DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR PHEAA GRANT APPLICATIONS

          Harrisburg, April 16, 2007 -- State Senator Michael A. O’Pake, a member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Board of Directors, is reminding students and parents that the deadline for applying for PHEAA grants is May 1, 2007.
          Senator O'Pake noted that all first time applicants for state scholarship grant aid, including students enrolling in college transfer programs at two-year community or junior colleges, and students seeking to renew their state grant aid must file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by this deadline.  (The application deadline for non-renewal students enrolling in business or trade schools, hospital schools of nursing, or two-year vocational programs at community or junior colleges is August 1, 2007.)
          Senator O’Pake noted that in the 11^th Senatorial District alone 3,222 college students have received scholarship grant assistance totaling $7.9 million during the 2006-2007 school year.  Statewide more than 166,000 students are receiving PHEAA scholarship grant aid valued at $386 million during the current school year supplemented with an additional $72 million in PHEAA funds generated from the agency’s loan servicing operations at no additional cost to taxpayers.
          The FAFSA form and other information of college financial aid is available free of charge by contacting Senator O’Pake’s District Office at 610-929-2151.
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