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Financial Aid Saturdays
One strategy to help ensure students are able to go to college includes providing personal assistance with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at scheduled Financial Aid Saturdays in order to help them secure the financial aid they may need.

The Austin Chamber supports the efforts of local school districts to increase the number of financial aid application completions and provides assistance to help students/families complete other financial aid applications such as the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) and scholarship submissions. In addition, free income tax preparation services are provided by the Foundation Communities Community Tax Centers at select sites to help expedite the college financial aid application process.

Last spring, these joint efforts helped approximately 1,350 students/families, business and civic volunteers made 3,000 phone calls to high school seniors and supported 15 Financial Aid Saturday events. This spring, 24 Financial Aid Saturday events are scheduled across 10 school districts. Our goal is to increase financial aid application completions by an additional 7.5%. We estimate at least 350 volunteers will be needed to adequately inform and support the students and families attending the events. Volunteer support is a crucial element to ensure the success of the Chamber's education initiative.

All Financial Aid Saturday event services are free and open to the public. Feel free to promote the event services to all students and families who may benefit. View the FAS calendar online or printable in English or Spanish.

Financial Aid Saturdays: Assist students and parents with filling out the FAFSA during Financial Aid Saturdays scheduled February through March. All Financial Aid Saturday events are scheduled on Saturdays, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Metro Austin high schools. Volunteer training required. Attend one two-hour financial aid training session provided by TG and the Austin Chamber. Trainings are scheduled from 11 am to 1 pm (lunch provided) at Metro Austin high schools. Commit to support at least one Financial Aid Saturday event. For more information contact Cyndi Contreras at ccontreras@austinchamber.com or 512.322.5644.

Volunteer Training Schedule

All sessions take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

January 12 — Lanier High School, 1201Payton Gin Road, Austin, TX 78758
January 14 — Hendrickson High School, 2905 FM 685, Pflugerville, TX 78660
January 19 — Travis High School, 1211 E. Oltorf, Austin, TX 78704
January 21 — Round Rock High School, 300 Lake Creek Dr., Round Rock, TX 78681
January 26 — Travis High School, 1211 E. Oltorf, Austin, TX 78704
January 28 — Lehman High School, 1700 Lehman Road, Kyle, TX 78640

Financial Aid Outreach Call Session: Assist college readiness members to maximize turnout by placing phone calls to students and parents/guardians to inform them of the importance of completing the FAFSA and the free, personal assistance available during the Financial Aid Saturdays. Encourage them to submit their FAFSA at the next event. Commit to support at least one evening three-hour call session at the Austin Chamber offices. Training provided on-site. Call sessions take place March 23 and March 25, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Austin Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact Cyndi Contreras at 512.322.5644 or ccontreras@austinchamber.com

APIE College Readiness Classroom Coaching: Volunteers will weekly guide small groups of 2 - 4 students grouped by their academic needs to prep for college entrance exams. Training an study provided. For more information contact Elizabeth McCormick at 512. 637.0981 or emccormick@austinpartners.org.