PNC Hosts College Goal Sunday Activities February 24

College-Goal-SundayPurdue University North Central will participate in the state College Goal Sunday event for all college-bound students and their families, Sunday, Feb.24, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the PNC Technology Building, Room 265. College Goal Sunday is free and is open to potential Indiana college students of all ages.

College Goal Sunday is a 24-year-old statewide program that provides free financial aid information and assistance to all Indiana students seeking admission to any Indiana college, university or technical institution. At 41 College Goal Sunday sites in 34 communities throughout Indiana, students and their parents will get the help they need in understanding, completing and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

College Goal Sunday presents an ideal opportunity for students and parents to meet with financial aid professionals. PNC financial aid staff will be on hand to help those who want to complete the FAFSA. Students and parents are asked to bring copies of their completed 2012 federal tax return, W-2 form and other income and benefits information. Students, 24 years or older, may attend alone and bring their own completed 2012 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2012 income and benefits information.

Students and parents should apply for their U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) at www.pin.ed.gov before coming to the event.

FAFSA forms, required by educational institutions nationwide, must be received by the federal processor by March 10, 2013 for Indiana residents to be eligible for state aid. The FAFSA is also required for consideration for federally sponsored financial aid, including student loans and grants and is a prerequisite for many scholarships. "Nearly half of Indiana's college students qualify for financial aid from the State of Indiana," said Donette Cassman, Sallie Mae, Inc., chair of College Goal Sunday. "College Goal Sunday helps students and families better understand the financial aid process and brings students one step closer to fulfilling their educational goals."

College Goal Sunday is one of the highlights of Financial Aid Awareness Month. In February, students and their families can call the Learn More Resource Center helpline at 800-992-2076 to have their questions answered by financial aid professionals. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education supports the Helpline.

Students who attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for an educational prize. Winners will be notified in March; prizes will be sent directly to the higher education institutions selected by the winning students.

Twenty-first Century Scholars are encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday to receive help in completing the FAFSA and other paperwork necessary to receive their Twenty-first Century scholarships.

College Goal Sunday is a collaboration involving the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA), in cooperation with Learn More Indiana, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education - Division of Student Financial Aid (ICHE - SFA) and the Twenty-first Century Scholars program. College Goal Sunday is co-funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., Lumina Foundation for Education and USA Funds, three Indiana-based non-profits with an interest in higher education.

For more information about the PNC College Goal Sunday event or for financial assistance in general, contact the PNC Financial Aid Office, 785-5200, ext. 5493 or at finaid@pnc.edu.