LANCE GAITHER

lance.gaither@bluegrassnewmedia.com

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman was at her alma mater Tuesday to proclaim October as Financial Aid Awareness Month in Kentucky. The purpose of the proclamation presented at Centre College was to raise awareness about financial aid available to high school graduates looking to attend college and to encourage them to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

“There are millions of dollars available for Kentucky families, and we want to make sure our students get every dollar possible as they begin their post-secondary education journey,” Coleman said.

A total of 57.9 percent of high school seniors applied for aid last year, but that number should be higher, she said.

She stressed the importance that filling out a FAFSA is completely free and only takes 30 minutes, and is a prerequisite to securing any kind of aid, including grants and student loans. Many students miss out on aid because they do not complete the FAFSA application, she said.

FAFSA also is used by many colleges to determine recipients for their own grants and scholarships.

“We need more of everything, whether it is technical school, a 2 year, or a 4 year degree,” Coleman said. “All those credentials help you move forward on the ladder. Whatever your choice is on that journey.”

With new jobs coming to Kentucky, that more students than ever need to get a post-secondary education to take full use of the opportunities made from businesses investing in Kentucky.       

Lt. Governor Coleman said that she came to Centre College to make the proclamation because of the impact is has had on her life “Any time I can come back Centre with something positive like this I love too. Being a student at Centre changed my life. Any time and any way I can give back to them I try to do it,”

Centre College President Milton Moreland said that he is always glad to have Coleman visit campus “Shes a great Alumna of the college, its always great to see her and her career and all the things she has accomplished.” He went on to say that more opportunities for financial aid are a benefit to everyone.  “Students in Kentucky can get a lot of support. That is huge for residents in the region and its a huge benefit for all involved that they can get a great education for a very affordable price. When students combine federal, state, and Centre College’s financial aid, that is a great combination.”

FASFA applications were developed by the Office of Federal Student Aid, a part of the Department Education. They receive over 17 million applications each year.   To apply for the 2023-2024 cycle, go to Fafsa.gov and begin your application.