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The Bears and the Chicago Metro chapter of the National Football Foundation are teaming up to host the annual NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards Monday at Halas Hall.

Partial college scholarships will be presented to high school student athletes who excel on and off the football field. The NFF receives nominations from head football coaches at high schools throughout the Chicago area. The winners of the scholarships are selected based on outstanding academic achievement; football ability, performance, leadership and attitude; and citizenship and community service.

Each of the three NFF Scholar-Athlete honorees will receive a $6,000 college scholarship for the 2012/2013 school year.

The Fred Mitchell Award will also be presented to an outstanding college place-kicker among the approximately 150 Division II and 240 Division III football teams. The winner was chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community.

In addition, the Bears will present community champion awards, which are modeled after the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The Bears Community Champion Awards honor high school student athletes who have made significant contributions to their community and demonstrated remarkable community service during their high school years.

Guests at the event will include scholar-athlete honorees, along with their coaches and families; NFF Chicago Metro Chapter board members; supporters of the NFF Metro Chapter; and Bears alumni players.

Home » national » DSI accuses schools of embezzling student loans

Piyanuch ThamnukasetchaiThe Nation February 21, 2012 1:00 am

“I will raise the issue at the upcoming meeting of the special case committee,” Tharit Pengdit, director-general of the DSI, said yesterday.

The committee would be asked to assign corruption cases related to the Student Loan Fund (SLF) and the Income Contingent Loan (ICL) programmes to the DSI because they caused damage to the public sector, hurt youth’s chances for an education, and involved the state budget, he said.

Each year, the government appropriates more than Bt4 billion for the SLF and ICL.

An initial inquiry suggests that 32 state and private colleges as well as universities or their staff might have siphoned money from the loan schemes in 2006 and 2007. “The administrators of these institutions were found encouraging high school students to enrol at their campuses and sign loan applications. Many students later discovered that they owe money to the SLF or ICL even though they have not really furthered their studies at the undergraduate level,” Tharit said.

Hundreds of students have refused to repay loans they said they did not really use. Their debts range from Bt80,000-Bt120,000 each. Last year, a local leader in Narathiwat helped students lodge a complaint against a higher-education institution operating in the Central region after it used the students’ paperwork to seek loans from the SLF programme.

SLF manager Dr Thada Martin said he did not think corruption involving the ICL or SLF was possible. “Students have to sign loan applications on a yearly basis for the loan money to go to the higher-educational institutions,” he said, “The loan money does not go to those institutes automatically.”

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CONWAY, Ark. (KTHV) — UCA, Central Baptist College, and Hendrix are just three of more than 30 Arkansas schools participating in College Goal Sunday to get students successfully signed up for federal and state aid.  UCA officials estimate they helped 100 students Sunday.

Olivia Opitz is one of hundreds of future Arkansas college students getting a head start on their financial aid application. She and her grandmother Eleanor took advantage of College goal Sunday and checked off a few things on their college to do list. She came in knowing nothing but we were not only welcomed, they sat us down and walked us through step by step, it was easy,” says Opitz.

Nearly 20 financial add staff members worked to help future students like Optiz fill out the FASFA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the universal application for Arkansas department of higher education scholarships.

Cheryl Lyons, UCA financial aid director, says they host this event early so students have a leg up on scholarships and other aid. “Certainly it can effect state aid eligibility as well as private funds and institutional funds because many of those use the federal aid application to determine eligibility so the earlier a student can apply, the better.”

UCA isn’t the only college helping students in their new business building. Hendrix and Central Baptist Colleges were both on hand helping as well. Lyons says today is all about getting students prepared and acclimated to college. “Some of these students have never stepped on a university before so it’s a great entry way.”

Many of those students, like Optiz are excited about their new start and glad a portion of the financial process is complete. “Having it all done right now and not waiting until the last minute is great, I’m just glad it’s done with.”

The process begins with students meeting with staff. They go over the application process and then a staff member takes them to a computer lab. They complete the forms on-line, which takes about 30 minutes to finish.

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Published: Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:25 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:25 a.m.

