RALEIGH, N.C. –State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) joined efforts with College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA) for the seventh consecutive year in support of the statewide public service event – FAFSA Day. Nearly 2,400 students and their parents traveled to one of 317 FAFSA sites offering help with completing and electronically submitting the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA). SECU branches provided FAFSA assistance in all 100 counties, affording many first-time college parents and rising high school graduates access to educational and instructional resources, guiding them through a key step in the process of planning, applying and paying for college.
Each year, students who participate in the FAFSA Day event are asked to complete an evaluation for feedback and statistics. According to SECU, of the more than 700 students who completed evaluations, 55% of families had incomes below $40,000 and 68% reported they could not have completed the FAFSA without help.
Krista Loew, SECU Vice President of IRA Services stated, “FAFSA Day is a great opportunity for State Employees’ Credit Union staff to provide their expertise and resources, reaching deep within North Carolina communities to help many students and families focus on a path leading to academic and financial success. Since 2010, SECU has assisted over 9,500 participants on FAFSA Day. It’s an excellent example of what can be accomplished when we collaborate with partnering groups like CFNC and the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators in support of higher education.”