For immediate use
Carolina College Advising Corps holds special events in Surry County to promote financial aid for college
UNC-Chapel Hill advisers offer eight sessions (including one in Spanish)
(Chapel Hill, N.C. – Jan. 15, 2015) – Advisers with the Carolina College Advising Corps at Surry County high schools are banding together to educate students about financial aid for college and the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is used to determine a student’s eligibility for state and federal financial aid.
To help promote the importance of FAFSA and financial aid for college, Surry County advisers are hosting events in a variety of venues, from basketball games to media centers to cafeterias. (See list below).
Funded by grants and private gifts and based in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Corps places advisers in schools in counties with heavy populations of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. The 42 advisers in 59 high schools are close in age and circumstance to the students they serve, and the Corps aims to increase college-going rates at partner high schools. Last year, the Corps helped 4,110 high school seniors submit more than 16,000 applications to college.
Every year the federal government offers $150 billion in financial aid for college students. High school seniors should submit their FAFSA the spring before they enter college to be considered for financial aid, including grants, loans and work study programs. The FAFSA can also be used by individual colleges to determine institutional grants and scholarships. Students may start their FAFSA today and should submit it as soon as possible because financial aid in North Carolina is awarded on a first come, first served basis.
“Contrary to a common myth, there is no income cut-off to qualify for financial aid.” said Avery Keese, adviser for East Surry High School and Surry Central High School. “We encourage all students to complete a FAFSA because no one should miss out on the life-changing opportunity of college due to concerns about affordability.”
Students with questions may attend any of the events below or contact an adviser directly.
“FAFSA Madness” Information Table:
- Surry Central vs. North Surry basketball games—Friday, Jan. 16 at Surry Central High School
- Mount Airy vs. Surry Central basketball games—Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Mount Airy High School
Financial Aid Night in Spanish:
- Thursday, Jan. 22, 6:00 p.m. at Mount Airy High School (media center)
County-wide Financial Aid Night with CFNC and Surry Community College:
- Monday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m. at Surry Community College (Grand Hall)
East Surry Financial Aid Nights:
- Tuesday, Jan. 27, 6:00 p.m. at East Surry High School (Room 1)
- Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6:00 p.m. at East Surry High School (Room 1)
Mount Airy Financial Aid Night:
- Monday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m. at Mount Airy High School (media center)
North Surry Financial Aid Night:
- Tuesday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m. at North Surry High School (media center)
Surry Central Financial Aid Night
- Thursday, Feb. 5, 6:00 p.m. at Surry Central High School (cafeteria)
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For more information about any of the events, please contact:
- Andrew Treske, Elkin High School and Surry Early College High School: treske@live.unc.edu
Elkin High School: 336-835-3858
Surry Early College High School: 336-386-3621
- Avery Keese, East Surry High School and Surry Central High School: akeese@email.unc.edu
East Surry High School: 336-368-2251
Surry Central High School: 336-386-8842
- Emily Simpson, North Surry High School and Mount Airy High School: ejsimpso@live.unc.edu
Mount Airy High School: 336-789-5055
North Surry High School: 336-789-5147
For more information on the Carolina College Advising Corps, or to arrange an interview with a local adviser or principal in another area, please contact:
- Ashley Memory, Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions – 919-966-3621 or amemory@admissions.unc.edu
- Yolanda Keith, Carolina College Advising Corps Director – 919-843-7286 or ykeith@admissions.unc.edu