Brevard College recently received a check for $9,000 from the Connestee Falls Scholarship Program to help support local Transylvania County students attending Brevard College.

“Students at Brevard College benefit greatly from the continued generosity of residents of Connestee Falls,” said Brevard College President David Joyce. “We very much value our relationship with Connestee Falls and are grateful for the community’s long history of supporting higher education in our community,”

“Connestee Falls residents place a very high value on education and we are pleased to be able to help local students annually with these scholarship funds,” said Bill Watson, last year’s co-chair of the Connestee Falls Scholarship Program and member of the Brevard College Board of Visitors.

Begun in 1987, the Connestee Falls Scholarship Program has benefited many talented and deserving students from Transylvania County.

Brevard College alone has been the recipient of more than $100,000 since the inception of this program. These scholarships have provided academic support to more than 70 students during the past 25 years.

Tigerville, s.c.

University announces fall 2011 dean’s list

North Greenville University recognized area students for academic accomplishments by naming them to the dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must maintain a 3.5 grade point average while taking a minimum of 12 hours.

Flat Rock: Hannah Faye Hall

Fletcher: William Casen Guge

Hendersonville: Timothy John Hendrix, Nicholas Christopher Mang, Anthony Eric Reese, Allison Denise Walden, Courtney Lynn Stepp, Ethan Christopher Strange, Christina Oneita Stuckey; Mills River: Kaylin Renae Waldrop; Zirconia: Caleb Lamar Levi, Nathan Wesley Levi

Wingate

Local students named to dean’s list

WINGATE — Wingate University has announced students from the area who have been named to the dean’s list for demonstrating outstanding academic achievement during the fall 2011 semester. The dean’s list requires a term GPA of 3.30 or at least 12 quality point academic hours with no grade below a C.

The following students have been named to the dean’s list at Wingate University for the fall 2011 semester: Rebecca Allen of Arden, Matthew Potter of Arden, Dalena Le of Fletcher

Spartanburg, s.c.

Patterson honored at Converse College

Converse College announces that Emily Moore Patterson of Hendersonville has been named to the Fall 2011 Dean’s List at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. Patterson is a Freshman.

Boone

McDonald makes dean’s list at ASU

Sarah Marie McDonald, a sophomore at Appalachian State University, made the dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester. McDonald is majoring in secondary English and creative wrting.

Winston-salem

Wake Forest fall 2011 dean’s list

The following local residents from Wake Forest University who made the fall dean’s list: Patrick O’Rourke Brevard; Jessica Blackburn of Columbus; Tiffany Blackburn of Columbus; Brandon West of Fletcher; Elizabeth Odom of Naples; Michael Richard Owen of Hendersonville; Ian Rosner of Hendersonville.

Natchitoches, la.

Hillard on honor list

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Brandon Scott Hillard of Hendersonville was named to the honor list at Northwestern State University of Louisiana for the fall 2011 semester. Students must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern State and have a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49.

Mars Hill

College announces fall honor roll

The following Mars Hill College students were named on the honor roll of the academic dean at the end of the fall 2011 semester. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 on a minimum of 12 semester hours, and carry no grade below a C.

Arden: Jessica Paige Epley, Autumn Hope McKinney, Caryn Bria Monroe

Brevard: Brittany Leanne Marcum, Laura Ann Tompkins

Dana: Dinah Grace Watkins

Flat Rock: Courtney Brooke Jackson, Austin Frederick Williams

Fletcher: James Clinton Dillingham, Tammy Freeman Garavaglia, Jessica Lee Green, Christian Nicole Singleton, Chelsea Marie Spillars, Phelisa Williams Underwood, Denise Ranae Whiteside,

Hendersonville: Ashley Lynn Caudle, Corey Daniel Denham, Hope Cagle Dillon, Kelly Leigh Fiveash, Dawn Courter Freeman, Kayla Renee Gibbs, Laura Ann Huskey, John Joseph McCarson, Rebekah Faith Musselwhite, Jennifer Elise Nordine, Laura Marie Rice, Kevin Blaine Searcy, Edward Louis Whitehead

Horse Shoe: Jessica Gabriel Fuentes

Lynn: Amber Victoria Abunassar

Mill Spring: Samantha Jean Mazzilli, Zachary Andrew Searcy

Mountain Home: Shelby Diana Gaillard, Phillip Andrew Martin

Pisgah Forest: James Zachary Allender

Prepping kids for success in the real world should start in advance of the college-application process.

