EducationQuest Foundation has awarded over $51,000 in renewable Reaching Your Potential scholarships to 10 Nebraskans who have overcome obstacles to attend college.

The recipients, and the colleges they attend, are:

Bridget Homan from Lincoln, Southeast Community College
Loan Nguyen from Lincoln, Southeast Community College
Eduardo Vazquez from Omaha, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Rose Ogolla from Papillion, Metropolitan Community College
Christopher Madden from Omaha, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Elizabeth Proksel from Omaha, College of Saint Mary
Phuong (Angel) Le from Omaha, Creighton University
Stephen Waters from Omaha, Creighton University
Emina Becirovic from Omaha, Creighton University
Nidal Ali Mohamed from Lincoln, Bellevue University

EducationQuest awards Reaching Your Potential scholarships twice a year to Nebraska students through referrals from community agencies and colleges statewide. Since the program was developed in 2000, EducationQuest has disbursed over $2.9 million in scholarships to 283 Nebraskans.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application for federal, state and most college-based financial aid which can include grants, work-study and student loans. Submit the FAFSA after January 1 to apply for aid for the following academic year – and apply before your college’s priority date to get the best financial aid package.

New this year…IRS Data Retrieval! Approximately two weeks after you electronically file your income tax forms, your IRS data will be available to retrieve and transfer into your FAFSA. Review this flyer for more details.

The following EducationQuest tools will help you learn more about the financial aid process and the FAFSA:

College Funding Estimator

This program estimates your FAFSA results by evaluating your income and assets just as the federal processor will do when you submit your FAFSA information. The results indicate your eligibility for need-based aid, including the Pell Grant.

Estimator for 2011-12                      Estimator for 2012-13

FAFSA Checklist

We’ll tell you what documents and information you need to gather before you complete the FAFSA.

Checklist for 2011-12                      Checklist for 2012-13 

FAFSA Demo 

This 11-minute video will walk you through the online FAFSA and provide helpful tips as you prepare to apply for student financial aid.

Demo for 2012-2013

FAFSA Tutorial 

As you complete the FAFSA, refer to this tool for user-friendly clarification on FAFSA questions.

Tutorial for 2011-12                          Tutorial for 2012-13

“The FAFSA Made Easy” 10-Minute Video 

Learn how easy the FAFSA can be – if you’re prepared. If the two brothers featured in the video can complete the FAFSA, so can you!

View the video

“Guide to College Funding” Video 

Learn about the financial aid process, the types of financial aid, and when to apply.

View the video                                  Complete the video survey

Financial Aid Podcasts 

Hear all about the FAFSA and the items needed to complete the form.

Types of Financial Aid               FAFSA…What is it, anyway?            

Preparing for the FAFSA          Avoiding Common Mistakes on the FAFSA

Steps to Renew Your FAFSA

If you completed a FAFSA last year, follow these easy steps to reapply for financial aid.

FAFSA for 2012-13                         FAFSA for 2011-2012

EducationQuest Foundation has awarded $1.3 million in need-based scholarship funds to 31 Nebraska public and independent colleges for distribution to eligible students during the 2011-12 academic year. The funds are designated for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Each college selects the students who will benefit from the scholarships.

This marks the twelfth year that EducationQuest has awarded need-based scholarship funds to Nebraska colleges, bringing to $12.3 million the total amount awarded thus far. Through 2010, the funds have provided more than 10,500 individual scholarship awards.

EducationQuest developed the scholarship program – and has continually increased the annual distribution amount – as part of its mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska.

“This program helps offset the shortage of state-funded financial aid for low-income students in Nebraska,” said EducationQuest President Liz S. Koop. “$1.3 million will go a long way toward helping hundreds of students realize their educational dreams.”

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, Nebraska ranks 41st in the nation in estimated need-based student aid grant dollars per full-time undergraduate enrollment.

Colleges receiving funds include Bellevue University, BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, Central Community College, Chadron State College, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Concordia University, Creighton University, Doane College, Grace University, Hastings College, Little Priest Tribal College, Mid-Plains Community College – North Platte and McCook, Metropolitan Community College, Midland Lutheran College, Nebraska Christian College, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Nebraska Indian Community College, Nebraska Methodist College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Northeast Community College, Peru State College, Southeast Community College, Union College, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Wayne State College, Western Nebraska Community College, and York College.

If your institution plans to participate in any of the fall 2011 Nebraska College Fairs and you haven’t yet registered, contact Nancy Price at EducationQuest Foundation. 

Please note that the College Fairs will implement a new barcode/scanner process.  For information about renting a scanner, visit  GotoCollegeFairs.com. If you have questions about the scanners, contact Holly Lazzaro at College Fair Automation at 609-720-1885 or  info@collegefairautomation.com.

Fall 2011 College Fair Schedule

Grand Island
Sunday, September 18 – 1:00-3:00 pm, Heartland Event Center

Norfolk
Sunday, September 25 – 1:00-3:00 pm, Northeast Community College – Norfolk

South Sioux City
Sunday, October 2 – 12:30-3:00 pm, Marina Center – South Sioux City

Scottsbluff / Gering
Sunday, October 9 – 1:00-3:00 pm, Gering Civic Center

Lincoln
Sunday, October 23 – 1:00-3:00 pm, Southeast Community College – Lincoln

Omaha
Sunday, October 30 – 1:00-4:00 pm, University of Nebraska at Omaha