College Goal Sunday to give college-bound students free help with financial aid forms

College Goal Sunday is the answer for high school students and parents who are concerned that the economy and rising tuition could prevent them from continuing their education.

College Goal Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, can help high school students get the money they need to attend college. The event will give students across Kansas one-on-one assistance filling out the required Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

"Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the federal financial aid application process, but it can be a daunting task," said Kent Garrett, chair of College Goal Sunday Kansas 2013. "Our volunteers provide students and families free help in completing the FAFSA to ensure every student who plans to go to college has the chance to receive financial aid."

The event is free and open to all high school students who wish to attend college but do not know how they will finance their studies. Each student who attends the event will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship. This year, College Goal Sunday will distribute one scholarship at each of 22 site locations across Kansas.

To facilitate completion of financial aid applications, students and their parents should bring their 2012 tax return form and their W-2 forms. Students may attend even without their parents or tax information. Please visit www.CollegeGoal.org to find the location closest to your high school, as well as additional information about the event.

Federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education is the largest source of aid in America, providing more than $150 billion in grants, work-study and federal loans for students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges and career schools. College Goal Sunday makes applying for financial aid easier, easing the journey of many high school students hoping to attend college.

For locations or other information about College Goal Sunday, visit www.CollegeGoal.org .

About College Goal Sunday

The national College Goal Sunday program was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., and with supplemental support from the Lumina Foundation for Education. College Goal Sunday is a program of USA Funds^®.

In Kansas, College Goal Sunday is a nonprofit event coordinated by the Kansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (KASFAA) and other interested and dedicated volunteers. This annual event is supported by funds from USA Funds; KASFAA; and the federal College Access Challenge Grant, administered by the Kansas Board of Regents.

For more information, contact:
Office of Financial Aid, Fort Hays State University

785-628-4408

or

Jenny Stasi, Media relations representative

816-842-8111 or jstasi@trozzolo.com