Academy at Palumbo Newsletter

Week of February 12, 2018 

Programs and Resources
QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program (deadline March 21)
High school juniors are eligible to apply for this program, which provides free college prep resources to low-income students. Unique opportunities for QB College Prep Scholars include receiving full college summer program scholarships, fully-subsized college campus visits, one-on-one mentoring and exclusive scholarship awards. 

College Prep Scholars are uniquely prepared to gain admission and full scholarships to top-tier colleges through QuestBridge. The majority are also selected as Finalists for the National College Match. Being selected as a College Prep Scholar is a notable distinction that celebrates your achievements and gives you an early start in applying to college.

Summer Music Technology Program (deadline April 20)
High school students are eligible to apply for this free one-week music technology camp that uniquely integrates STEM with the Arts & Design.

Using music, something all students are familiar with, we are able to explore technical concepts in a way that is engaging and impactful on students’ lives. Our hope is to engage with students who may not have otherwise considered science, computing, and engineering, particularly those from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. All SMT activities involve hands-on, project-based learning, to explore sound synthesis, instrument acoustics, audio effects, artificial intelligence for music recommendation, musical app development, creative robotics, and much more!

The program will run from August 6th to August 10th, 2018. Read more and apply here.

Jr. Music Exec Internship (deadline February 15)
For students passionate about music, this internship is a 10-week program that engages students with the music industry while developing skills for entering a career in music.

Step Into College Conference (Saturday March 10, 9AM – 2PM)
This free annual conference provides students and families with an abundance of college preparation guidance, information and resources. This year’s conference will take place at the University of the Sciences, McNeil Science and Technology Center. 

Monday Cooking at South Philadelphia Library (every Monday, 4:00-6:00PM)
Learn about plant-based cooking through this hands-on community experience led by Chef Char Nolan, with exciting new recipes every week!

Family & Community Engagement
FACE serves as a central resource for engaging parents and families with their childens’ academic lives. Learn more and get involved here.

Al Bustan Spring Percussion Classes
Al-Bustan is offering spring percussion classes for adults and youth ages 12+. The classes are taught by Hafez Kotain on Tuesday nights at The Rotunda.

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is dedicated to presenting and teaching Arab culture through the arts and language. “Al-Bustan,” Arabic for “The Garden,” offers structured exposure to the language, art, music, dance, literature, and natural environment of the Arab world. Al-Bustan promotes cross-cultural understanding among youth and adults of all ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds through artistic and educational programs.

Let’s Get Ready
Let’s Get Ready seeks to improve college accessibility to low-income students. Enroll now for a free 9-week program beginning February that provides SAT tutoring, college counseling, and mentoring from college student volunteers.

PhillyCoder Dojo 
Learn to code for free at this weekly program. PhillyCoder Dojo equips youth with creative coding and development skills, opening a door of future possibilities for students. Locations and dates are located here.

Mighty Writers
Interested in writing? Mighty Writers runs free daily workshops all across Philadelphia for writing as well as teen programs, mentorships and college prep resources. Visit the online calendar here.

After School Activities Partnerships 
An online directory of hundreds of community-driven after-school activities and resources for Philadelphia youth. Visit the event calendar here.

More College Access Resources

Volunteering

Food Not Bombs
Help prepare and/or distribute vegetarian meals served to the public without restriction. Food Not Bombs is a volunteer-driven worldwide movement committed to nonviolent social change.

• Cooking takes place at Ahimsa House in West Philadelphia three times a week (Thurs 3-5PM, Friday 2:30-4:30PM, Sun 2:30-5:30PM).
• Food sharing takes place Thursdays 5-6PM @ 46th & Market, Fridays 4:30-5:30PM @ Malcom Park and Sundays 6-7PM @ The Franklin Institute. Full schedule details here.

Philly Reading Coach
Support literacy for elementary students by becoming a volunteer reading coach.

MANNA
Help prepare meals for individuals with serious illnesses in need by helping cook, bake and prepare meals in the MANNA kitchen.

Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission
Help serve meals to the homeless during daily lunch and dinner services. Application here.

Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer to help build and repair homes for those in need across Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society
Support and care for homeless animals by volunteering at a PAWS adoption center.

Mural Arts Philadelphia
Connect with the Philadelphia community through public art.

Scholarships and Contests

Youth Foundation Grant (deadline February 28)
High school seniors with financial need are eligible to apply for this college scholarship. Each award provides between $2500 and $4000 per year for four years of college. Apply early to increase chances of being awarded. Access the application form here. 

Davidson Fellows Scholarship (deadline February 14)
Students age 18 and under are who have completed “a significant piece of work” are eligible to apply for this $50000 award. Read more and apply here.

Philadelphia City Scholarship (deadline February 24)
Spread the word! The Philadelphia City Scholarship offers 50 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Each scholarship provides $1,000 per year for four years of college. Access the application form and instructions here (English) and here (Español).

