Free college financial aid/FAFSA completion events offered

College applicants and their parents can get assistance to complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at sessions across Lake County from Jan. 10 through early March. All sessions are scheduled in computer labs that enable students to submit the application electronically upon completion.

The FAFSA must be completed by all students who wish to access federal and state financial aid. Many colleges and universities also require it in order to receive institutional aid. Students seeking Illinois Monetary Assistance Program (MAP) awards are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

For the eighth consecutive year, a group of Lake County organizations have worked together to recruit volunteers, obtain training from Illinois Student Assistance Commission staff and schedule a series of workshops, each of which will have at least one Spanish-speaking volunteer.

All college-bound high school seniors and their parents, prospective adult students and current college students are invited to attend one of the following free sessions:

• Saturday, Jan. 10: Waukegan High School, Washington Campus, Room 224, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 14: Waukegan High School, Brookside Campus, Library, 6-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 20: Cristo Rey St. Martin de Porres High School: 5-7 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Lake County High Schools Technology Campus, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Mundelein High School, 6-8 p.m.

• Saturday, Jan. 24: Cristo Rey St. Martin de Porres High School, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 29: Highland Park High School, Tech Labs A & C, 4-8 pm

• Friday, Jan. 30: College of Lake County Grayslake, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 3: Warren-Newport Public Library, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Feb. 4: Waukegan High School, Brookside Campus, Library, 6-8 p.m.

• Saturday, Feb. 7: College of Lake County Grayslake, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Saturday, Feb. 14: Waukegan High School Washington Campus, Room 224, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 17: Waukegan Public Library, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, Feb. 28: College of Lake County Lakeshore Campus, Waukegan, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Wednesday, March 4: Waukegan High School Brookside Campus, Library, 6-8 p.m.

• Saturday, March 7: Waukegan High School Washington Campus, Room 224, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Additional sessions are scheduled at some high schools that are open only to students attending school at that location. Register for any of these sessions by visiting www.ucenter.org, where you can also find a list of the high school sessions open only to the students of those schools. The student's college choice is no barrier at any FAFSA session; students applying to any college or university are welcome to attend.

Students should bring the following documents with them: a copy of your and your parents' 2013 or 2014 Federal Tax information (parent and student 1040EZ, 1040A or 1040 and all W2 forms), recent bank statements, the student's driver's license and Social Security card and information about family assets such as savings certificates of deposit, stock shares, bonds; and investment real estate, business and farm. If tax forms have not been completed yet, please bring W-2 forms and final paycheck stubs for 2014. Financial aid information is also available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or at www.collegezone.com.

For more information about the FAFSA completion sessions, contact Myra Gaytan-Morales at the University Center of Lake County at mgaytan