Houlton Higher Education hosts FAFSA workshop
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Students planning to attend college this fall got a head start on filing the 2010-11 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by attending College Goal Sunday on Jan. 31.
On top of that, prospective college students who attended the event at the Houlton Higher Education Center (HHEC) were eligible for a chance at a $500 scholarship.
“There’s a $500 door prize at each location in Maine today, basically, for those who come and submit an entry,” said Otis Smith, Northern Maine Community College off-campus director. “It’s a $500 tuition scholarship that will pretty near pay for one course.” Smith, one of seven volunteers last Sunday helping with the orientation process, said names of winners at various locations throughout the state will be announced in the coming weeks.
Michael Doody of Houlton arrived with his son Jared Tapley. “I’m hoping to sign up for the FAFSA so I can get financial aid. I’m looking to go to Husson to study pharmacy,” said the Houlton High School senior who was one of the 30 participants in Houlton.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
COLLEGE BOUND — Parents Donald and Christine O’Donnell accompanied daughter Vanessa to the seminar on financial aid and grants. Vanessa said she plans to study at the Houlton Higher Education Center.
Robin Miller with the Finance Authority of Maine explained the intention was to register and train for FAFSA. “We are doing a little presentation here and they will actually be able to go online. And, we have a computer lab set up here.”
Smith said he was there to keep current because he advises students entering Northern Maine Community College and he coordinates his work with the financial aid process. “This is extremely important for people who have not begun the process of applying for aid yet. The financial aid and college admissions process is what I call a parallel process. They need to go down two separate paths at the same time. The college will refer to your financial aid status before they will tell you how much it will cost to go to that college.”
Miller explained that the process will help a student like Tapley figure out what he will be able to get for financial aid. “You have to fill out a FAFSA in order to receive a grant or a loan. All kinds of factors go into the calculation, like family income and how many members of the family are going to college.”
Also attending was the O’Donnell family of Houlton. Their daughter Vanessa said she hasn’t applied for college yet, but plans to attend HHEC. Her mother Christine said she and husband Donald were there “just to give Vanessa some support and get the necessary information for her to apply for college.” Donald O’Donnell said: “I’m not sure of what to expect but I’m going to find out about the process and I’m hopeful to get my daughter some educational funds.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
REGISTRATION — Robin Miller hands an information packet to Jared Tapley while his father Michael Doody signs up for College Goal Sunday at the Houlton Higher Education Center.