Graduating from college tends to bring the last snip of mom and dad’s purse strings; grads enter the real world of full-time jobs, rent, taxes, credit cards and,for most, student loans.

To help make the transition easier, parents should use practical, real-life examples to guide their high-school aged teens to financial independence.

“One of the best steps is to teach children about general money management, savings, and budgeting at a very young age so that when they’re interested in credit, there’s a strong foundation,” says Laura Levine, president and CEO at Jump$tart Coalition.

Most schools do not offer money or personal finance classes, so parents’ first step is to gauge how much of an understanding their kids have about finances. As a general rule, “someone’s not ready to borrow until they know how to save,” says Laura Fisher, executive director at ABA Education Foundation. Hands-on experience can be valuable for teens. “The best time for a teen to learn is when they have the safety net of their parents. Finance isn’t intuitive, and parents shouldn’t be afraid to be too basic.”

Parents can use their finances as a teaching tool provided there’s an element of trust. “Your mistakes and successes are great teaching opportunities, and the best time to learn is before teens have trouble and not after,” says Rod Griffin, director of consumer education at Experian.

For more private parents, there are online simulations that can show what financial statements and bills looks like, and other important finance skills.

Teaching Sound Financial-Making Skills

Once a teen understands the value of savings, experts recommend starting conversations about budgeting followed by lessons in loans and interest. “If a child is engaging with you and asking questions, then they’re ready to move onto the next level,” says Jason Alderman, senior director at Visa.

Parents should show their teen the economics of a purchasing decision. At a grocery store, for example, Leslie Linfield, executive director and founder of the Institute for Financial Literacy, suggests parents discuss why they choose one item over another, how to read price tags and calculate discounts.

When using a credit card, be sure to show kids the implications of spending and how the credit process works. “Show them the bill so they can see the charges,” says Linfield. “Explain that you have two choices—to pay off the bill or not—and explain the repercussions of not paying the bill, like finance charges and the affect on your credit report.”

Also detail to kids about loans for homes and cars and how long it takes to save for these big-ticket purchases.

Parents should walk a child through interest calculations using websites to calculate loan payments to show the interest charged on credit cards and loans, and the time needed to pay down debt. “This way, a child can begin to decide whether paying for something with a credit card or loan is really the best option because of the interest,” Linfield says.

Before Getting Behind the Wheel

When a teen is old enough to drive, experts suggests talking about how to buy a car and the ongoing expenses—saving for a down payment, new versus used, how loans work, annual taxes, and insurance—to give a child a complete picture of the financial obligations of car ownership. “Regardless of whether your child is ready to handle a car loan, you can still talk to them about this,” Levine says.

Parents can build on this conversation and create real-world experience. “The easiest way to learn about credit is through a car loan,” says Griffin. “If you borrow money, you have to pay it back even if a family member made the loan. A car loan with a bank might be a good way for a teen to establish credit and learn how to repay debt.”

Although not for everyone, some parents may choose to lend their child money. “As a parent, you have to be disciplined enough to collect on the loan as if you’re a lending institution,” Levine says. “If you’re not disciplined, you might do more harm than good.”

Credit Cards & Kids

Despite what teens may claim, credit cards are not a rite of passage. “Parents should be honest with themselves about whether their child is ready for this responsibility,” says Alderman.

Parents must co-sign on credit cards for a child who’s under 18, and, as part of the Credit CARD Act, consumers between 18 and 21 years old need a co-signer on their credit cards unless they have an independent means to repay the loan. “Parents can co-sign on a credit card to help a child establish a credit history, but parents are on the hook for debt and their credit,” says Fisher.

