KASFAA has been busy this winter to provide some great educational
opportunities for students, parents, legislators and financial aid
professionals!
Outreach Activities
Kentucky sponsored College Goal Sunday (CGS) on February 27, at 19
locations in 18 different cities from 2-4 p.m. Over 200 KASFAA members
volunteered on that day to help families learn about the FAFSA, or
to give one-on-one assistance. Over 750 students were in attendance.
Evaluations from the event reveal that CGS is a very worthwhile and
important event for our state, and we look forward to working with
NASFAA to enhance our program in the years to come.
On January 31, KASFAA conducted its KET Call-in Show at 10 p.m.
On-air panelists answered phone call questions that came in for the
one-hour show.
Governor Ernie Fletcher declared February as Financial Aid Awareness
Month.
Training
Kentucky’s Spring Conference will be held April
20-22 in Louisville, KY, at the Hilton Garden Inn. The theme,
“Exploring KASFAA’s Wild Kingdom”, invites KASFAA
members on a safari. Fun activities will include a President’s
Reception, complete with Survivor-type games and a DJ for some time
to jungle boogie, as well as our banquet being held at the Louisville
Zoo. KASFAA is thrilled to welcome Kay Jacks, Dept of Ed FSA General
Manager, who began her career in Kentucky, as well as Greg Martin,
Dept of Ed, to our conference. Greg will conduct a preconference workshop
on Resolving Conflicting Information since so many of our members
could not attend the DOE Fall Training. Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan
Miller, who was instrumental in starting a prepaid tuition program
in Kentucky, will also address the group. Other special guests will
include SASFAA President Janet Sain, Virginia President-Elect Brad
Barnett, and NASFAA Chair George Chin.
Nominations
At our spring conference, KASFAA will hold elections. President-elect
candidates are Lori Dial, Murray State University, and Runan Pendergrast,
Lexington Community College. Vice President candidates are Bryan Erslan,
Berea College, and April Kendrick, Lexington Community College. Treasurer
candidates are Jennifer Cosens, KHEAA, and Rick Wilson, Bowling Green
Technical College. Private school representative candidates are Aaron
Gabehart, Campbellsville University, and Katie Valentine, Midway College.
Agency representative candidates are Elaine Brumback, KHEAA, and Wendi
Dailey, KHEAA. Past President Ron McMakin is to be commended for creating
such a talented and diverse slate.
Legislative Issues
Kentucky offers a lottery-sponsored scholarship called KEES. After
its creation, it seems that each year our legislators get some crazy
ideas about what would make the program work better. Each year our
Legislative Committee and campuses respond to the legislators’
whims. KASFAA decided to create a Task Force, and meet with the Senator
who created the program. The Task Force met with Senator Shaughnessy,
and let him know of our suggestions for changes. KASFAA has drafted
legislation, HB 460, which was presented in the Kentucky chambers
for approval. After several KASFAA members testified before Education
Committees, both the Kentucky House and Senate voted unanimously to
approve our bill. The bill is now on the governor’s desk for
him to sign. President Boutell congratulates the task force on writing
legislation, finding a sponsor, and bringing it before our policy
decision makers.
State Awards
KASFAA submitted 3 projects for consideration of a state award. President
Boutell submitted our CGS Video/DVD Project, our Fall Conference Opening
Session Movie, and the Shaughnessy Task Force Legislation. Kentucky
has not submitted a project for quite some time, so keep your fingers
crossed for us to possibly receive an award in New York.
KASFAA looks forward to spring as we warm up and prepare for freshmen
packages, March Madness, our spring conference, Derby, and much more!
APRIL
2005
