-- And it's still not too late to complete a FAFSA to qualify for scholarships, grants, loans --

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- About 4,700 North Carolina high school seniors and parents received free assistance in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on FAFSA Day 2012, held Saturday, February 18 at locations throughout the state.  Many FAFSA Day attendees will be the first in their families to attend college.

FASFA Day is an annual event sponsored by the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA) and State Employees' Credit Union (SECU).  FAFSA Day locations included college campuses and SECU branch offices. This was the second year in the event's 12-year history that locations were offered in all 100 N.C. counties.

More than 1,700 volunteers provided help with the form that is required to be considered for all federal and most state student financial aid, such as Pell Grant and state grants and scholarships which can be used to attend community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.

Robbie Schultz, of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority and coordinator of FAFSA Day, said, "This free service would not be possible without the help, organization and technical support provided by all the financial aid professionals and technology experts, SECU employees, school counselors and other volunteers at every location.  With their help, we had the most successful FAFSA Day yet and assisted thousands of N.C. students heading to college this fall."

FAFSA Day is one of the many free services offered by College Foundation of North Carolina to help students of all ages.  At CFNC, families can find college cost estimators, listings of scholarship, grant and loan opportunities, information on North Carolina's 529 college savings plan, career information, virtual tours of more than 100 of the state's college campuses, and online college admission and financial aid applications.

About CFNC

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service of the State of North Carolina that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFNC is a partnership of Pathways, the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation, Inc. 

• Pathways, created by the N.C. General Assembly in 1999, is a state-wide initiative to increase the college-going rate of North Carolinians by providing: comprehensive college and career planning resources; electronic applications and transcripts accepted by all 110 North Carolina colleges and universities; and, information on student financial aid and college affordability. Pathways is administered by The University of North Carolina General Administration in collaboration with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community College System, and the N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities.
• The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), established in 1965, is the State agency that promotes access to higher education by administering financial aid and savings programs, informing students and families about paying for college, teaching educators about financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support students.
• College Foundation, Inc. (CFI), a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers a portfolio of more than $3.3 billion, including federal education loans, in addition to the State's college grant programs, and the tax-advantaged "529" college savings program on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority. CFI also delivers information to North Carolina students and families about paying for college and provides technology services for CFNC.org.

CFNC offers resources toll-free at 1-866-866-CFNC and at CFNC.org.

SOURCE College Foundation, Inc.

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http://www.cfnc.org