(December 2, 2024) Rochester City School District students are gaining greater access to higher education through FAFSA events, a collaborative effort between the RCSD, the Rochester Education Foundation, the Rochester College Access Network (RCAN), and the City of Rochester. These events, which begin on Wednesday, December 4, provide free assistance to students and families completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a vital step toward securing financial aid for college.
"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."
This year, local high school seniors serving as student ambassadors, in partnership with the ROC Your Job Initiative, are encouraging 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 guide me as I search for scholarships. I want to bring my peers along to get this great support.”
The events are part of a larger push to create a college-going culture in Rochester. “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. FAFSA Fests are all about showing students how grants, scholarships, and other resources can make college affordable and attainable.”
FAFSA Fest events will be held throughout the winter at schools across the city, offering resources to help families navigate financial aid. For schedules and more details, visit www.rochestereducation.org. Community members are also invited to wear college sweatshirts on Friday, January 17, 2025, as a citywide reminder of the importance of applying for college and financial aid. Together, these efforts aim to ensure every student in Rochester can pursue higher education and a brighter future.
