February 24 is College Goal Sunday in Louisiana | Community Spirit

Louisiana’s sixth annual College Goal Sunday will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 24, at thirteen locations around the state. The purpose of College Goal Sunday is to provide students and their families with free professional assistance in completing the primary student financial aid form, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Completing the FAFSA is the first step to take in order to receive most forms of federal student aid including Pell grants, low-interest federal student loans and to participate in the federal Work Study program. In addition, several state student financial aid programs, including the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship program and the Louisiana Go Grant need-based aid program, require completion of the FAFSA in order to qualify and access funds.

College Goal Sunday is a national program designed to help students navigate the paperwork barriers that stand between them and the money they need to attend college. Completing the
form correctly with detailed income, tax and other information can be a difficult task. On College Goal Sunday, financial aid professionals from Louisiana colleges and universities will be on hand to provide free line-by-line assistance.

As an added bonus for participants, education scholarship funds have been donated to further aid in the funding of a student’s education. Louisiana College Goal Sunday participants can
submit their names for a drawing that will award one $500.00 scholarship per location.

Anyone, from a soon-to-be high school graduate to a returning adult student, who is planning to attend any post secondary institution that participates in the Federal Title IV Aid programs during the 2013-2014 academic year can benefit from attendance. This includes public, private, technical, community, proprietary and career colleges.

Pre-registration for the event is encouraged to ensure that each site has the resources needed to assist all participants. To do so, log on to http://www.osfa.la.gov. The website will also
provide detailed information including specific records and documentation that participants will need to bring to the event.

College Goal Sunday Louisiana is sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (LASFAA) and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
(LOSFA) with assistance from the Louisiana Gear-Up and Trio programs and the Louisiana Department of Education. Funding for Louisiana College Goal Sunday is provided by the College Access Challenge Grant and a grant from USA Funds.

The thirteen 2013 College Goal Sunday site locations in Louisiana are:

Alexandria
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
Brumfield Caffey Ballroom
First Floor Student Center
Alexandria, LA 71302

Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge Community College
Bienvenue Student Center Cafeteria
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Southern University
P.B.S. Pinchback Engineering Building
High Tech Room #123
Robert E. Smith Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Bossier City
Bossier Parish Community College
Building D, Room 215
Bossier City, LA 71111

Hammond
Southeastern Louisiana University
Fayard Hall - Main Lobby
Hammond, LA 70402

Houma
Fletcher Technical Community College
Main Campus (1407 Hwy. 311)
Room 104
Houma, LA 70395

Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Moody Hall, Room 103
Lafayette, LA 70504

Lake Charles
SOWELA Technical Community College
Arts and Humanities Bldg.
First Floor Multi-Purpose Room
Lake Charles, LA 70616

Lutcher
Lutcher High School
Auditorium
Lutcher, LA 70071

Monroe
Louisiana Delta Community College
Monroe Campus - 7500 Millhaven Road
Louisiana Purchase Building, 3rd Floor, Room 310
Monroe, LA 71201

New Orleans
Delgado Community College – West Bank Campus
Building 1, Room 130
New Orleans, LA 70122

Dillard University
DUICEF HALL, Room 106
New Orleans, LA 70122

Xavier University
University Center's McCaffrey Ballroom on Drexel Dr.
New Orleans, LA 70125

For more information, visit www.osfa.la.gov or contact the Louisiana Office of Student Financial
Assistance at (225) 219-1012 or (800) 259-5626, or by Email at custserv@la.gov.