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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005 Media Contacts: John Madrid, Mayor's Education Office, City of Fresno Despina Costopoulos, California Student Aid Commission Brandy Ramos Nikaido, UC Office of the President Mayor Autry and Central Valley Higher Education Consortium connect students with Cash for College Fresno - A press conference to kick off the “Cash for College” campaign in Fresno is set for Thursday, Jan. 27, at 1:15 p.m. in the library at Sunnyside High School (1019 S. Peach Ave.). City of Fresno Mayor Alan Autry will join Dr. John D. Welty, president of California State University, Fresno and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, and John Marinovich, principal of Sunnyside High School, at the event. Students, along with representatives from State Center Community College District, Fresno City College, Fresno Pacific University, and UC Merced, also will participate. “Cash for College” is a statewide effort sponsored by the California Student Aid Commission. As part of the campaign, CSAC partners with regional organizations and volunteers to offer workshops aimed at helping students successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Grade Point Average Verification Form, which are necessary to apply for Cal Grants and other financial aid. The deadline to submit the FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form is March 2, 2005. Several local workshops, including some Spanish-language sessions, are scheduled during the months of January and February. A list of workshops by ZIP Code is available online at http://californiacashforcollege.org or by calling the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium toll-free at 1(877) ITS-POSSIBLE (487-7677). “Many Valley students are missing an important opportunity,” said Welty. “Whether they attend a public or private educational institution or plan on pursuing a two- or four-year degree, resources are available to help students pay for college.” “No student should miss out on attending a college or university due to lack of finances,” Welty added. According to a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium report, only 28 percent of the students in the region who qualify for Cal Grants submit an application. “ Few would disagree that education is the fundamental issue affecting the survival, growth and health of any city,” said Mayor Autry. “We must do all we can to connect students who qualify for financial aid with the money they need to further their education.” Students and parents should bring their 2004 federal income tax return forms, W-2 form or other relevant 2004-income information to a workshop. They also should bring their driver's license or other form of state identification, and know their Social Security number. The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, established in March 2000, is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting programs, policies and performance designed to increase higher education attainment in the 10-county area including Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern. The consortium comprises 24 public and private institutions of higher education from Stockton to Bakersfield. For more information about the consortium, please visit www.CollegeNext.org or call (559) 292-0576. # # # |
