Area students came away as winners at Sunday’s College Goal Sunday at Allen County Community College.
And while four area students won $500 scholarships in a drawing, all were rewarded with valuable information as to how they can afford a higher education.
Almost 50 high school seniors attended the event which is staged on 23 college campuses in Kansas, including ACCC and Pittsburg State University. Sunday’s winners were Toni Taylor, Iola High School, Gavin Betzen, Humboldt High School, and Macee Tully and Nicole Munson, Crest High School at Colony.
Vicki Curry, director of financial aid at ACCC, said the event is “an opportunity for high school students to learn about federal aid, as well as state grants and a wide variety of scholarships.”
Information wasn’t specific to a particular school, Curry stressed, but helpful for any kind of college, university or technical school.
“The students are made aware of deadlines at different schools — they aren’t all the same — and encouraged to make a special effort to meet them,” she said.
Curry said any student was eligible for a federal loan, available in two forms.
Subsidized loans, for those who meet asset guidelines, have an interest rate of 4.5 percent and no interest accrues as long the recipient is in school. Unsubsidized loans are available to any student, regardless of asset availability, and have an interest rate of 6.189 percent, which accrues while the student is in school. Repayment for either starts after a recipient has been out of school for six continuous months.
Other federal awards, through Pell grants and work-study, are needs-based. Pell grants require no repayment.
As for scholarships, Curry said all schools have them. Some are needs-based and others are determined by academic standing.
“Ours at Allen are based just on academics,” she said.
Scholarships awarded through the ACCC’s endowment association have three hours of community service attached, Curry said, to give students a better sense of the community.
She said College Goal Sunday was an excellent opportunity for high school students and their parents to get a better idea of what financial aid was available and how to go about making application.
Also, Curry carries information about financial aid to area high schools each year through evening meetings. Most of those sessions have been held. Students who want more information may contact Curry at ACCC, 365-5116.
Event puts college dreams within reach
