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Published on 02/08/07

Volunteers help with financial aid forms

By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia

Applying for financial aid for college can be confusing, especially with the paperwork that's required. Georgia parents and students can get free help with this task through the College Goal Sunday program.

College Goal Sunday is a statewide volunteer program, said Michael Rupured, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension financial expert. It provides free information and help to students and families applying for financial aid for higher education.

Feb. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Rupured and UGA Extension county agents will be among the volunteers working the program Feb. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. It will be offered at the same time in at 12 places statewide from Dalton to Waycross. A list of sites is at www.collegegoalsundayga.com.

This is the first year Georgia has taken part in the national program.

Volunteers will help families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA form is required for any student seeking federal and state financial aid, including grants and loans at all U.S. colleges.

Focus on minority, low-income students

"The purpose of College Goal Sunday is to help minority, low-income and first-generation students get into college," Rupured said. "Through a grant process funded by Lumina Foundation for Education, College Goal Sunday has assisted thousands of families with access to higher education."

Parents and students should bring their latest tax information or their last paycheck stub from 2006. Students under 24 should also bring a parent or guardian.

To learn more about College Goal Sunday, see the program's Web site at www.collegegoalsundayga.com.

The College Goal Sunday 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.

Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.