Honoring the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and proclaiming January 2004 Financial Aid Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Throughout the month of December, the School District of Philadelphia conducted financial aid awareness seminars in many of its high schools; and

WHEREAS, In January 2004, many Philadelphia secondary school students will begin the process of applying for post-secondary education; and

WHEREAS, In many cases, the availability of federal and state grants, scholarships, and government subsidized loans will determine a student’s ability to further his or her education; and

WHEREAS, Many qualified students are still unaware of all avenues of financing a post-secondary education; and

WHEREAS, Recent survey data furnished by the Sallie Mae Fund indicates that more that one in four young adults not currently in college would have been more likely to attend college if they had better information about financial aid; and

WHEREAS, The same survey showed that 66 per cent of African-American parents and 62 per cent of Hispanic parents do not believe they have enough information regarding how to pay for college; and

WHEREAS, Nearly half of parents surveyed with incomes of less than $25,000 per year said they had “no idea” how they are going to pay for college; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (PASFAA) is a dynamic organization representing approximately 300 Pennsylvania educational institutions, lenders, and organizations involved with higher education which works to improve access to higher education for all Philadelphians; and

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators be honored, and Proclaim January 2004 Financial Aid Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be given to the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the School District of Philadelphia.

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