2008 Woodie Awards
Event focuses on college goals, aid
Cassie Rupp
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Front Page
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Approximately 141 high school students, parents, and others attended the event at the Garden High School to get assistance in filling out financial aid information.
"We weren't supposed to start until 2 p.m., but we started about 20 minutes early because people started showing up and we thought, 'we're here and we're ready, and the sooner we help them, the sooner we get done and then we can help somebody else," Kathy Blau, financial aid director and College Goal Sunday site coordinator, said.
The Garden City segment of the event took place with assistance by 33 volunteers from Southwest Kansas Technical School, GCCC, Garden City High School, Syracuse High School and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Seven of the volunteers offered bilingual assistance for Spanish speaking families.
"We have Spanish interpreters to help those who might not be familiar about the process feel more comfortable," Blau said.
The GCHS cafeteria was open with refreshments, tables, and readily available assistance for attendees seeking help with financial aid information.
"We go through the FAFSA paperwork with people and answer any questions they might have," Debbie Berkley, director of talent search and upward bound and event volunteer, said.
Volunteers at College Goal Sunday encourage students to complete FAFSA information early.
"We just take it one question at a time," Berkley said. "It's very important to understand the earlier you get FAFSA into the school, there will be less competition for financial resources available to students."
Berkley said you can complete FAFSA before submitting taxes.
"On the form, it says to have it in by April 1, but if you have all that information earlier, I would definitely suggest you get it in earlier," Berkley said.
Kansas had 20 locations of College Goal Sunday and each site gave away two $500 scholarships to college-bound students attending the event.
Sarah Cruz and Taylor Collins, Garden City High School students, were the recipients of the $500 scholarships.
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