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Greetings,
I always enjoy the start of a new year because it means new possibilities and opportunities. The new year also means new opportunities for me to help students and their families plan, prepare for, and pursue their higher education dreams.
Each year, many students whose parents did not attend college, or who might be from low-income backgrounds, think they can't afford to go to college. The difficulty in completing the FAFSA – the essential first step in receiving financial aid – is sometimes perceived as an insurmountable barrier. College Goal Sunday™, a nationwide program where volunteers provide high school seniors and their families with step-by-step assistance in filling out and submitting the federal form, hopes to change their minds!
For the second year, I'm honored to serve as the Wisconsin Statewide Coordinator for College Goal Sunday, which will be held on Feb. 11, 2007 at 15 locations throughout Wisconsin. Last year, I had the opportunity to help out at a school in Milwaukee, and I'm looking forward to assisting students oneon- one again this year. At last year's event, one in four Wisconsin students attending said they could not have completed the FAFSA without the assistance they received at College Goal Sunday. In addition to supporting the Wisconsin initiative, Great Lake is supporting College Goal Sunday events in Minnesota, Ohio, and Michigan.
Great Lakes is committed to providing increased access to higher education through events such as College Goal Sunday. Many members of our staff serve as volunteers for these worthwhile events. The success of these events is due to the volunteers who come out and provide their time and expertise to families who need them. I encourage you to find out more about College Goal Sunday by visiting the website at www.collegegoalsundayusa.org and to consider volunteering at an event near you!
I'm looking forward to helping again this year at College Goal Sunday. It's great to be able to work with these students to overcome the financial obstacles that might keep them from attending college and also help them open doors to a successful future.
Until next time, have a great month!
La Toya Sykes, Director
Outreach and Access Awareness
Click a link below to view past Opening Doors articles.