Regardless of whether a parent decides to give their teen a credit card, Fisher suggests using this opportunity to teach teens habits like organization skills, knowing when bills are due, and paying bills on time.

When a teen is ready for a credit card, experts recommend parents help choose the credit card. “We want to teach children to pick the best option when it’s time to get credit,” says Linfield. “There isn’t one card that works best for all of us. It’s important for all consumers to understand that there are differences, and that it’s important to check them out.”

If a parent gives a teen a credit card, Alderman suggests parents monitor their teen by sitting with them weekly in front of a computer to review purchases and talk through the statement. If there are late fees, parents should talk about solutions and stay involved to know how their teen is using the credit card, he adds.

As an alternative, many parents ask whether prepaid debit cards help to prepare their children for managing credit. “They can be good tools, but they don’t prepare you for credit because you’re spending your own money and not making any payments,” Levine says.

Credit Reports

Griffin encourages parents to share with teens their credit report or a sample credit report from websites like Experian.com. Credit reports include payment histories used by lenders to help make lending decisions. “Credit is a good financial tool, but debt can drag you down,” he says.

Experts agree that teens who understand credit and loans will be better prepared for adult challenges. “If you convey to your child that what you do now will affect their future, it will make lenders want to lend to you at a low rate,” Levine says. “Conversely, if you mismanage your early credit, that history will stay with you and affect whether you can borrow and the rate you can borrow at.”

“If we teach our children now, we’re boosting their personal finance immune system and they’ll be far less likely to catch a financial cold and have significant amounts of debt to dig themselves out of,” says Alderman.

Student loan debt is gradually presenting itself as the next big financial hurdle nationwide.

The average debt students faced from loans exceeded $25,000 in 2010, the highest yet, according to the Project of Student Debt in Oakland.

In a report by the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, a quarter of the attorneys said that the number of student loan clients has increased 50 – 100 percent.

Students in financial need depend on either federal or private loans to pay for their degree. Federal loans include subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Many students will opt for the unsubsidized federal loan for its lower rate. However, obstacles are making the process harder on students.

“You need to have very good credit to get a good rate,” said Mirna Valenzuela, a financial aid counselor at DePaul University. “Students have to shop around.”

While federal loans are the preferred method, undergraduate students cannot rely on them for all their financial aid.

“Federal government only allows you to borrow so much as an undergraduate,” said Valenzuela, who explained that undergraduates are limited to $5,000-$12,000 in federal loans.

Many undergraduate students must apply for private loans, which have a greater interest rate, and often require cosigners. Parents are commonly the cosigners to private loans, but parents prefer the loans be on the student’s account, so that the debt is not shared, according to Valenzuela.

Stef Gray, 23, a recent college graduate on the East Coast, began a petition against private loan distributor, Sally Mae, after being required to pay a $300 fee for needing to delay her payments because she was unemployed, a process called forbearance. On top of that, she pays a 9.75 percent interest rate because she did not have someone to cosign her loan.

“As an unemployed person desperately looking for work, I need every extra dollar I have to pay for rent, electricity and groceries,” Gray said on her petition website. “But Sallie Mae is preying on people like me and cashing in on the fact that we need more time to find work before we can repay our student loans.”

Gray said that none of the fees went to paying her loan down and her debt continues to grow by approximately $1,200.

Students and staff at DePaul are looking for answers to the situation, but students argue that they need the loans to earn a higher degree to get them the job that they will need to pay off their loans.

“I assume that I will deal with them for the next 20-30 years. However, I think it’s worth it because I had no other options,” said Kelson Fagan, a graduate student at DePaul. “I moved to a new city for school, had no job and even now I can only work part time so I can focus on school.”

DePaul University offers some guidance to students who are completing their degrees and nearing the repayment stage of their loans.

“Every time a student completes their degree, we send out information on exit counseling,” said Karen LeVeque, director of Financial and Student Services at DePaul.

LeVeque urges students to look at DePaul’s Financial Fitness Program, a free service to students that provides money management workshops, one-on-one financial counseling and online resources for making financial choices after college.

