MVUSD, BLU Education Foundation Partner to Get Kids in College

The Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) has recently partnered with BLU Education Foundation in a $143,000 grant opportunity aimed at getting more kids into post-secondary learning institutions. The one year grant, an expanding financial aide initiative, will provide services to 12th grade students in the school district from November 2013 through June 2014, and is expected to provide 10 new scholarships that amount to $5,000. After the student has completed four years of higher education, the scholarships are renewable, if funding is available. Services are aimed at making it simpler for students to apply to college or post-secondary learning institutions following high school, explained BLU Educational Foundation President/CEO Dina Walker. In a statement issued by the school district, BLU Education Foundation is partnering with four comprehensive high schools to: • Integrate data tracking and awareness for FAFSA and Cal grant applications, completions and awards. • Institute a follow-up FAFSA check point within the student’s senior year. • Provide students/families one-on-one FAFSA assistance and training. • Train school personnel and newly implemented student leaders to build FAFSA capacity and expertise onsite. • Advise students and their families to transition from high school and enroll in a post-secondary institution. Walker explained that "assistance with completing the federal and state financial aid applications — Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Cal Grant and Dream Act applications" will be provided to students during these months. "College application assistance may also be provided," said Walker, but "most importantly, follow-up assistance will be provided after the applications have been submitted." The expanding financial aid initiative means that no one will be turned away from access to financial aid, explained Walker, "regardless of their grades, graduation status or 'college bound' destination. The initiative ensures that all 12th grade students will apply for financial aid so that it is available in case they decide, even at a later date, to attend any type of post-secondary education institution." It's not different from other financial aid options, she explained, but rather it "puts practices in place so that all students will have the opportunity to receive some type of financial aid for the post-high school college/career plans" they have. To be chosen to receive a scholarship, students must first apply for financial aid and have been accepted into an approved post-secondary institution. Scholarships are need-based and most students will be from low- to moderate income levels. Scholarship recipients will primarily be chosen by their overall participation in the initiative on campus as well as BLU Educational Foundation's college priority initiatives. [END] Moreno Valley Unified School District has partnered with BLU Education Foundation in a $143,000 grant opportunity. The grant is an Expanding Financial Aide initiative. It is a one year grant where services will be provided from November 2013, through June 2014. The grant provides ten new scholarships that amount to $5,000. The scholarships are renewable after the student has completed four years of higher education. BLU Education Foundation will partner with four comprehensive high schools to: 1. Integrate data tracking and awareness for FAFSA and Cal grant applications, completions and awards. 2. Institute a follow-up FAFSA check point within the student’s senior year. 3. Provide students/families one-on-one FAFSA assistance and training. 4. Train school personnel and newly implemented student leaders to build FAFSA capacity and expertise onsite. 5. Advise students and their families to transition from high school and enroll in a post-secondary institution. Moreno Valley Unified School District is excited about this latest grant opportunity to boost the efforts of district counselors to prepare students for College and Career opportunities. To learn more about this initiative, please contact Dr. Martinrex Kedziora at 951-571-7500, x17587 or email, mkedziora@mvusd.net . The district remains committed to providing opportunities for all students graduation from high school and college graduation and career readiness. Good Morning Dr. Kedziora, The responses are below. I will try to send a few images once I get to our computer with program pictures. Email if you need anything else. Dina Walker 909-496-9165 cell 1. What services exactly will be provided to the students through June? • Assistance with completing the Federal and state financial aid applications: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Cal Grant and Dream Act Applications. • Most importantly, follow-up assistance will be provided after the applications have been submitted. • College application assistance may also be provided 2. What grade levels will be participating in the scholarship opportunities? • 12th grade 3. The scholarships are renewable—can you expand on what this means? • Students receiving the scholarships, who meet all of the yearly requirements, may be able to renew their scholarship yearly for a total of 4 years. if funding is available. 4. What is, in your own words, an Expanding Financial Aid initiative? How does it differ from other financial aid options? • Expanding Financial Aid means that students will be able to access financial aid regardless of their grades, graduation status or "college bound" designation. The initiative ensures that ALL 12th grade students will apply for financial aid so that it is available in case they decide, even at a later date, to attend ANY type of post-secondary education institution. • It doesn't differ from any financial aid options, it puts practices in place so that all students will have the opportunity to receive some type of financial aid for the post-high school college/career plans. 5. How does a student qualify to receive a scholarship and how are they chosen as a recipient? • Student must first apply for financial aid and have been accepted into an approved post-secondary institution. The scholarships are need based and most student will be from low-moderate income levels. Recipients will primarily be chosen by their overall participation in the initiative on campus as well as BLU Educational Foundation's college priority initiatives. Dina Walker President/CEO BLU Educational Foundation P.O. Box 7042 San Bernardino, CA 92411 909.820.2827 message/fax 909.685.9995 office cell dwalker@bluedfoundation.org www.bluedfoundation.org