NASFAA Names College Goal Sunday Director, Program to Expand Nationally, Lumina Foundation Continues Funding, Involvement
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) announced the appointment of Marcia E. Weston as director of College Goal Sunday Operations, a successful program that helps low-income families apply for college financial aid. Weston came to NASFAA from the Finance Authority of Maine, where she served as manager of education outreach programs since 1998. She wrote Maine's successful College Goal Sunday grant proposal and served as statewide coordinator for the program. Weston has previously assisted states considering a College Goal Sunday grant application by sharing program strategies, media successes, and budget partnerships.As director, Weston will be responsible for overall management of the College Goal Sunday program at the national level, with emphasis on program maintenance and expansion, fundraising, public relations, and reporting.
Professional and administrative support will be provided by current NASFAA staff and consultants.Lumina Foundation for Education, which funds College Goal Sunday nationally with additional support from Lilly Endowment, will continue close involvement with the program, including approval and disbursement of new grant funds to states that are planning or implementing College Goal Sunday programs."It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen to head up a program that truly opens doors of educational opportunity," said Weston. "I am fortunate to join a program with a longstanding, well organized and efficient infrastructure." Weston follows Lumina Foundation program manager Jeanna Keller, who previously managed the national program. While Weston is now the primary point of contact, Keller will remain in involved in the program."Filling the position of College Goal Sunday director has been our top priority since NASFAA teamed with Lumina Foundation to begin managing the program earlier this year," said NASFAA President Dallas Martin. "We are delighted to have found an individual with Marcia's skills and experience to head up the operation."Lumina Foundation announced earlier this year an allocation of $3.5 million for College Goal Sunday, which will pave the way for expansion to 15 more states, broadening the reach of the popular program to a total of 35 states and the District of Columbia by the end of 2007. Over the past 15 years, College Goal Sunday has already helped more than 100,000 low-income and first generation students clear the paperwork hurdle when applying for college financial aid.
One day each year, traditionally a week or two after Super Bowl Sunday, financial aid administrators and other qualified volunteers fan out to selected community sites across a state to help families fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the universally required financial aid form.As a prelude to College Goal Sunday, the organizers of each state's program launch an extensive public information campaign to reach low-income students. Campaigns use the news media, direct mail and celebrity appearances at key high schools to inform the public about the importance of an education beyond high school, the availability of financial aid and the existence of College Goal Sunday to help them complete the FAFSA.NASFAA will provide technical assistance to funded organizations, while Lumina will fund exploratory grants and implementation grants. Interested organizations begin with an exploratory grant of up to $7,500 to investigate the feasibility of hosting College Goal Sunday in their states.
After a successful planning phase, which includes site visits and training, organizations may apply for an implementation grant. Lumina Foundation contributes up to $250,000 over a three-year period to eligible groups working to establish the College Goal Sunday program in their states.
NASFAA will work directly with states in helping them to develop partnerships within their states to assist in implementing their programs. Support will also be given to attract within-state sponsorships to ensure long term sustainability. The amount of each grant depends on the size of the population to be served, the scope of the proposed program, and the availability of local funding to supplement the Lumina Foundation grant. NASFAA's role has been critical in the individual states to bring together the financial aid community to help families apply for financial aid.???By the end of 2004, the College Goal Sunday program will have committed $7 million to fund planning and implementation grants in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The program is currently operating in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, plus the District of Columbia.States that are currently running College Goal Sunday programs are encouraged to stay in close contact with Marcia Weston, who may be reached at (202) 785-0453 ext.
111. States that are contemplating submitting applications for College Goal Sunday exploratory grants or just want additional information on College Goal Sunday are also urged to contact Weston.College Goal Sunday began in Indiana in 1989 as a joint project of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA) and the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) with funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Over the years, Lumina Foundation and its predecessor organizations have co-funded the Indiana programs and led the expansion in other states.About NASFAA. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 11,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.
Each year, members help more than 8 million students receive funding for postsecondary education. In addition to its Member Web site at http://www.NASFAA.org, the Association offers a Web site with financial aid information for parents and students at http://www.StudentAid.org.About Lumina Foundation. Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through research, grants for innovative programs and communication initiatives, Lumina Foundation addresses issues surrounding financial access and educational retention, and degree or certificate attainment ? particularly among underserved student groups, including adult learners. The Foundation bases its mission on the belief that postsecondary education remains one of the most beneficial investments that individuals can make in themselves and that society can make in its people.
For more details on the Foundation, visit its Web site at http://www.luminafoundation.org..
How to Save Money When Purchasing a Hearing Aid
Purchasing a hearing aid can be a difficult and unbudgeted expense. There are a number of things to consider to reduce the cost when purchasing a hearing aid. After all, most people don't really want to buy hearing aids, but they need to buy them because they cannot hear adequately without them. This page will provide you with the information and knowledge you need in order to save you money on a hearing aid.The first thing to consider when buying a hearing aid is the average price of these products. It is hard to estimate the fees involved without knowing the severity of your hearing loss or certain features you may require.
A reasonable price for a brand-name, digital hearing aid is anywhere from $1,700 to $2,800. If you think this is too much, there are ways to reduce this cost and ensure that you are paying the lowest price possible for your hearing aid.A potential way to save money on your hearing aid is to check whether or not your insurance covers any part of the cost of...
How to Save Money When Purchasing a Hearing Aid
Hearing aid > How to Save Money When Purchasing a Hearing Aid
Congressional Hearing Requested for Area 51 Microbiologist
Dan Burisch, a Ph.D. microbiologist presently in lock-down in Area 51 related black ops, who has expressed willingness to testify publicly, is one step closer to getting immunity and the Congressional hearing he seeks.
Harry Dschaak and Sterling Allan, who met with Dr. Burisch on April 5 via an insider-invited breach of his lock-down status, traveled by car across the country to Washington D.C. and presented his case to several members of Congress two weeks later on April 19, 2004.
According to an earlier report about his readiness to disclose upon receiving immunity, Dr. Burisch has said he will answer all questions put to him if subpoenaed to do so.Dschaak (pronounced DeeShock) and Allan focused their efforts on the office of Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah because of his position as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
They also visited with the staff of other Senate members from Idaho, Utah, and Nevada, where Dschaak, Allan, and Dr. Burisch reside, respectively.A...
Hearing aid > Congressional Hearing Requested for Area 51 Microbiologist
Lengths of Time to Get a Hearing in Social Security Disability Cases Revealed
Columbia, MD (ContentDesk) April 24, 2006 -- In 2005, the average length of time it took to get a
hearing after a request for a hearing was 485 days (16 months) from the date one asked for a hearing.
SSAs goal in that year was 250 days (8 months). Note that SSAs goal numbers on the linked page below include the time it took to get a decision out. The numbers received in response to the FOIA request are from the request date for a hearing to the date one gets a hearing.Jo Anne Barnhart, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, has vowed to speed up disability determinations with use of electronic technology.
She claims that her methodology will improve the accuracy speed, and fairness of disability decisions.In 2005, virtually none of the 141 hearing offices met the Administrations goal of 250 days from the time one asks for a hearing to the time one gets a hearing.
Two
offices Colorado Springs and McAlester, OK --were able to...
Hearing aid > Lengths of Time to Get a Hearing in Social Security Disability Cases Revealed
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