Jo Branson, financial aid director at Spoon River College, is offering two virtual Financial Aid Information sessions through Zoom on March 16 at 10 a.m. and at 5 p.m. While the sessions are geared towards high school seniors and their parents, members of the public who are interested may also join. Branson will be joined by Dillon Austin, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) representative.

Branson and Austin will share information about the financial aid process, including how to apply for federal and state grants as well as scholarships and student loans. They will also assist those who are interested in completing the FAFSA application, which is the first step to applying for other types of financial aid, including SRC Foundation scholarships.

In order to file a FAFSA application, a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID must be created. Branson recommends that this be done a week prior to the March 16 meeting by going to www.studentaid.gov. “That ID will become your electronic signature to sign your FASFA application, and to sign any Master Promissory Notes for loans, as well as Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling.” Each student and one parent will need to create a FSA ID, and a different email address and phone number should be attached to each FSA ID.

“It’s important to use an email address that you will be able to access for several years, so using a high school email address is not a good idea.” said Branson.

Attendees who would like assistance in completing the FAFSA application will need their 2019 income information.

“Navigating the financial aid process can be stressful, so our goal is always to make that process as smooth as we can,” Branson said. “All of us at Spoon River College want our students to be successful, and we’re here to help them achieve that success.”

To join the Zoom meeting, click on the link. The Meeting ID is 989 6450 9547, and the Passcode is eqQy9d.

https://zoom.us/j/98964509547?pwd=WWtHbS9iOEpJKzNzVVdTUS83NjBKUT09

The registration link has also been sent out to all district high school counselors so they can share with their students.

For additional information about financial aid at Spoon River College, visit www.src.edu, call 309-649-7030 (Canton) or 309-833-6073 (Macomb), or email financialaid@src.edu.