Joplin, Mo.

Each year students and families struggle to complete paperwork necessary to receive financial aid. Now, help is on the way.

College Goal Sunday, a program designed to make the process easier and more understandable, will take place at Missouri Southern State University from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 13 in Billingsly Student Center on the MSSU campus.

Each session will feature financial aid professionals and hands-on help. By the end of the day, those who attend will have their FAFSA completed accurately and with professional assistance. Information is being sent directly to the homes of students who have taken ACT tests and to high school counselors.

A total of 23 schools, including Missouri Southern, will participate in the program. The first step in the college financial aid process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Copies of the FAFSA are available online, from high schools, or from any college or university.

No pre-registration for College Goal Sunday is required, but students and families are encouraged to provide event sites with an estimate of th  number of people planning to attend by registering online at http://www.collegegoalmissouri.com .

Participants also may register at the door the day of the event. Participants should bring the following documents/information: 

*  2004 Federal Tax Records *  Social Security Number  *  Driver's License (if applicable)  *  2004 W-2 Forms and Other Records of Money Earned *  2004 Untaxed Income Records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Welfare, or Veterans Benefits records  *  2004 Bank Statements  *  2004 Business and Investment Mortgage Information, Business and Farm Records, Stock, Bond, and other Investment Records  *   Alien registration card (if not a U.S. citizen).

The program is a free service sponsored by the Lumina Foundation, the Missouri Department of Higher Education, and the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority. It is presented by the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel.

Cheryl Dobson MSSU Financial Aid Counselor (417) 625-9584.

Stephen Ernest Smith, M.A.  Manager, Missouri Southern News Bureau Missouri Southern State University-Joplin 3950 E. Newman Road Joplin, MO, 64801-1595 Voice: 417.625.9506  Fax: 417.625.3142 e-mail: smith-se@mssu.edu

Cheryl Dobson (417) 625-9584