State Employees’ Credit Union branches and Lenoir Community College will host a statewide FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Day, serving those needing help with completing the federal aid form.
Nearly 60 people have registered across the LCC campuses in Kinston, Snow Hill and Trenton for the event sponsored by College Foundation of North Carolina, although registration is not required to attend today’s event from 9 a.m. to noon.
“Anyone that needs assistance with their FAFSA application is welcome to come,” said Brandi Massey, LCC financial aid director.
Only the Kinston campus houses a financial aid office, so representatives will be present at the Greene and Jones County campuses assisted by community volunteers.
The event is designed to assist anyone with filling out their FAFSA — from high school students and their parents to those already in college.
LCC student Dwayne Canady already completed his FAFSA, but said the event can have a significant impact.
“I think it’s very important,” said Canady, who studies human services. “I think it’s a privilege for someone to be able to get a jump on it. If school is that important to you, you want to be able to submit (financial aid) information.”
He said he went directly to a financial aid advisor before he started school this semester and knocked out his forms step-by-step. He will still visit the advisor to ensure he completed everything correctly.
Erick Waters won’t visit his LCC campus today, as his personal advisor helped him file his first application.
“Some people don’t have a person to go to and help them,” he said. “Some people are lost and don’t know what to do. It’s very conventional to have a day like this for students to get their financial aid filled out.”
Waters is in his second semester at the college and completed his first FAFSA himself.
“It was very simple and very easy,” he said.
Massey said there aren’t many difficulties in completing the form, but dealing with the required information can be tricky.
“Anytime you deal with tax returns, numbers and money, I think people just feel they need some assistance,” said the director, who’s been in financial aid for nine years. “If they can’t come today, they’re welcome to come to our office anytime and we’ll still help them. … (The FAFSA Day) helped a lot of students each year get the application done and really help them secure the fact they’re getting financial aid to go to college.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
BREAKOUT BOX:
Lenoir Community Colleges to host College Foundation of North Carolina-sponsored FAFSA Day today from 9 a.m. to noon:
LenoirCounty
231 N.C. 58 in Kinston
252-527-6223
JonesCounty
509 N.C. 58 in Trenton
252-448-5021
GreeneCounty
818 N.C. 91 in Snow Hill
252-747-3434