On a national scale, President Obama proposed a $10 billion increase in campus-based funds that are aimed to support more financial aid for students. He is also proposing greater aid to colleges that can keep tuition down.

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 20, 2012 — Central Texas college-bound students are encouraged to apply for college education assistance.

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium (HSC) is accepting scholarship applications for the 2012-2013 academic year.  Central Texas area high school seniors and currently enrolled undergraduate students are encouraged to apply. 

“We are inviting highly motivated individuals who have a vision for their future, have a plan to meet their goals, and are committed to their personal, professional and academic development to apply for the 2012-2013 HSC Scholarship Program,” said HSC Executive Director Octavio A. Hinojosa Mier.

HSC’s unique approach to scholarship services goes beyond traditional educational services by empowering students and their families through scholarship assistance and use of culturally relevant mentorship and leadership opportunities. that have resulted in HSC scholarship recipients having among the highest college completion rates in the United States.  To apply on-line for the 2012-2013 HSC Scholarship Program, please visit www.hispanicscholar.org.  

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

$2,000—$5,000 renewable college scholarships
Elite multi-day leadership training experience led by a team of professionals
Mentoring by caring adults in similar career paths and access to professional networks
Membership in an exceptional cohort and network of HSC Scholars and alumni
Regular communication and guidance by trained professionals and specific assistance for first-generation college students 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must be of Hispanic/Latino origin/descent, *
Plan to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year U.S. college/university on a full-time basis throughout the 2012-2013 academic year,
Hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale,
Reside in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Travis, or Williamson Counties, and
Demonstrate financial need, leadership aptitude and community service.

     *Applicants of mixed heritage are encouraged to apply as long one parent is of Hispanic origin.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The application must be accompanied by:

Official transcript
Copy of 2011 Student Aid Report (SAR) from Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or paper FAFSA/TASFA
Copy of permanent resident ID card for those who hold one
Letter(s) of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, mentor or coach

APPLICATION, DEADLINE, AND CONTACT INFOApplication opened:  January 20, 2012

Application deadline: 11:59 P.M., Friday, March 16, 2012

Apply online at: www.hispanicscholar.org.

Contact: scholarships@hispanicscholar.org/ 512.368.2956

About The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium:HSC was founded in 2004 as a 501(c)(3) organization in Austin, Texas as a consortium of dedicated organizations, businesses and individuals to leverage their resources in providing scholarships to area students.  Since its establishment, HSC has awarded nearly $1 million in financial assistance to Texas students, which is augmented by a network of mentors that empowers scholars to graduate from college as workforce ready professionals.  Over eighty percent of HSC Scholars complete their four-year degree. For more information about HSC, please visit www.hispanicscholar.org/,

Contact: Octavio Hinojosa / Tel: 512.368.2956 ext. 218

SOURCE Hispanic Scholarship Consortium

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La Crosse, WI (WXOW)– Colleges and universities across Wisconsin held financial aid seminars this weekend. The goal: to help high school seniors plan for the fall.  

Not all high school seniors know what they want to do after graduation but Vanessa Hegge does.

“I wanna help people. I’ve always wanted to go into the health, medicine, stuff like that, but in the last year I’ve narrowed it down to radiography at TC,” Hegge said.

For this 17-year-old, the only thing standing in her way is financing her education.

“I don’t want to put all that expense on my mom,” Hegge said. “And I don’t know how I’m gonna do it, but nowadays you need a college degree to do anything or get anywhere.”

Vanessa and her mom attended a financial aid session at UW-L to learn about the process.

“The first thing that families want to do is complete the free application for federal student aid, the FAFSA form,” said Christina Hayes, assistant director of financial aid at UW-L. “And that’s what we’re here to help out with. To make sure they understand what the FAFSA is, how to fill it out.”

The event was part of college goal Wisconsin; a statewide initiative to help students through the financial aid process.

“It’s taken some of the questions away so that I know, there’s a lot of other scholarships that I found, that we could go for,” said Carolyn Hegge, Vanessa’s mom.

