Event will help families with college aid forms
Long Branch H.S. one of seven N.J. sites for Jan. 28 event

LONG BRANCH - - The second annual New Jersey College Goal Sunday will take place Jan. 28 at Long Branch High School and seven other sites throughout the state.

The event, hosted by Brookdale Community College, is dedicated to providing low-income students/first generation high school senior students with assistance in filing their financial aid forms.

The free event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the high school, located at 391 Westwood Ave., Long Branch.

N.J. College Goal Sunday's mission is to provide an opportunity for low-income students and their families to become familiar with the financial aid process, learn about planning for college, and obtain on-site assistance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students/families planning to attend can register online at www.njcollegegoalsunday.org. The event is open to students from throughout the county.

At each of the eight sites, financial aid officers will be on hand to assist families in filling out their forms and give them a better understanding of the financial aid process. An opening session will be presented in English and in Spanish.

One $500 scholarship to the student's choice of college will be awarded at the conclusion of the day to one of the participants at each site, including the Long Branch High School event.

This is the second year that College Goal Sunday has been held in New Jersey.

In the inaugural year, more than 450 families were assisted at five sites. The event is funded by a three-year grant from the Lumina Foundation and sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NJASFAA) and New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).

"I've always felt hosting the event at a high school was the best way to engage high school counselors, local community, and reach the most students," said Michael J. Bennett, director of financial aid for Brookdale Community College.

None of the six sites last year were local, noted Bennett, who last year served as statewide coordinator for the state's first annual College Goal Sunday.

"We really felt we wanted to do something in Monmouth County," he said,

"Last year was the first year and we started out with five sites. None were in Monmouth County and one of my goals for this year was to bring it to the county."

Bennett said that the other sites are all colleges and he felt it was important to have an event in a high school.

"We felt being at a high school, maybe the families and students would feel more comfortable," he explained.

"We're trying to target, to reach families we feel need the help the most - first-generation families where the form may be a real hurdle for them to overcome.

"So in having the event at Long Branch High School, we knew we could partner with Terry Janeczek [director of guidance for LBHS].

"We're really hoping we have a good turnout," said Bennett, adding that other area high schools have been invited to participate.

"The day of the event, we will have a minimum of 20 volunteers," he said. "We will have a session in English and in Spanish. In Long Branch, we feel there will be many Spanish-speaking families. There will also be computers to help them.

"The focus is for families to leave with the [financial aid] form completed.

"Last year we helped more than 450 families, and there was a major snowstorm on the day of the event. We feel this event will continue to grow and add sites. One of our goals for next year is to get another site in Monmouth County."

In case of inclement weather on Jan. 28, those planning to attend should log on to www.njcollegegoalsunday.org for an alternate date.