PNC Hosts College Goal Sunday Activities February 12

Purdue University North Central will participate in the state College Goal Sunday event for all college-bound students and their families, Sunday, Feb.12, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the PNC Technology Building Room 265. College Goal Sunday is free and is open to potential Indiana college students of all ages.

College Goal Sunday is a 23-year-old statewide program that provides free financial aid information and assistance to all Indiana students seeking admission to any Indiana college, university or technical institution. At 40 College Goal Sunday sites in 33 cities and towns throughout Indiana, students and their parents will get the help they need in understanding and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

College Goal Sunday presents an ideal opportunity for students and parents to meet with financial aid professionals. PNC financial aid staff will be on hand to help those who want to complete the FAFSA. College bound students and parents are asked to bring copies of their completed 2011 federal tax forms, W-2s and other income and benefits information. Students and parents should apply for their U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) at www.pin.ed.gov before coming to the event.

FAFSA forms, required by educational institutions nationwide, must be received by the federal processor by March 10, 2012 for Indiana residents to be eligible for state aid. The FAFSA is also required for consideration for federally sponsored financial aid, including student loans and grants and is a prerequisite for many scholarships. "Nearly half of Indiana's college students qualify for financial aid from the State of Indiana," said Donette Cassman, Sallie Mae, INC., chairman of College Goal Sunday. "College Goal Sunday helps students and families better understand the financial aid process and brings students one step closer to fulfilling their educational goals."

The Indiana Student Financial Aid Association's College Goal Sunday is one of the highlights of Financial Aid Awareness Month. In February, students and their families can call the Learn More Resource Center helpline at 800-992-2076 to have their questions answered by financial aid professionals. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education supports the Helpline.

Students attending College Goal Sunday may also have a chance to win an educational prize to help with their higher education expenses. The winners will be notified in March; prizes will be sent directly to the higher education institutions selected by the winning students. To enter the drawing, students must attend College Goal Sunday and submit an online evaluation form.

Twenty-first Century Scholars are encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday to receive help in completing the FAFSA and other paperwork necessary to receive their Twenty-first Century scholarships.

College Goal Sunday, sponsored by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association, is offered in cooperation with Learn More Resource Center, the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana and The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program. It is funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Lumina Foundation for Education, USA Funds and Indiana Secondary Market for Education Loans, Inc.

For more information about the PNC College Goal Sunday event or for financial assistance in general, contact the PNC Financial Aid Office, 219.785.5200, ext. 5493 or at finaid@pnc.edu.