The Blackstone Valley

Blackstone Valley Tech to Host Free Fafsa Day Offering Help to Students Applying for Financial Aid

UPTON — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School will host FAFSA Day on Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at 65 Pleasant Street in Upton. Blackstone Valley Tech is one of 30 schools across the state of Massachusetts to host Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Day. This free event is open to the public and college-bound students. Families from throughout the region are encouraged to attend. Valley Tech has far reaching partnerships with local colleges, businesses, and economic development agencies and this event is hosted to enhance the economic, social, and historic strengths of the region by broadening the educational opportunities for students in the Blackstone Valley.

FAFSA Day is a College Goal Sunday Program, a non-profit program providing free information and assistance to families applying for financial assistance for higher education. FAFSA Day mobilizes financial aid professionals to help families complete the FAFSA, the federally required form for students seeking federal and state financial aid, including grants and loans at all colleges throughout the nation.

At FAFSA Day, volunteer financial aid and higher education experts will help families complete the FAFSA and offer one-on-one assistance. Each college and university requires FAFSA, but deadlines differ from college to college. Parents and students should ask about deadlines; many of which are as early as February 1.

Parents and students are encouraged to bring as much of the following information as possible in order to complete the FAFSA:

• A FAFSA Personal Identification Number (PIN), available at www.fafsa.gov, to be used to file electronically
• Most recent tax returns (If you do not have 2011, bring 2010)
• Social Security number
• Driver's license
• 2011 W-2 forms or year-end pay stubs
• 2011 untaxed income records
• Current bank statements
• 2011 business and investment records
• Alien registration card for non-U.S. citizens

For more information on the state-wide FAFSA Day, visit www.FAFSAday.org. For questions or additional information, call 877-424-7627.

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.

# # #

About the Chamber

The mission of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce is to promote the economic vitality of the Blackstone Valley and meet the needs of the Chamber's business members, while providing leadership on issues which impact the economy and quality of life in the Valley. The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce serves the eleven towns in the Massachusetts BV Region: Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. For more information on the Chamber please contact administrator@blackstonevalley.org or call 508 234 9090 X101.