SKYCTC Hosts ‘FAFSA Funday’ to Assist with Financial Aid Applications

Bowling Green, Ky. – Amidst the new changes and a later start to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications process, Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC) offered much-needed guidance to students and their families by hosting their second “FAFSA Funday” on Sunday.

Major Overhaul in FAFSA Processes

Following the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act at the end of 2020, there have been substantial alterations to the processes used to award federal student aid. This new act aims to simplify the federal student aid application process, which is a significant shift in the types of questions students and their parents are asked during the application process. Cindy Burnette, Interim Financial Aid Director at SKYCTC, noted that this overhaul of systems has also affected how student qualifications are determined, calling these some of the most consequential changes the financial aid industry has witnessed in almost four decades.

‘FAFSA Funday’ to Aid Student Applications

While SKYCTC provides regular financial aid assistance, the emergence of ‘FAFSA Fundays’, events aimed at helping students navigate the changes in the FAFSA application process, are crucial according to Burnette. These events, organized in partnership with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, pair FAFSA applicants with advisers to guide them through the application.

Burnette emphasized the importance of this personalized guidance, “Sometimes students get hung up on a question or something; they might just abandon and not finish submitting it. We want to ensure that when they leave here, we’ve answered their questions or got them to the next point where we can help them finish before they start school.”

Impression of Students and Support for All

Incoming sophomore Aliyah Perrin, who availed of the assistance offered at the Funday event, appreciated the supportive atmosphere, in contrast with her prior experience at a larger university, which she felt was indifferent to student success.

“I’m very prideful and I don’t like to ask for help, but ask for help because it helps in the long run. If you have to take out loans, you won’t have to take out as much, and you could pay it off,” said Perrin, emphasizing the importance of availing the financial aid support provided.

Burnette further stated that the college offers aid help to any student, regardless of whether they attend SKYCTC or not, indicating their dedication to making higher education more accessible to all.

The federal deadline for submitting the 2024–25 FAFSA form will be June 30, 2025. For more information on the college’s resources, students can visit the SKYCTC’s website.