**For Immediate Release**
Get Help with Financial Aid for College
-released by OPSU Campus Communications
02-10-06
Goodwell, OK - This
February, students and parents across Oklahoma will have
the opportunity to receive one-on-one, expert advice about
financial aid and planning for college during the upcoming
statewide event, College Goal SundaySM.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, students and their families can attend
College Goal Sunday on the Oklahoma Panhandle State University
campus and visit with financial aid counselors and college
staff in person from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in McKee Library. In
a single afternoon, students and their families can become
familiar with college entrance requirements, learn about
planning for college and obtain on-site assistance in filling
out financial aid application forms. Those interested in
this last service should bring their latest tax information
to the event. In addition, valuable information will be
shared about the benefits of attending college, student
support services, areas of study and different degree programs.
A professional Spanish interpreter
will be available. In addition, general information and
campus tours as well as refreshments will be offered. “College Goal Sunday
has helped many area students and their parents receive
information about the financial assistance available for
students attending Oklahoma colleges and universities.
Anyone interested is invited to attend OPSU’s event,
no matter which state school the student plans to attend,” said
Laura Dahl, OPSU Campus Communications Director.
For more information about the event,
contact Mel Riley, Financial Aid Director at 580-349-1582
or Laura Dahl at 580-349-1354.
More than 15 higher education institutions
are participating in College Goal Sunday. “College Goal Sunday is a
valuable opportunity to plan for college in a comfortable
atmosphere where students and their families can learn
about how to make college more affordable,” said
Chancellor Paul G. Risser. “In addition, those attending
will pick up useful information on how to successfully
make the transition from high school to college.” For
a complete listing of participating colleges and universities,
go to www.ogslp.org/cgs or call 1-800-858-1840.
College Goal Sunday is sponsored in
part by Lumina Foundation for Education; Oklahoma GEAR UP;
the Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program; the Oklahoma
Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; and
the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
The College
Goal SundaySM program
was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association
with funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc., and with supplemental
support from Lumina Foundation for Education.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Oklahoma with
state GEAR UP grants totaling $20.5 million in August
1999 and $20.6 million in August 2005. The grants have
been matched by more than $47 million from state and
partner resources. With the addition of the 2005 multi-year,
federal grant, Oklahoma’s GEAR UP program will
ultimately receive more than $45.6 million in federal
funds by 2011. GEAR UP receives 49 percent of total funding
from the federal government and 51 percent from other
organizations.
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