FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, 304-696-7153
 

Financial aid training for high school counselors
to take place Nov. 13 at Marshall University

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University will be a host site for financial aid training for high school counselors on Friday, Nov. 13.

Kathy J. Bialk, director of student financial assistance, said Marshall is one of 11 schools throughout West Virginia serving as a host site for the Financial Aid Workshops for Counselors and Mentors, coordinated by the West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WVASFAA).

Bialk said the workshop at MU will provide information, tools and resources necessary to counsel students and their families about preparing for college and the financial aid process. Although the workshop is sponsored by the WVASFAA, Bialk said counselors from Ohio and Kentucky also are invited to attend.

“I look forward to having the opportunity to provide important information and training materials that will help our area high school counselors advise students and parents about the financial aid application process and the financial aid opportunities available to students,” Bialk said. “Students and families need to know that financial barriers should never be a reason not to consider college. It is imperative that financial aid awareness occur during students’ middle school and high school years so that they can see early on that attending college is a reality.”

The training begins at 9 a.m. in Room BE5, located on the lower level of the Memorial Student Center on the Huntington campus. Bialk is hoping 40-50 counselors take part in the training.

Beth Wolfe, Marshall’s director of recruitment, will speak to the group of participants during lunch about the university’s academic programs. Denise Hogsett, Marshall’s director of career services, will also speak to the group about the top 10 reasons first-year college students should connect with the Office of Career Services. Also, Michelle Wicks, from the Office of Financial Aid and Outreach Services, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), will assist Bialk with training on WVHEPC financial aid program opportunities.

For more information or to register for the workshop, contact Bialk by calling 304-696-2281 or via e-mail at bialkk@marshall.edu. Or, visit the West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ Web site at http://www.wvasfaa.org/docs/toc_training.html for more information.

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