Gateway Celebrates College Goal Kentucky

Gateway Community & Technical College will offer free help to families applying for college financial aid on Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the colleges Edgewood Campus, 790 Thomas More Parkway as part of the statewide College Goal Kentucky effort.

Governor Steven L. Beshear proclaimed January 2014 as Financial Aid Awareness Month in the state of Kentucky to promote access to information about financial aid programs. More than three dozen information sessions will be conducted across the state between December and February to make it easier for families to understand and apply for financial aid.

The Gateway session will take place at the colleges Student Services Center on the Edgewood Campus. Financial aid professionals will be on hand to answer questions and provide help in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

According to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, participation in state aid programs has more than quadrupled since the 1990s. Last year, KHEAA disbursed nearly $200 million in higher education grants and scholarships to almost 94,000 students. Students who file the FAFSA before early February have the best chance of receiving KHEAA funds.

If applying for financial aid for spring or summer 2014 terms, College Goal Kentucky participants should bring completed 2012 IRS 1040 tax returns and any other 2012 income and benefit information. For those applying for aid for the fall 2014 semester, participants should bring completed 2013 tax returns and income and benefit information.

The event is free, and no reservations are necessary. For more information about the Gateway session, contact Sabrina.holder@kctcs.edu.