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Educators promote FAFSA completion to make postsecondary education accessible, affordable

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Dec. 9, 2019) – Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit that breaks down barriers to prosperity, today announced that 120 schools will receive the Best Hustle Award for successfully improving its early Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion by at least 10 percent during the first two months of this year’s FAFSA cycle (October 1 – December 1) when compared to the first two months of last year’s FAFSA cycle. Schools that earned this recognition include:

Addison High School
Aliceville High School
Alma Bryant High School
Ardmore High School
Ashford High School
Baldwin County High School
Barbour County High School
Beauregard High School
Ben C Rain High School
Booker T. Washington High School (Macon County)
Buckhorn High School
Cedar Bluff High School
Center Point High School
C.F. Vigor High School
Chambers Academy
Cherokee County High School
Cherokee High School
Childersburg High School
Clarke County High School
Cold Springs High School
Cottonwood High School
Curry High School
Dadeville High School
Daleville High School
Dallas County High School
Daphne High School
Decatur High School
Douglas High School
East Limestone High School
Elba High School
Escambia County High School
Faith Academy
Fayette County High School
Fayetteville High School
Flomaton High School
Florala High School
Fultondale High School
Gadsden City High School
Gaylesville High School
Carver High School (Birmingham)
Georgiana School
Glencoe High School
Greene County High School
Greenville High School
Guntersville High School
Hackleburg High School
Hale County High School
Hartselle High School
Hayden High School
Helena High School
Hewitt-Trussville High School
Hillcrest High School (Evergreen)
Hokes Bluff High School
Holly Pond High School
Holt High School
Houston County High School
Hubbertville School
Huffman High School
Ider School
J.U. Blacksher School
Jackson High School
Jackson-Olin High School
JB Pennington High School
Jefferson County International Baccalaureate High School
Jefferson Davis High School
Jemison High School (Huntsville)
Jemison High School (Jemison)
Kate D Smith DAR High School
Lanett Senior High School
Lee High School (Huntsville)
Loachapoka High School
Lynn High School
Maplesville High School
Marion County High School
McKenzie High School
Meek High School
Midfield High School
Monroe County High School
Moody High School
Muscle Shoals High School
New Century Technology High School
North Sand Mountain School
Northridge High School
Oneonta High School
Opelika High School
Parker High School
Pike Liberal Arts Academy
Ramsay High School
Robertsdale High School
Russell County High School
Russellville High School
Saint Clair County High School
Saks High School
Saraland High School
Sardis High School
Selma High School
Shades Valley High School
Skyline High School
Slocomb High School
Southeastern School
Southern Choctaw High School
Southside High School (Selma)
Susan Moore High School
Sweet Water High School
Talladega County Central High
Tallassee High School
Tharptown High School
Thompson High School
Tuscaloosa County High School
Valley Head High School
Valley High School
Verbena High School
Vestavia Hills High School
W S Neal High School
Wenonah High School
West End High School
West Limestone High School
West Point High School
Wilcox Central High School
Zion Chapel High School

All the schools participate in the Cash for College Alabama campaign coordinated by Alabama Possible. Cash for College works with school counselors, career coaches, and other educators at high schools across the state to equip students to continue their education after high school by completing their financial aid form.

More than 340 Alabama high schools participate in the Cash for College campaign. By December 1, 2019, nearly 12,000 Alabama high school seniors had already completed the FAFSA, up .17 percent compared to last year.

“It’s crucial that high school seniors fill out the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize their financial aid,” said Kristina Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible. “We are excited for all the schools that have received the Best Hustle Award and congratulate them on their success in encouraging early FAFSA completion among students.”

Any student seeking federal or state financial aid – including grants, loans, and work-study programs – must complete the FAFSA. Most Alabama students qualify for Pell Grants of up to $6,195 per year. Students can use Pell Grants for two-year and four-year technical and academic programs. If you want to learn more about the FAFSA and Cash for College, visit cashforcollegealabama.org.

Alabama aims to add 500,000 individuals with valuable postsecondary credentials to its workforce by 2025, and Governor Kay Ivey’s Success Plus strategic plan recognizes the critical role that financial aid plays in making education after high school accessible and affordable.

Cash for College Alabama is a partnership of Alabama Possible, the Alabama State Department of Education, Bold Goals Coalition of Central Alabama, and the Alabama Media Group. Additional collaborators include the Alabama Community College System and Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

About Alabama Possible
Alabama Possible is a statewide nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers to prosperity. We use education, collaboration, and advocacy to change the way people think and talk about poverty. To learn more, visit alabamapossible.org.