1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
602–285–7500

College Hosts College Goal Sunday: A One-Stop Shop to Financial Aid, Scholarships and More

by: Christy Skeen

On Sunday, Feb. 9, the Phoenix College Financial Aid Department will join forces with the Arizona Commission for PostSecondary Education (ACPE) and the Arizona Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (AASFAA) to host College Goal Sunday in the Hannelly Center at Phoenix College.

The 7th Annual statewide event, which begins at 2 p.m., is truly a one-stop shop, which allows students access to financial assistance information for federal and state aid, work-study programs and scholarships. Students attending College Goal Sunday can register to win one of 21 statewide scholarships of $150 each. All scholarship winners will then be placed into a drawing to receive one of two $500 scholarships. There also will be prizes awarded from professional sports teams, restaurants and retailers.

Students are encouraged to bring the following:

--2002 W-2 form or other 2002 income information to complete the FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal State Aid);

--2001 tax returns if attending Summer 2003;

--2002 tax returns for Fall/Spring (2003-2004); and

--Your parent's tax return if younger than 24 and a dependent student.

Phoenix College Tribal Court Advocacy student and scholarship recipient, Candita Woodis-Rucker highly recommends attending this event.

Woodis-Rucker, who has received 12 of the 13 scholarships she has applied for, encourages her fellow classmates to take advantage of this opportunity. She has received enough money to fund her educational career at Phoenix College and two years at a university of her choice.

"The money is out there," she said. "Anybody can get a scholarship, they just have to be dedicated and apply for it. They must also be willing to fill out the necessary paperwork and applications."

With a concentration in Indian Public Policy and Environmental Science, Woodis-Rucker plans to apply for additional scholarships, which she knows will fund her Graduate and Doctoral studies.

"The scholarships are out there, I encourage every student to apply for them," she adds. "Once you get one scholarship, applying for additional scholarships come second nature."

For more information, visit www.collegegoalsunday.com or call (602) 285-7410.

Additional sponsors will include Waddell & Reed, USA Funds and Lumina Foundation for Education.