For more than a decade, Garland ISD’s Hispanic Community Liaison, Javier Solis, has helped students whose home language is not English complete an important college document—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Keeping that tradition alive, 200 parents attended the 11th-annual Hispanic Parent FAFSA Workshop March 28 at Naaman Forest High School, giving their students a leg up on tuition assistance. “I am proud to announce that this was the first time the workshop was held in GISD,” Solis said. “We had a great turnout, and 80 FAFSA forms were successfully filed. The FAFSA is difficult to complete if parents have no Internet access, are missing or have difficult circumstances with tax documentation, or have no knowledge of how to navigate through this process. Assistance was also provided in Spanish, which is of great importance to many of our parents.” During the event, financial aid officers from the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) and Texas A&M University-Commerce volunteered their time to help parents file the FAFSA. But applying for financial aid was not the only action addressed. “In addition to filing FAFSA forms, students also had the opportunity to submit their Apply Texas College Admission and DCCCD applications,” Solis explained. “Furthermore, representatives from DCCCD and A&M-Commerce were present to meet with parents and highlight their respective programs.” Those who were interested in Commerce’s offerings will also be given the chance to attend University Preview Day April 25, which features free transportation to and from the college. For more information on how to prepare for higher education, visit the district’s college readiness website. And, learn more about GISD’s Community Liaisons here.
GISD hosts 11th-annual Hispanic Parent FAFSA Workshop