For the Hegge’s filling out the FAFSA, and knowing they will get some kind of aid, means Vanessa can look forward to the fall.

“I think it’s worth it so she can be all she can be,” said Carolyn Hegge.

“It’ll mean a better life,” said Vanessa. “A college education will mean I’ll be able to help people the way I want.”

After the FAFSA form is completed, the colleges and universities a student is accepted to will send out an aid package with details about the loans and grants.

For more information on filling out FAFSA forms or if you have other financial aid questions, you log on to www.CollegeGoalWI.org.

by David Wong Feb 19, 2012 4:28 pm Tags: california, DREAM Act, immigration law, SAHE, SJSU

Immigrant and undocumented students will be eligible for Cal Grants starting in the fall 2013 semester when the California DREAM Act takes effect.

“(This act can) create a safe culture on campus for a student to reveal their undocumented status, which may help in creating a network of support” said Caz Salamanca, interim associate director for MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center.

The MOSAIC Center provides social diversity information and resources to students, according to the department’s website.

“(We need to) drop the word illegal alien…it criminalizes undocumented students (and is) very dehumanizing,” he said.

The California DREAM Act of 2011, or Assembly Bill 131 outlines scholarship and grant opportunities applicable to students who live in the state, these opportunities would be the same as those offered to California residents with citizenships – the onus is on school officials to offer all available aid, according to the document.

The Act was passed on October 9, 2011 when Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill, enacting the legislation.

To qualify for the financial aid, a student must satisfy these conditions, according to californiadreamact.org:

1. Attend a California secondary school for three or more years; at least one year needs to be at a California high school.

2. Graduate from a California secondary school or attain the equivalent.

3. If undocumented, the filing of an affidavit with the college or university stating that they have applied for a lawful immigration status or will apply as soon as they are eligible to do so.

Assembly Bill 540 is a 2001 law that allows undocumented students the ability to pay in-state resident tuition if they attended a California high school and received a diploma or equivalent certification, according to the Student Outreach & Recruitment department.

According to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, there are currently 350 AB 540 students enrolled at the SJSU, including students who are here on a student visa.

Instead of filing a FAFSA, undocumented students would fill out a still-in-development application (expected to be ready by January 2013) to determine eligibility for financial aid, according to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.

The DREAM ACT would not create new programs for the Fall 2013–Spring 2014 academic year to offer students and AB 540 students will not begin receiving funds until all legal residents have applied for aid, according to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.

MOSAIC hosts the AB 540 Help Desk, which helps AB 540 students with resources and assistance, according to the Education Opportunity Program AB 540 Resource Guide.

Student Advocates for Higher Education promotes higher education among immigrant students regardless of legal status, according to the Education Opportunity Program AB 540 Resource Guide

The organization held its first meeting of the semester on Thursday in room 525 of the Cultural Heritage Center Meeting Room at King Library.

Cesar Juarez, a social sciences graduate and an events organizer, is one of the senior members of the group, having been with SAHE since 2007.

The DREAM Act is a point of pride with Juarez, who said SAHE spoke with local and state politicians to increase awareness of the DREAM Act.

“(SAHE gives) presentations in high school, community centers, and churches to make community members aware about AB 540 and the DREAM ACT (and what it means for them),” Juarez said.

Daniel Villalobos, a sophomore graphic design major, said “I’m very excited (by the Act’s passage), I have a cousin who doesn’t have her papers, so I’m excited for her to be able to go to college.”

In the 2009-2010 school year, Associated Students said they passed a resolution that advocated for AB 540 students, as it supported a change in language that allows undocumented students to become eligible for AS scholarships that were normally not offered.

The resolution outlines the unclear wording of the ST. S. Saffold Scholarship offered by Associated Students, which provides no help to students who cannot file a FAFSA, the rest deals with a change in terminology regarding undocumented students and AS’ backing on all programs and opportunities made available.

Liliana Salazar, a senior engineering major and SAHE member, is an undocumented student and said she was unaware of the obstacles facing her when figuring out how to pay for school.

