, and students will be asked to confirm that Lisa Pepin is the teacher for the course.
The PFL curriculum can be completed in a single weekend, or one can split the modules over multiple sessions. In order to meet the state standards, all students must receive at least 70 percent on each module’s final test, at which point they can email Lisa Pepin for proof of completion.
Distinguished Graduate
Photo of the Distinguished Graduate application (Owasso Rampage/Isaac Worley)
Students who have taken at least three AP or TCC classes may be eligible for the Distinguished Graduate honor. The accolade grants a student recognition at the senior awards ceremony and an extra commendation to add to their resumé.
Alongside the class enrollment requirement, students who wish to apply for Distinguished Graduate must be on track to complete the Owasso 4x4 plan with no grade lower than a C on their transcript. Students must also have an unweighted seventh semester GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Eligible students can print a copy of the application from the Counseling Office page on ohs.owassops.org. The deadline to submit an application is February 22, 2022.
Scholarship Google Classroom
Tabitha Stephens—the OHS College and Career Counselor—has created a Google Classroom in which she posts scholarship opportunities from local organizations. Since these scholarships are primarily for Oklahoma students, the application pool will be much smaller than national scholarships, allowing students higher chances of receiving funding.
To join the Google Classroom, enter “2w3wn6o” as the class code.
In this photo provided under a cc-by-2.0 license, students learn CPR in Reno, Nevada, February 22, 2014 (Truckee Meadows Community College)
CPR/AED Certification
All students must have a current CPR/AED certification upon graduating. Owasso will host a training session for all seniors who are not certified on April 5. If a student is previously certified, they may bring their certificate to the counseling office or send a copy to debbie.roberts@owassops.org, and they will be exempt from the April training.