PRESS RELEASE
January 26, 2010 Contact: Dawn Alford, 509-542-5524
Columbia Basin College will host a free event for students and their parents interested in learning about federal financial aid for college and scholarship opportunities for Washington students.
PASCO Columbia Basin College will host College Goal Sunday Washington January 31, from 2-4 p.m., in the Thornton Science Center. The event is one of a series happening across the state for students and their families interested in learning about federal financial aid.
College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that is required to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education.
As part of each College Goal Sunday Washington event, students who attend and register on theWashBoard.org — a free, scholarship clearinghouse for Washington students — will be eligible to win a college scholarship from the Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA). NELA is contributing $26,000 towards a new College Goal Sunday Washington scholarship program.
The majority of college students need financial aid to attend college today, said Karen deVilla, Executive Director of NELA. The biggest barrier to college is money and knowing where to get the money you need.
The FAFSA is considered the gateway to accessing financial aid resources, such as school loans and scholarships. Federal student loans offer many benefits not typically found in private loans, including low fixed interest rates, income-based repayment plans, loan forgiveness, and deferment options.
Originally held the Sunday before the Super Bowl, the fourth annual College Goal Sunday Washington series of events will take place throughout January and February at multiple locations across the state. More information can be found at http://www.collegegoalsundaywa.org/event-locations/.
Nationally, events are scheduled in 47 states, plus the District of Columbia. College Goal Sunday is supported by NELA and the Lumina Foundation for Education.
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About NELA
Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA) is a not-for-profit guaranty agency that works in partnership with schools, banks and other lending institutions to help students continue their education. NELA administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and guarantees the loans against default. This guarantee allows commercial lenders to make loans to students, who often have no collateral or credit history.
About Lumina Foundation for Education
Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to and success in education beyond high school.