FAME’s University Access and Financial Education team won the MDF award. From left: Director of Education Martha Johnston, cafe team members Jessica Whittier, Floreka Marual, Nikki Vachon, and Mila Tappan. Posted photo
AUGUSTA — The Maine Development Foundation presented the Education and Workforce Development Champion Award to the Maine Department of Finance’s College Access and Financial Education Team at its annual meeting and awards ceremony held Sept. 13 at the Franco Center in Lewiston. .
MDF’s awards this year recognize individuals, businesses, and community groups who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to strengthening the state’s economy and communities through efforts to attract and retain Maine’s youth, the state said. This was announced in a news release from the Finance Bureau. Maine.
FAME’s CAFÉ team provides comprehensive support to students, families, counselors, and advisors through a variety of college access, financial aid, financial education, and educational debt management services that support their higher education aspirations and accomplishments in Maine. Provides university access and financial education services.
FAME Director of Education Martha Johnston accepted the award on behalf of the team.
“FAME’s College Access team works every day and every day to help Maine students and their families learn about saving for higher education, filling out and submitting the FAFSA, borrowing wisely, and navigating the student loan process. Time and time again, we are literally leaving at night to pay off our loans. We believe it has the transformative power to benefit our economic future as well,” Johnston said.
Helping students and families prepare to apply for financial aid and supporting them throughout the process is a primary focus of FAME’s College Access team. In fiscal year 24 alone, FAME’s University Access and Outreach team coordinated and participated in the following activities:
• 232 financial aid information sessions and workshops reaching more than 6,800 Maine students and their families.
• 77 training workshops for over 4,800 counselors and advisors.
• 41 workshops attended by 537 people to help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). and
• Hosted 129 events focused on financial wellness for 6,500 students.
This has been a very difficult year for completing the FAFSA due to issues with the U.S. Department of Education’s rollout of the new form, so FAME’s team worked especially hard throughout the summer and, as of the end of August, Contributed. The FAFSA completion rate for Maine high school seniors in the Class of 2024 increased by 9 percentage points to over 61%.
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