February 2, 2006 - The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education selected Estrella Mountain Community College as a special site of its tenth annual College Goal Sunday, a weekend event that gives potential students a convenient opportunity to learn about and apply for financial aid options. The event will be held at Estrella Mountain, the westernmost of the Maricopa Community Colleges on Sunday, February 12, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and is free and open to the public. The weekend hours afford a convenient time for families to attend, without interfering with work schedules.Financial aid experts from the Arizona Association of Financial Aid Administrators will assist and lead students in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form on location. Students interested in learning more about and applying for financial aid, from Pell Grants to student loans, should bring their 2005 tax information, or their final December 2005 paycheck stub. For participants under the age of 24, the FAFSA forms require the tax information of a parent or guardian. Additionally, students have the opportunity to enter in a number of drawings with prizes ranging from $20,000 in scholarships to new Dell computers. The Commission will provide assistance in English, Spanish and Native languages.The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education, a division of the State of Arizona, has hosted the annual event for over ten years, in an effort to demystify the financial aid process and encourage post-secondary education options for all citizens in Arizona, and especially among first-generation students. This year's event is offered at 29 different locations across the state. Arizona residents have traditionally received an average of $400 million dollars a year in Federal aid, yet many potential students are still unaware of Federal assistance programs to aid them in continuing their education. The current cost of tuition at a community college is only $55.00 per credit, an average of nearly $13,000 per year at a public, four year university, and over $27,000 per year for most private universities.For more information about College Goal Sunday, visit www.collegegoalsunday.com. For media, contact Nicole DeLeon, Office of Marketing and Public Relations, 623.935.8056Estrella Mountain Community College is located on Thomas and Dysart Roads in Avondale and offers transfer-ready academic courses and job-specific occupational training to more than 13,000 students annually. Estrella Mountain is part of the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the nation. For more information visit www.estrellamountain.edu or www.maricopa.edu .
