FAFSA Fests Make College a Possibility for ALL

The Rochester Education Foundation (REF) and the Rochester College Access Network (RCAN) are working with the Rochester City School District (RCSD) and the City of Rochester to make it easier for local students to attend college.  Starting December 4, FAFSA Fest events will be held at RCSD and charter schools across the city, providing students and families with free assistance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to access financial aid for college. 

“Many families in Rochester don’t realize that college is within reach for their students, or that financial aid is available,” said Amy Stein, Executive Director of REF.  “FAFSA Fests are here to change that by offering hands-on support to submit both the federal and state applications, and answer questions about financial aid."

This year the initiative is supported by Student Ambassadors  in partnership with ROC Your Job– local high school seniors who are working to encourage their peers to attend FAFSA Fest events.  “I am proud to be a student ambassador for REF,” said Hazel Roberts, a senior at Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School Commencement Academy, and President of the RCSD Student Leadership Congress.  “REF has helped me apply to college, complete my FAFSA and TAP and provide guidance as I search for scholarships.  I want to bring my peers along to get this great level of support.”

REF and RCAN provide students with valuable resources to complete the FAFSA and TAP, apply for scholarships and explore college opportunities. “We are working to make Rochester a college-going community where all of our young people and their families know that going to college is one of their options,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans.  “Financial aid is not an obstacle; it’s an opportunity.  I encourage all our students to find out what they qualify for and how financial aid, grants, and scholarships can make college attendance not just possible, but affordable. That’s what FAFSA Fests are all about.”

The Federal Student Aid (FSA) has been piloting this year’s roll out of FAFSA throughout the country since October 1 and more than 13,000 students have successfully submitted FAFSA during the beta testing. FSA also hired additional staff and extended hours to include evenings and Saturdays at the call center. Locally, this means that the hope is that the process will go more smoothly than last year. REF and RCAN have already helped hundreds of students get their FSA ID, which is the first step in the process of completing the FAFSA. https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing 

"Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams of higher education, and FAFSA completion is a critical tool in making that dream a reality," said Demario Strickland, Interim Superintendent of Schools. "Through these FAFSA Fests, we empower our students and families with the knowledge and resources they need to open doors to college and a brighter future."

FAFSA Fest events will be held throughout winter at schools across the city and are open to all Rochester students.  For more details and event schedules, visit www.rochestereducation.org. 

This is the eleventh year of FAFSA Fest events, presented by REF, the City of Rochester and the Rochester College Access Network, along with a host of sponsors. To spark an additional reminder to students and the community that now is the time to apply for college and financial aid, Mayor Evans is pleased to invite businesses, schools and individuals throughout the City of Rochester to wear a college sweatshirt on Friday, January 17, 2025.

REF’s mission is to provide programs and resources to improve learning and success for all students in the City of Rochester through partnerships with educators, businesses, and the community.

RCAN was launched in April 2013. The mission of this collaborative group is to increase college access and success through coordinated communication, coalition and advocacy to enable students in Rochester to meet their full potential. The group includes representatives from local colleges and universities, guidance counselors and representatives from Rochester city schools, not-for-profit organizations, philanthropic organizations and businesses.