Assemblyman Al Stirpe is supporting a Student Financial Aid event with representatives from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) on Monday, February 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is for East Syracuse Minoa High School students and their family members and takes place East Syracuse Minoa Central High School, 6400 Fremont Rd, East Syracuse. For more information and to register for a time slot contact the Counseling Office at 434-3306.

HESC, New York’s student financial aid agency, is coordinating a statewide campaign entitled “Start Here, Get There,” to inform and educate students and families about college financial aid, and to promote the completion of the most important tool in securing that aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“Last year, I experienced firsthand how valuable this event was as a parent of a senior in high school,” Stirpe said. “How to pay for college is a very big concern for families and these financial aid events help parents better understand the process and gives them insight on what to expect in the months and years ahead.”

Completing the FAFSA is the first step to obtaining financial aid. Families of college-bound students, as well as those currently attending college, should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to have the best chance of receiving all the financial aid for which they are qualified. ESM seniors and their parents who wish to complete the FAFSA at the event will need to bring their financial records with them.

Students can also go to www.StartHereGetThere.org to see a list of additional local events and a step-by-step tutorial for completing the FAFSA, along with college and financial aid planning information, informative videos, helpful tips and tools, and information about federal, state, and college-sponsored aid, including grants such as New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and other scholarships, loans, and work study programs.

Students and families can receive personal assistance with their FAFSA questions through February through an online chat conducted weekdays on www.StartHereGetThere.org; emailing FAFSAhelp@hesc.ny.gov; or by calling a special toll-free HESC hotline at 1-800-808-1790 Monday-Thursday from noon to 5 p.m.