HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, is urging students and their parents to apply as early as possible for financial assistance for higher education.
“This year’s FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – is now available online,” George said. “The FAFSA is the critical first step for not only federal grants and loans, but also for the need-based Pennsylvania state grant.”
The online application may be submitted either here or here.
“May 1 is the deadline for the state grant, but families should be aware that some schools may have earlier financial aid deadlines,” George said. “Estimated federal income tax information can be used, and later updated, to submit the FAFSA as early as possible.”
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administratory are offering free FAFSA Completion Events across the state.
Locally, FAFSA Completion Events are scheduled for:
Locally, FAFSA Completion Events are scheduled for:
-6-8 p.m. Feb. 2 at Bald Eagle High School in Wingate;
-6-8 p.m. Feb. 22 at Clearfield High School;
-4-6 p.m. Feb. 23 at Harmony High School, Westover.
More information is available online.
George said Pennsylvania American Water has unveiled a “Stream of Learning” Scholarship Program to provide post-secondary scholarship assistance to students living in Pennsylvania American Water’s service areas.
The program assists students interested in pursuing a career in the water and wastewater industries. The company will award 10 $2,000 scholarships to students throughout Pennsylvania.
Students must plan to attend a two- or four-year college or technical school and plan to study environmental science, environmental engineering, biology or chemistry.
Applications and additional information are available online. Applications must be postmarked or received by Feb. 12. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will receive their awards in May.
George said college financial assistance also is available through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship Program. It is open to college-bound high school seniors who plan to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school full time.
To qualify, students must have a 3.0 grade-point average, display leadership and commitment to their community, and exhibit financial need. Applicants are also scored based on an essay on William Penn’s role in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its representative government.
The deadline to apply is March 1, and scholarships are awarded to two students each year. The scholarship amount is the equivalent of one semester’s tuition at a State System of Higher Education university – roughly $2,500.
The scholarships do not use tax dollars. Applications and instructions are available online.