WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Area college-bound students and their parents can receive free help applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during Missouri State University-West Plains’ FAFSA Frenzy from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at the Lybyer Technology Center on the Missouri State-West Plains campus.

University officials said this event is for any college-bound student and his or her parents, not just those who might be planning to attend Missouri State-West Plains during the 2012-13 academic year.

For the next academic year, the U.S. Department of Education will make more than $150 billion in postsecondary financial aid available to students throughout the nation.  FAFSA Frenzy, a program of College Goal Sunday (CGS), makes applying for financial aid easier by providing students and their parents with free access to financial aid professionals who can guide students and parents through the application process, which is the first step in applying for federal financial aid programs, organizers said.

Missouri students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible, but certainly by April 1 for timely consideration for financial aid.  Students and families do not need to have filed their federal income taxes for 2011 in order to participate in a FAFSA Frenzy event or to complete the FAFSA.

Those attending, however, should bring the following:
• their 2011 W-2 forms;
• copies of 2011 tax forms, if completed, or any year-end pay stubs, statements of interest earned in 2011, W-2 forms, 1099 forms and any other forms required to complete taxes;
• the student’s and parent’s FAFSA PIN numbers.  PINs can be obtained at www.pin.ed.gov.

Families who bring their completed 2011 income tax returns to the FAFSA Frenzy event will be able to complete the 2012-13 FAFSA on site.  Families who haven’t completed their tax returns will still learn valuable information to help them finish the FAFSA at home, organizers said.

“We look forward to the opportunity to assist students and their parents with questions about federal and state aid programs, as well as filling out the FAFSA form,” said Donna Bassham, coordinator of the financial aid office at Missouri State-West Plains.

Students who attend a FAFSA Frenzy event will be entered into a statewide giveaway to win one of eight $500 scholarships, organizers said.  All students will receive gift bags with helpful information for planning and paying for college.

FAFSA Frenzy is offered in Missouri through partnerships between the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel, the Lumina Foundation for Education and the YMCA.

For more information about the March 3 FAFSA Frenzy event, contact the Missouri State-West Plains financial aid office at 417-255-7243.  For more information about Missouri State-West Plains and the financial aid opportunities available to students, visit the university’s website at http://www.wp.missouristate.edu.