The TRIO Education Opportunity Center at Rogers State University has teamed up with community partners to offer a free FAFSA workshop for Mayes County high school students.
The Mayes County FAFSA Night will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Workforce Center-Pryor, located at 403 E. Graham Ave. High school seniors will have the opportunity to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which will allow them to apply for various forms of financial aid.
To complete the FAFSA, seniors will need to provide their parents’ 2015 federal tax returns as well as social security numbers for both their parents and themselves. Eligible non-citizens will need to provide an alien registration number.
In addition to FAFSA information, the event will give seniors the chance to learn about technical schools and colleges, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes. Representatives from RSU will be on hand to answer questions and provide resources for students interested in attending the university.
Educational Specialist Katie Navarro said TRIO EOC helps traditionally under-served communities of students prepare for success at the college, university or career technology center of their choice. She said the event will help Mayes County seniors access a wide variety of resources at a single location.
“The FAFSA opens up a world of opportunities for federal, state and local scholarships,” Navarro said. “Scholarships help make education affordable because they don’t have to be paid back. When students see that education is more affordable, it also becomes more attainable.”
Seniors from Pryor, Adair, Chouteau, Salina and Locust Grove high schools have been invited to attend. Navarro said that the event is open to the public, and any seniors or adults who want to attend college can come fill out their FAFSA at the event.
“The FAFSA can be a daunting task,” Navarro said. “This event offers peace of mind to those who are unfamiliar with the postsecondary process by having folks on hand to help answer questions.”
Sponsors of the event include MidAmerica Industrial Park, RSU Pryor, TRIO EOC, Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Workforce Center in Pryor.
To learn more about the TRIO EOC, visit www.rsu.edu/trio.