Students and Families to Learn About Ways to Pay for College
Manchester, CT – (December 16, 2008)…Manchester Community College (MCC) will sponsor College Goal Sunday Connecticut, a volunteer, charitable effort to assist low-income families, high school seniors and juniors, minority students and first-generation college students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The event will be held on Sunday, January 25, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Arts, Sciences and Technology Center at MCC, as well as at 11 additional sites throughout Connecticut. Students and their parents will receive one-on-one, expert advice about financial aid and planning for college during this statewide event.
“The College Goal Sunday program is an excellent opportunity for students and their families to receive information that makes going to college accessible and affordable. This is a relaxed and individualized environment with no pressure to make an immediate decision, but provides extensive information with which a decision -immediate or delayed- can be made with confidence and understanding,” stated Alfred L. Carter, dean of students at MCC.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that is required to apply for financial assistance for higher education. During College Goal Sunday at MCC, professional financial aid personnel will assist students and their families in completing and submitting their FAFSA form online. Valuable information about the benefits of attending college, student support services, areas of study and different degree programs will also be provided.
“This program gives participants the opportunity to learn how to secure funding to pursue a degree or certificate in college. The volunteers and the site coordinators are dedicated, committed individuals who make themselves available to help students.” stated Ivette Rivera-Dreyer, director of financial aid at MCC and College Goal Sunday Connecticut coordinator.
“As a nation and in this global world, we cannot afford to have students out of college because they cannot afford it.”
College Goal Sunday Connecticut will be offered at the following sites throughout Connecticut: Capital Community College, 950 Main Street, Hartford;
Central High School Bridgeport, 1 Lincoln Blvd, Bridgeport;
Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham Street, Willimantic;
Gateway Community College, Long Wharf Campus, 60 Sergeant Drive, New Haven;
Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown;
Norwalk Community College, 188 Richards Avenue, Norwalk;
Post University, 800 Country Club Road, Waterbury;
Saint Joseph College, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford;
The Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport;
New London Science and Technology Magnet High School, 490 Jefferson Avenue,
New London;
Western Connecticut State University, 181 White Street, Danbury.
This event is funded and sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA), the Connecticut Association of Educational Opportunity Program (CAEOP), the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administration (NASFAA) and the Lumina Foundation.
For more information about College Goal Sunday at Manchester Community College, call
860-512-3382 or 860-512-3384; email, irivera-dreyer@manchestercc.edu or jbailey@manchestercc.edu, or visit www.collegegoalsundayct.org. For more information about College Goal Sunday Connecticut call 1-800-277-2270; email, info@collegegoalsundayct.org or visit www.collegegoalsundayct.org.
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Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.
