Annual FAFSA event helps students apply for financial aid

The Fresno County Office of Education, in partnership with Univision, hosted its Fifth Annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) event on Saturday, Feb. 14 at eight locations throughout the Central Valley: California State University, Fresno Kremen School of Education; West Hills College-Coalinga; West Hills College-North District Center Firebaugh; West Hills College-Lemoore; Reedley College; UC Merced; College of the Sequoias-Visalia; and Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, Bakersfield. More than 1,000 families participated.

Completing a FAFSA application is critical to prospective and current college students to determine their eligibility for federal programs. Without outreach to families, especially those in which English may be their second language, many eligible students would miss the opportunity to participate in this essential first step in receiving much-needed financial aid.

Bilingual staff were available at all locations to help families complete a variety of financial aid forms, including FAFSA and the California Dream Act application. The CSUF location also hosted information booths to help students and families with financial planning, including representation from Wells Fargo, PG&E, scholarship information and other local agencies.