“When I told (my high school counselors about my undocumented status) they stopped helping me,” Salazar said.  ”I had to figure out how to go to college on my own…it’s been super-stressful, it’s like another class.”

She said her prospects for employment are affected by her status.

“It is difficult to obtain engineering internships and work; the majority are federally funded — sometimes it’s very depressing to feel that you have some much potential and not have the opportunity to show it,” Salazar said.

Salazar said she believes the DREAM Act is a step in the right direction by presenting undocumented students as capable students and “not just another statistic.”

Though it’s too late to reap the benefits of the DREAM Act, Salazar said her sisters will be able to apply for financial aid to attend universities.

She said the ultimate goal for undocumented students is for them to obtain citizenship, but in the meantime it’s necessary to educate students on what aid and support groups are available to them.

“I would like to be able to help my community by establishing programs for minority students focused on the sciences and engineering,” Salazar said.

The expected financial impact of the DREAM Act on SJSU is expected to be minimal, according to Marcos Pizarro, a Mexican-American studies professor.

“I don’t think it’s going to have a dramatic effect on the University,” he said. “The biggest issue the country needs to figure out is how to get these students employment opportunities once they graduate and want to contribute to the community.”

Pizarro said he believes there needs to be a federal law to address the lack of employment opportunities for undocumented students, as they are a vibrant and critical part of our community, they often came here at a very young age, grew up here, and want to give back to their communities.

“They work very hard, pay for their entire education on their own, volunteer, and add a vital and unique perspective to the intellectual community at SJSU — the least we can do is to treat them like we do the rest of the students they have gone to school with all of their lives,” Pizarro said.

Opponents of undocumented immigrant rights are displeased with the passage of the DREAM act, according to a statement by California Assemblyman, Tim Donnelly of the 59th district.

“The simple truth is, we do not have the money (to pay for undocumented students’ education) — AB 131 is irresponsible, insulting and unfair,” he stated on his website.

The website said providing public funds to undocumented students for higher education was an increased burden to taxpayers.

Pizarro refutes Donnelly’s assertion.

“The reality is that undocumented folks contribute in very significant ways to the economy on multiple levels, not the least of which is taxes collected to pay for public schooling,” Pizarro said.

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) – College bound students across the state of Arkansas took advantage of the opportunity to participate in College Goal Sunday.

College Goal Sunday is a national volunteer program that provides free financial aid assistance to students and parents.

ASU financial aid director Terry Finney wants to ease part of the stress that comes with getting ready for college by helping high school students and parents make sense of the financial aid forms.

“(College Goal Sunday) goes on around the state. There are several colleges and universities around the state in fact around the nation that are having this day today,” Finney said.

Financial aid administrators at Arkansas State University assisted students with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Arkansas Universal Scholarship Application from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jonesboro High School senior Devonte Green already has an athletic scholarship, but wanted to participate in College Goal Sunday because he and his mother believe every little bit helps.

“Coach he was like ‘get as much money for college as possible because you never know what you’ll plan on doing in the future’, so if I get this done, get the financial aid it’s going to help more than my scholarship.”

“It’s a blessing to be able to come here and apply for things, help to go to school because a lot of people think they can’t go because they don’t have money, but they’re making it possible for everybody to be able to go if they want to go,” said Green’s mom Tonya Harris.

College bound students are required to complete a FAFSA in order to be considered for federal aid, and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship that is funded by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.

During the 2011-2012 school year the U.S. Department of education has received more than 18 million FAFSA forms, according to finaid.org. Finney said the way to for students to increase their chances for the “free money” is to make sure the form is correct, and get it in early. “You can’t receive any of the federal programs whatever you’re eligible for without filling out the FAFSA.”

“If you haven’t filled your FAFSA out, feel free to contact our office or the college financial aid office that you plan to attend talk to your high school counselor because they can help you.”

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education, YMCA, Lumina Foundation and Arkansas Association of Student Aid Administrators sponsored Arkansas College Goal Sunday.  

Click here to go the FAFSA web site.

 Copyright 2012 KAIT. All rights reserved.