College Goal Sunday offers financial aid information

Fri, February 5, 2010 |

Valparaiso University will provide free information and assistance to families in Northwest Indiana filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid during College Goal Sunday on Feb. 21.

Families are invited to the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources(http://valpo.edu/library) on campus at 2 p.m. to receive assistance from the University's financial aid professionals in working through the FAFSA line-by-line and answering families' individual questions.

College Goal Sunday is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association. Now in its 21st year, College Goal Sunday has helped more than 75,000 Indiana students and families complete the complicated FAFSA form properly and on time, and has been cited as a valuable resource for first-generation college students and at-risk youth.

For Indiana students seeking undergraduate admission to a college or technical school in 2010, it is important to file the FAFSA – the form required by institutions of higher education nationwide – so that it is received by the federal processor by March 10. By filing on time, students have an improved chance of receiving federal and state grants, loans, scholarships and other financial aid.

Valpo is one of 37 sites statewide hosting College Goal Sunday events and the only Porter County location. A complete list of sites is available online at http:// www.CollegeGoalSunday.org.

Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s) and bring their parents' completed 2009 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2009 income and benefits information. Students who worked last year should also bring their income information. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2009 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2009 income and benefits information.

Students attending College Goal Sunday qualify for a chance to win a scholarship prize to help with their higher education expenses. At each of the state College Goal Sunday sites, a $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one participant.

For more information about Valpo's College Goal Sunday event, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (219) 464-5015.