Purdue University North Central will join the state College Goal Sunday event for all college-bound students and their families, Sunday, Feb. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building, Room 144. College Goal Sunday is free and is open to potential Indiana college students of all ages. 
College Goal Sunday is a 21-year-old statewide program that provides free financial aid information and assistance to all Indiana students seeking admission to any Indiana college, university or technical institution. At 37 College Goal Sunday sites throughout Indiana, students and their parents will get the help they need in understanding and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Online capabilities and Spanish interpreters will be available.
College Goal Sunday presents an ideal opportunity for students and parents to meet with financial aid professionals. PNC financial aid counselors will be on hand to help those who want to complete the FAFSA at that time. All college-bound students are encouraged to attend.
The priority deadline for mailing the FAFSA is March 1, with a receipt date no later than March 10 to be considered for most types of financial aid, including state funding. In 2007-2008, the State of Indiana awarded nearly $213 million in financial aid to more than 65,000 students.
The FAFSA is required for consideration for federally sponsored financial aid, including student loans and is a prerequisite for many scholarships," said Lawrence Barrett, PNC vice chancellor for Enrollment Management & Student Services. "With nearly half of Indiana's college students qualifying for some form of financial aid, the importance of correctly completing the FAFSA and filing it on time is clear."
College Goal Sunday has helped more than 75,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA form properly and on time.
Students should attend with a parent or guardian and should bring their parents' completed 2009 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2009 income and benefits information. If students worked last year, they should also bring their income information. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2009 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2009 income and benefits information.
Pens and FAFSA forms will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring their own FAFSA forms and their U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) if filing online. Parents will also need to obtain a PIN to file online. To obtain PINs, go to www.pin.ed.gov. Students should also bring any financial aid forms they have received from the colleges and universities where they intend to apply.
College Goal Sunday is one of the highlights of Financial Aid Awareness Month in Indiana. In February, students and their families can call the Learn More Resource Center helpline at 800-992-2076 to have their questions answered by financial aid professionals. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education supports the helpline.
Students attending College Goal Sunday may also have a chance to win an educational prize to help with their higher education expenses. This year LearnMore Indiana and College Goal Sunday will provide a $1,000 scholarship for each of the 37 sites in Indiana. The winners will be notified in March; prizes will be sent directly to the higher education institutions selected by the winning students. To enter the drawing, students must attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form.
Twenty-first Century Scholars are encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday to receive help in completing the FAFSA and other paperwork necessary to receive their Twenty-first Century scholarships.
College Goal Sunday, sponsored by ISFAA, is offered in cooperation with Learn More Resource Center, the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana and The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program. It is funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Lumina Foundation for Education and USA Funds, three Indiana-based nonprofit organizations with a particular interest in higher education. In addition to Indiana, College Goal Sunday now takes place in more than 25 other states.
For more information about the PNC College Goal Sunday event or for financial assistance in general, contact the PNC Financial Aid Office, (219) 785-5200 , ext. 5493 or at finaid@pnc.edu.