NewsRoom

Assembly member Yamada Invites Solano and Yolo
County Students to
FREE Cash for College Workshops

YOLO AND SOLANO COUNTIES, CA- Assembly member Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) is hosting fifteen Cash for College Workshops to help students apply for Cal Grants and other financial aid for college.   The Cash for College program is a partnership with the California Student Aid Commission, the Sacramento Cal-SOAP Consortium, the Solano Educational Consortium, Woodland Community College, Solano Community College, Napa Valley College, Sacramento State, UC Davis Early Academic Outreach Program, UC Berkeley Destination College and local volunteers. 

“We want to help families overcome financial barriers to their higher education goals. A Cal Grant can be the first step in making a quality education more affordable,” Yamada stated.  “That’s why we’re sponsoring workshops to help students and parents complete their financial aid forms.”

The Cal Grant Program provides qualified individuals with up to $12,192 in aid per year to attend almost any college in California.  Awards vary depending on economic need, grades and the college a student attends.  Cal Grants are available to high school seniors, recent graduates and individuals returning to college.  The deadline to apply for a Cal Grant is March 2, 2012.  To find out more about Cal Grant eligibility requirements, please visit www.calgrants.org.

Cash for College Workshops will have trained volunteers and financial aid experts on hand to walk students, and their families through the process of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant GPA Verification form.  Some high school students may also be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship.    

The following are the Cash for College workshops in your area for 2012:

Yolo County:
1/21, Saturday, Woodland Community College, Rm. 800, 2300 E. Gibson Rd. Woodland, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
2/8, Wednesday, Winters High School, Computer Lab, 101 Grant Avenue, Winters, 6 to 8 p.m.
2/8, Wednesday, River City High School, 1 Raider Lane, West Sacramento, 6 to 8 p.m.

Solano County:
1/12, Thursday, Will C. Wood high School Computer Lab/Library, 998 Marshall Rd., Vacaville, 6 to 8 p.m.
1/18, Wednesday, Rodriquez High School Multi-Purpose Room, 5000 Red Top Rd., Fairfield, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
1/19, Thursday, Buckingham Charter Magnet High School Student Center, 188-B Bella Vista Rd., Vacaville, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
1/24, Wednesday, Vacaville High School Computer Lab/Library, 100 West Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville, 6 to 8 p.m
1/26, Thursday, Armijo High School Computer Lab/Library, 824 Washington St., Fairfield, 6 to 8 p.m.
1/31, Tuesday, Dixon High School Library/Computer Lab, 555 College Way, Dixon, 6 to 8 p.m. 
1/31, Tuesday, Benicia High School, 1101 Military West, Benicia, 7 to 8:30 p.m. 
2/1, Wednesday, Fairfield high School Library/Computer Lab, 205 East Atlantic Ave., Fairfield, 5:30 to 9 p.m. 
2/15, Wednesday, Vacaville Cultural Center Library Computer Lab, 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 
2/16, Thursday, Vanden High School, 2951 Markelely Lane, Fairfield, 6:30 to 8 p.m. 
2/22, Wednesday, solano Community College Computer Lab bldg. 500, Rm. 505, 4000 Suisun Valley Rd., Fairfield, 4 to 8 p.m. 
2/28, Tuesday, Fairfield Civic Center Library Computer Lab, 1150 Kentucky, St., Fairfield, 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.  
Those applying for financial aid must bring the following reference information to the workshop to receive assistance:

• Driver’s license or I.D.
• Social security card or number
• 2011 W-2 forms or pay check stubs
• 2011 bank statements
• 2011 tax information if available, 2010 tax information is acceptable
• List of colleges interested in attending
• If not a US citizen, bring alien registration card (if available)

BEFORE ATTENDING: Students and parents must obtain a FAFSA PIN, please visit www.pin.ed.gov. 

For questions about the workshops or to find out how to become a Cash for College volunteer, please call Bob Lortz at (707) 253-3028 or visit http://www.napavalley.edu/StudentServices/FinancialAid/Pages/NVCCashforCollege.aspx.

 http://www.assembly.ca.gov/yamada.  For additional workshops in the region, please visit www.calgrants.org/workshops

Posted: 1/18/2012