If you are a graduating senior from Okemos High School and attended Edgewood Elementary for at least one year, you are eligible to apply for the $1,000 Edgewood Merit Award. Two copies of the application must be returned to the Okemos High School Guidance Office no later than April 19, 2013. The $1,000 scholarship will be presented at the annual Senior Honors Night and the recipient will be honored on a plaque that is on display at Okemos High School.

Click here to access the Edgewood Merit Award Application.

The mission of the Okemos High School Guidance Office is to develop informed, self-directed, resourceful, and assertive students who will graduate within four years of entry and leave high school with clearly defined post-secondary plans. While doing so, we reach students on an emotional and individual level proportional to student needs to provide timely interventions and develop lasting relationships.

The Guidance Office serves many functions for high school students and their parents. Most commonly, students associate counselors with the creation of student schedules and the submission of college applications.  However, counselors have many other responsibilities.  Counselors are also called on to help students in personal crisis, facilitate mediations between students, consult with students on problem solving, facilitate support groups, and provide information and referral to services outside the school. 

Counselors are different from social workers and psychologists since counselors receive specific training in career development and exploration.  Although a small percentage of high school students have a strong interest in a specific career, most students are still exploring options.  Many students will experience changes in career interest, or are interested in several different career areas.  Counselors can help students identify some strengths and interests to explore.  Counselors can help students find information about career options, education, salaries, etc., and can help students arrange job shadow opportunities and internships.

For most students, some sort of training or education after high school will be necessary to achieve career goals.  A very high percentage of our graduating students enroll in either a 2 or 4 year college or university. Counselors can help students identify appropriate programs or schools, and are an essential part of the application process. 

It is important to know that counselors believe in student self determination.  That means that a counselor will advise on decisions by helping gather as much information as possible.  A counselor may even suggest that a specific course of action based on stated goals, but ultimately the decision to act is up to the individual.  Counselors intend to help students advocate and take responsibility for themselves in consultation with parents.

A great deal of information about counseling services is available through the guidance office website.  Many of the policies that govern decisions made by counselors can be found in the Guide To Curriculum or the Student/Parent Handbook . Please direct questions or concerns about this website to hedlun.walton@okemosschools.net .