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A press conference to kick off the “Cash for
College” campaign in Fresno was held today (Jan. 19) at Fresno City Hall
.
City of Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and Councilmember Brian Calhoun joined
higher education leaders at the event to send a message to students that
college is possible and affordable. Local students also shared how
financial aid is enabling them to realize their college dreams.
“Cash for College” is a statewide effort sponsored by the California
Student Aid Commission. As part of the campaign, CSAC partners with
regional organizations such as the Central Valley Higher Education
Consortium and local volunteers to offer workshops aimed at helping
students successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid and Grade Point Average Verification Form, which are necessary to
apply for Cal Grants and other financial aid. The deadline to submit the
FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form is March 2, 2006.
Several local workshops (with some offering assistance in Spanish) are
scheduled during the months of January and February.
“Whether they attend a public or private education institution or plan
on pursuing a two- or four-year degree, resources are available to help
students pay for college,” said Dr. John D. Welty, president of
California State University, Fresno and the Central Valley Higher
Education Consortium.
Education has always been a top priority for Mayor Autry. This is the
second year he has teamed up with higher education leaders to publicize
the “Cash for College” campaign. Councilmembers Calhoun and Perea, who
recently proposed a plan aimed at increasing the college-going rates of
Fresno students, joined the effort this year.
“I know firsthand both the importance of a college education and the
financial struggles that face students,” said Councilmember Calhoun who
also is an instructor at Fresno City College. “College pays and the
‘Cash for College’ campaign gives students the tools they need to figure
out how they can pay for their education.”
“This is an excellent program that assists students to fully utilize the
financial tools available for a higher education," said Perea.
A list of “Cash for College” workshops is
available online at http://californiacashforcollege.org or by calling
the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium toll-free at 1(877)
487-7677.
Students who attend any “Cash for College” workshop and fill out a
workshop evaluation will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a
$1,000 scholarship. To claim the scholarship, students must fill out the
FAFSA and verify their Cal Grant GPA. Thanks to the generous support of
The Education Financing Foundation of California, 275 scholarships will
be awarded to students throughout the state before the end of the school
year.
Students and parents should bring their 2005 federal income tax return
forms, W-2 form or other relevant 2005-income information to a workshop.
They also should bring their driver’s license or other form of state
identification, and know their Social Security number.
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, established in March
2000, is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting programs, policies
and performance designed to increase higher education attainment in the
10-county area including Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne,
Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern. The consortium
comprises 24 public and private institutions of higher education from
Stockton to Bakersfield.
For more information about the consortium, please visit
www.CollegeNext.org or call
(559) 292-0576.
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