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January 12, 2012
AUGUSTA - Local state representatives today reminded all students planning to attend college in the fall of the importance of filing the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and also invited all Maine students and families in the area to attend College Goal Maine programs on Jan. 19, 29 and Feb. 8 in Topsham, Brunswick and Bath respectively for assistance in completing the FAFSA.
Reps. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, Mike Clarke, D-Bath, Alex Cornell du Houx, D-Brunswick, Peter Kent, D-Woolwich, and Charlie Priest, D-Brunswick, encourage students and their families to attend.
“As a person who grew up in Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College I know how important it is to make financial aid as accessible as possible,” said Cornell du Houx. “I will be making sure to remind the students and families I know to take advantage of the workshop in Brunswick if they can.”
College Goal Maine is a statewide volunteer program coordinated by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) that provides free information and assistance to students and families who are applying for financial aid for post-secondary education. All families with students planning to attend college are welcome to participate.
There are three events scheduled locally. The first workshop will be held Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6:00 PM at Mt. Ararat High School, 73 Eagles Way in Topsham. Participants at this event should bring their laptops as their will be no computer lab available. The second workshop will be held Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2:00 PM at Region Ten Technical High School, 68 Church Road in Brunswick. The third workshop will be on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6:00 PM at Morse High School, 826 High Street in Bath.
Financial aid professionals will provide coaching staff to walk individuals through the application line-by-line and to answer questions regarding state and federal financial aid programs. Attendees should bring copies of their most recent tax information.
The FAFSA is the gateway to all state and federal college financing, and individuals hoping to qualify for financial aid must complete and submit the form. Deadlines for filing the form vary from school to school, and students should carefully consult the deadlines of every school to which they are applying. Online forms and more information are available at: FAFSA
“Like most students, I worried about how I could afford college,” Berry said. “This is the place to start.”
For directions, to find a location nearest you, or to learn more about the program, please visit: College Sunday. Interested individuals also may contact their guidance counselor or contact FAME at 1-800-228-3734 or by e-mail at: FAME.
Contact:
Jodi Quintero [Berry, Clarke, Cornell du Houx, Kent, Priest], 287-1488, c. 841-6279