10/13/21
Gadsden State to host FAFSA Night workshops
Gadsden, Ala. – Gadsden State Community College’s Financial Aid Office is hosting several FAFSA Night workshops to assist parents and students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
“In April, Alabama’s state board of education voted to add completion of the FAFSA as a high school graduation requirement in the state to take effect for the high school graduating class of 2022,” said Kelly D’Eath, Gadsden State financial aid director. “We want students and parents to know that Gadsden State is here to help. The College will offer FAFSA sessions for students and parents at our campuses with no pre-registration required.”
The FAFSA Nights will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the following locations:
- Oct. 21 – Science Building Lecture Room, East Broad Campus, Gadsden
- Oct. 26 – Cheaha Lecture Hall, Ayers Campus, Anniston
- Oct. 28 – Room 130, Gadsden State Cherokee, Centre
“In addition to the workshops, one-on-one assistance will be provided to high school seniors at the Financial Aid offices on the Ayers and East Broad campuses,” D’Eath said.
According to Chandra Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible, research reveals 92 percent of students who complete their FAFSA before graduating high school enroll in college the following fall while only 51 percent of non-completers do.
“In order for our state to fulfill the governor’s goal of 500,000 highly-skilled Alabamians with valuable postsecondary credentials by 2025, increasing FAFSA awareness and completion must be a key component,” she said. “Making the FAFSA completion a high school graduation requirement is a strong step in the right direction.”
The mandatory FAFSA completion requirement does include an opt-out provision for students and families.
Educators interested in having a Gadsden State Financial Aid team member lead a one-hour session for students and parents at your school can make a request via this form.
For more information on the FAFSA nights or financial aid at Gadsden State, please call 256-549-8266 or email finaid@gadsdenstate.edu.
The 2022-2023 FAFSA may be filed online. The application is free if completed at the Department of Education’s website at http://www.fafsa.gov. For more information visit https://studentaid.gov or call the FAFSA toll-free help line at 800-433-3243.
About Alabama Possible: AP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation whose vision is to ensure that all Alabamians have the opportunity to lead prosperous lives and to break down barriers to prosperity in Alabama through education, collaboration, and advocacy .