College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators host annual FAFSA Day, Sat., Feb. 21st
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- College financial aid officers will be available at 65 locations across North Carolina on Saturday, February 21 from 9 a.m. until noon at all locations except Charlotte, which has extended hours (9:30 am until 3:00 pm at the ThinkCOLLEGE(R) & Career Center in the downtown Charlotte public library, and 10 am until 2 pm at UNC-Charlotte) to help high school seniors and families complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.
The FAFSA is required to be considered for all federal and most state financial aid, including scholarships and grants, for college. FAFSA Day is sponsored by College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. This year additional locations and trained volunteers are also provided by the N.C. State Employees' Credit Union and the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service.
High school seniors are encouraged to register through CFNC for the FAFSA Day Program most convenient for them. A list of all locations and registration is available at CFNC.org/fafsaday or by calling 866-866-CFNC toll-free. All sites are open to any senior; the student does not need to be planning to attend the college hosting the event.
In preparation for completing the FAFSA, participants should bring both the student's and parents' federal 1040 tax forms for 2008 to FAFSA Day. Each participating student and one parent also are encouraged to obtain Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) from the U.S. Department of Education website, www.pin.ed.gov, prior to FAFSA Day. To save time on the day of the event, it is also helpful if participants will complete as much of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet as possible prior to the program and bring a printed copy to the program. The online Worksheet is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
"It's important to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to take advantage of all of the financial aid opportunities available for North Carolinians," said Robbie Schultz, of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority and CFNC coordinator of the FAFSA Day program. "Students and parents shouldn't be concerned if they can't answer all of the questions on the form. That's why we have arranged for experienced financial aid officers to help them at each FAFSA Day site."
FAFSA Day programs will be held on college campuses and at community centers in the following locations: Ahoskie, Asheboro, Asheville, Boone, Butner, Charlotte (two locations), Concord, Dobson, Dublin, Durham, Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Franklin, Gastonia, Goldsboro, Graham, Greensboro (two locations), Greenville, Hamlet, Henderson, Hickory, Hudson, Jackson, Kenansville, Kinston, Lillington, Louisburg, Lumberton, Manteo, Marion, Morehead City, Morganton, Mount Olive, Murphy, New Bern, Pembroke, Pinehurst, Pittsboro, Raleigh (two locations), Rocky Mount, Roxboro, Salisbury, Sanford, Shelby, Smithfield, Snow Hill, Statesville, Supply, Sylva, Tarboro, Troy, Washington, Weldon, Wentworth, Whiteville, Wilkesboro, Williamston, Wilmington, Wilson, Winston-Salem, Yadkinville and Yanceyville. Building location and parking information are provided when students register for a particular site.
FAFSA Day is one of many free services offered by College Foundation of North Carolina to help students of all ages. At CFNC, families can find college cost estimators, listings of scholarship, grant and low-cost loan opportunities, information about North Carolina's 529 college savings plan, career information, virtual tours of more than 100 of the state's college campuses and online college admission and financial aid applications.
About College Foundation of North Carolina
College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), a free service of the State of North Carolina provided by Pathways, College Foundation, Inc. and the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, helps students plan, apply and pay for college.
The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority is the State agency that promotes access to higher education by administering financial aid and savings programs, informing students and families about paying for college, teaching educators about financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support students.
Pathways is a state-based initiative including North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction, the University of North Carolina System, the North Carolina Community Colleges, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities working together to increase access to college for all North Carolinians.
College Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a portfolio of more than $3.5 billion, including low-interest federal education loans, the state's college grant programs and the tax-free "529" college savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority.
CFNC offers its resources via telephone, toll-free at 1-866-866-CFNC or on its website at CFNC.org.
SOURCE College Foundation, Inc.