Cyberbullying Prevention for Teens Scholarship (deadline February 28)
Submit a 600-1000 word essay addressing the topic “Why and How to Stop Cyberbullying.” Selected submissions receive a $1250 scholarship. Read more and apply here.

Philadelphia Art Contest (deadline February 28)
Submit an original drawing that encourages keeping Philly’s water clean. Students in grades K-12 are eligible. Winners receive gift cards of up to $100 and winning drawings will be featured in a SEPTA advertising campaign and free calendar. 
Find the rules and entry form here.

ACS Scholars Program (deadline March 1)
Underrepresented high school seniors pursuing a chemically-related science college degree are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship awards up to $5000. Applicants must be of African American, Hispanic/Latino or American Indian descent. You could be one of the 350 students annually awarded this scholarship! Access the application form here. 

American Society of Humane Genetics DNA Day Essay Contest (deadline March 9)
Submit an original essay that “examines, questions, and reflects on important concepts in genetics.” Celebrate history, the Humane Genome Project’s completion in April 2003 and the 1953 discovery of the DNA double helix by participating! Prizes range from $100 to $1000. All high school students are eligible. Read more and apply here. 

The Philadelphia Foundation Scholarships 
A comprehensive list of scholarships available to high school students.

City Life

Philly Theatre Week (February 8 – 18)
“This month, Theatre Philadelphia hosts a 10-day celebration of all things theatrical in Philly. Philly Theatre Week features more than 70 organizations, 80 events and 268 performances, including a variety of productions, interactive events and more.”
Find a calendar of over 25 free events here.

Black History Month Free Library of Philadelphia Events
A wide array of events are taking place across Philadelphia libraries for Black History Month. Find the full event calendar here. 

Black History Month at the Independence Visitor Center (February 16, 17 and 19 @ The Independence Visitor Center) 
“Learn more about the role African-Americans played in U.S. history at the Once Upon a Nation Storytelling Bench, located inside Independence Visitor Center. The free stories focusing on barrier-breaking African-Americans can be heard at the bench on February 16, 17 and 19 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.”

Midnight Lion Dance Performance (Thursday, February 15, 11PM – 1AM @ 10th and Race)
Ring in the Chinese New Year and year of the Dog with the Philadelphia Suns’ annual lion dance performance, which will take place in Chinatown. 

Free Screening: The Fab 4 Reach the Pearly Gates (Thursday, February 15, 7 – 9PM @ The Maas Building) 
Any Beatles fans? The Fab 4 Reach the Pearly Gates “is based on an imagined, dreamlike meeting of the Beatles and three powerful, unpredictable angels in a mythical afterlife.”
The Maas building is located at 1325 North Randolph Street.

Valentine’s Day Volunteering (Wednesday, February 14, 6:30 – 8PM @ Philadelphia FIGHT)
Engage with the community on Valentine’s Day by volunteering with Philadelphia FIGHT, a comprehensive health services organization for people living with HIV/AIDS and those at high risk. Register Online.
Philadelphia FIGHT is located at 1233 Locust St.

Winter Fountains on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (through March 18) 
“The free, outdoor Winter Fountains exhibition illuminates the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this winter with a stunning nighttime display of surreal, glowing videos projected on to four large domes. The dazzling works — inspired by the Parkway’s grand fountains — are a centerpiece exhibition of Parkway 100, the city’s 14-month celebration commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the avenue’s groundbreaking.”
Watch a stunning video of the display here.

ACCESS Card
Visit over thirty five local museums, science centers, gardens, historic sites and cultural attractions at a rate of $2 per person. Residents who “monitor their government issued cash, food, or medical benefits with an EBT card” are eligible to become an ACCESS Cardholder. One ACCESS card enables up to four family members attending at the discounted rate. 

Indego30 Access Pass
Enjoy biking around Philly? Individuals with an ACCESS card can enjoy unlimited 1-hour trips using Indego bikeshare for $5 per month.  

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sculptures (through February)
Nine large sculptures will be on display throughout Philadelphia through the end of February, designed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and incorporating quotes from King as creative inspiration. Sculpture locations include the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Betsy Ross House, City Hall, the Comcast Center Plaza, the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia School District Main Building and Temple University. More than 50 students — hailing from schools and organizations such as the Philadelphia High School for the Creative & Performing Arts, Overbrook School for the Blind, Girard College, Big Brother Big Sisters and more — were commissioned to create the works.

Students at Museums in Philly (STAMP) Pass
Open to all Philadelphia high school students, the STAMP pass offers free admission to Philly museums, attractions and special events. STAMP seeks to increase teen access to Philly’s vibrant art and culture scene.

Free Events at the South Philadelphia Library
An online directory of daily events and resources including career workshops, learning CPR and even jazz concerts.

More Free Things to Do