FAFSA Workshops

DATE:             Wednesday, February 22, 2012

LOCATIONS:           Desert Hot Springs High School             4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Cathedral City High School         3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

College of the Desert                  4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

UC Riverside, Palm Desert *       4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Indio Teen Center *                    2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Coachella Valley High School     5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Desert Mirage High School       5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion workshops will be held across the valley February 22 as a part of Coachella Valley Economic Partnership’s (CVEP) second annual “Battle of the High Schools.” Pathways to Success staff members and high school counselors will help local students and parents fill out their FAFSA forms, which enable them to seek federal financial aid for college tuition.  Students who submit completed applications will be entered to win raffle prizes and gift certificates.

Battle of the High Schools is a competition encouraging high school seniors complete the FAFSA.  As part of its effort to develop a college-educated workforce for the future economy of the Coachella Valley, CVEP will be awarding more than $10,000 in cash prizes and gift certificates to local high schools that have the highest completion rate for the FAFSA.

Last year 47% of valley high school seniors completed the FAFSA. CVEP awarded more than 430 scholarships amounting to $1.6 million, allowing an unprecedented number ofstudents the opportunity to pursue a higher education. This year CVEP has set a goal of 57% for FAFSA completion.

The Battle of the High Schools encourages each of the valley’s high schools to compete with others in their school district.  The school in each district with the highest percentage of seniors completing the application will be awarded a cash prize of $3,000 toward their senior trip or party.  Alternative and private schools will also be competing against each other for a $1,000 cashprize, while College of the Desert can win $1,000 by increasing its FAFSA completion rate by ten percent.

Ashley Hudgens | CV Strategies | ashley@cvstrat.com
     760.902.5565 (cell) | 760.776.1766 (office)