Davenport University will serve as a host site for "College Goal Sunday" on Sunday, Feb. 14, in a joint effort locally with Hope College as part of a nationally organized opportunity for families to obtain assistance in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The event is intended for any student who will be attending a college or university in the fall of 2010 and is seeking financial aid. The assistance is free.
The session will take place at Davenport University in Holland, 643 Waverly Rd., from 1 to 4 p.m., with families able to stop in throughout the duration of the event. Families will have the opportunity to complete the FAFSA with assistance from trained volunteers. Financial aid personnel from a variety of area colleges and universities will be on-hand to answer questions as well.
The FAFSA is required for any student seeking federal and state financial aid, including grants and loans at all colleges in the country. The deadline for submitting the form for maximum aid eligibility in the fall of 2010 is March 1.
Students under 23 years of age are encouraged to attend with a parent or guardian. A checklist of materials that students should bring along to assist in completing the form, including their family's completed 2009 IRS 1040 tax return (if possible) and their W-2 form, is available at www.micollegegoal.org.
Students and families are encouraged to visit the host site nearest them, regardless of the college or university that they plan to attend. Additional host sites in West Michigan include Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor; the Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency in Fremont; the Pew Campus of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo; and Muskegon Community College in Muskegon.
College Goal Sunday began in Indiana in 1989 as a joint project of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association and the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. States across the nation now participate, although the specific dates vary.
College Goal Sunday in Michigan is a collaborative effort of the Michigan Guaranty Agency, the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association and EduGuide. The program was created to increase the number of students who continue education beyond high school and earn post-secondary degrees. Last year, 3,373 students received assistance at College Goal Sunday events in Michigan.
Additional information about College Goal Sunday in Michigan, including a complete listing of host sites, is available at www.micollegegoal.org.