Parents and students can expect hands-on assistance with Scholarship and FAFSA applications at Patagonia Union High School’s (PUHS) half-day workshop for parents and students on financial aid and scholarships on Tuesday, February 9 from 1:30p.m. to 6:00 p.m.in the high school computer lab. The participants will be working one-on-one with school counselors, college financial advisors and community volunteers on scholarship opportunities and the actual FAFSA application.
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is a form that is prepared by students and parents to determine their eligibility for college or technical school financial assistance.
PUHS Guidance Counselor Rosann Clark said, “The key to FAFSA is to get your application in early. The sooner a student can determine how much aid is available to him or her, the easier it is to financially plan for the next year of college or technical school. I have also heard that at some point during the year FAFSA funding runs out. The government has approximately $150 billion for student aid and it is distributed on a first come – first served basis. You do not want to be at the end of the line!”
Clark continues, “The FAFSA application is complicated and can be intimidating, even for the best of us. FAFSA is the first critical step in applying for financial aid and it is often required in order for students to apply for state aid, scholarships, grants or financial aid from their college or technical school. Our goal for the day is for every student to complete their application or to at least start their application and walk away with the tools and knowledge they need to complete it at a later date.”
PUHS will be sending Emails and letters home announcing the event and will provide a check list of documents and information that the family will need to bring with them to complete the application.
FAFSA calls for 2015 W2 and tax information. If parents have not yet filed their 2015 taxes, they will receive the information they need to complete the forms when they do get their taxes completed.
The event is open to the community. PUHS welcomes any student from the area that is homeschooled or adults that are looking to continue their education and want to learn about FAFSA and scholarships. Students and families with questions can call Rosann Clark at Patagonia Union High School at (520) 394-3010 for more information.