A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
Catahoula Parish students and school officials credit LOSFA services for successful year
June 10, 2019

As Terry Russell, assistant principal at Block High School in Jonesville, Louisiana watched his 32 seniors walk across the stage at graduation, he turned to staff with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance and said “We couldn’t have done it without you all.”

Earlier this year, when LOSFA staff saw reports about Block High School – a school where students were protesting a lack of certified teachers and feeling that they were not being prepared for life beyond the high school classroom – they immediately offered help.
 
  “Y’all [LOSFA] helped me get my ACT score up, apply myself more, helped me to apply to college…I just appreciate y’all,” said Corey Jones, a senior student.

Pictured above: LOSFA staff with Sicily Island High School graduates

The importance of communication
June 7, 2019


Below is her write up that appeared in The New Orleans 100 .

The camp features daily career exploration workshops, spotlighting emerging industries that have a significant impact on the local economy. We discussed communication (what it is, who needs it and the different types) and demonstrated its importance through activities like telephone and two truths and a lie.

Keep an eye out for an original story written by one of these Delgado Community College campers in an upcoming issue of The New Orleans 100.
Louisiana Class With Mandated FAFSA Graduates, Enrolls in Record Numbers
May 31, 2019

Ever since Louisiana announced a policy that would  mandate financial aid planning   for high school graduation (including FAFSA submission as one of four options to satisfy the requirement), NCAN, the college access and success field, and financial aid observers across the country have wondered what the effect would be on students’ subsequent post-secondary outcomes.

Last week, the Louisiana Department of Education  announced  that the number of high school graduates immediately enrolling in post-secondary education the following fall climbed to an all-time high.

The Bayou State also saw a 31% increase in the number of students eligible for the  Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Scholarship.

Current data, as of May 31, shows Louisiana is in first place for FAFSA completion!
Though the Louisiana and Tennessee data percentages are the same at 77.1, Louisiana (77.149) leads Tennessee (77.061) by .08 percentage points.
LSU graduate says Louisiana GEAR UP helped him find best college path
May 24, 2019


When 23-year-old Trey Riley crossed the stage to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University, on May 10, 2019, he says it was like a dream.
“I’m a first-generation college graduate,” Riley said. “It’s an honor … it’s unreal.”

He says he always knew college was in his future; His family preached to him about how important it was for him to receive more than a high school diploma.

“I just didn’t know how to make it a reality. No one in my family could tell me ‘this is what you need to do’ because they didn’t know," he said. "I started hearing about [Louisiana] GEAR UP and how they were giving students a peek at what college was and how to get there."

With the help of Louisiana GEAR UP, Riley says not only did he get to visit and tour several Louisiana colleges/universities, he learned about the financial aid process through different workshops, and received comprehensive mentoring and felt encouraged to keep reaching for his goal.
ESJH ninth grader spreading word on summer options for all local public school students
May 15, 2019

Ninth grader Jai Gaines walks the hallways of East St. John High School with a stack of fliers in her schoolbag, ready to pass on information to her classmates about upcoming cost-free, educational summer camps.

Jai is one of seven Louisiana state representatives for LA GEAR UP , a federally funded initiative that prepares students for success in post-secondary education, regardless of financial standing.

"The summer camps are really eye opening," Jai said. "I want to introduce other people to it so they can have the same experience I had. You get to talk to the college students and get the feel of a college experience."

All camps are fully funded by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance . For more information on Louisiana GEAR UP Summer Learning Camps, click here .

Photo Credit: L'Observateur
LOSFA launches TOPS Processing Campaign for high school seniors

May 6, 2019
 
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) launched its campaign to remind high school seniors to take steps before they graduate, to make sure there are no delays when the office begins processing 2019 graduates for TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) eligibility.

“If students don’t make sure all their information is correct before they graduate, it can cause problems when it’s time to pay for college,” said Paula Smith, student financial aid administrator in LOSFA’s Scholarships & Grants Division.

“We encourage students to set up a Student Hub account, so they can track their TOPS status – from initial eligibility all the way through their post-secondary studies,” said Ebony Holmes, public information and communications supervisor.
Note: The LPB coverage runs 9:36 -15:34
Photos Shared on Social Media
Two of LOSFA's Regional Coordinators, Mary Cobb-Marshall (left) and Summer Clark (right), attended and celebrated with graduates from Block High School.
The schools 32 seniors received help with filling out college applications, the FAFSA, finding scholarships, college & career match and fit, and more from LOSFA staff.
"We couldn't have done it without y'all," said Terry Russell, the assistant principal.
During the 2019 What Works Reception , students shared what the Louisiana GEAR UP * program has meant to them.
Nina Donald, a Louisiana GEAR UP state officer and Lee Magnet High said, "I feel so blessed to have so many role models in my life. The people of Louisiana GEAR UP are aiming for me to succeed. I know that they really want me to be better."
While at the Louisiana GEAR UP * spring conference, students participated in hands-on learning. Here, during a STEM session, Louisiana GEAR UP students create bubbles from a reaction of dry ice, water, and dish-washing detergent.
*Louisiana GEAR UP is a federally funded program, under LOSFA, that aims to increase academic performance and the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college
Other Related News
Is College Worth It? Yes
June 10, 2019

Amid constant discussion of whether college is "worth it" or whether new models will displace the bachelor's degree , new research shows that there is a clear economic edge for those who earn bachelor's degrees over those with a high school diploma. And the research shows that the rate of return on the investment of paying for college is high enough to make the decision to go to college a wise one for most students.
Louisiana: Record number of 2018 graduates enroll in college
May 26, 2019

Louisiana officials say a record number of last year's public high school graduates enrolled in college immediately following graduation.  

The education department and Board of Regents announced that 25,083 of those graduates became college students in the fall.
The real cost of school for first-generation college students
May 20, 2019

Most people know college is expensive. But the real cost of college goes beyond the “sticker price” tuition advertised by colleges and universities. And the real cost of college hits some students harder than others.

“The biggest gap in understanding the cost of college has to do with non-tuition expenses, which are primarily living expenses,” said the author of a new report.

This isn’t just about the stereotypical “broke college student” living off of ramen noodles in a dorm. According to the federal government’s 2018 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report , insufficient food and housing undermines post-secondary educational experiences for many of today’s college students, including their ability to complete their degrees.

Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images file

This article supports the Cost of Choice: Can I afford it? match point on LOSFA's 5 Point-Match tool, Unlock My Future .
About LOSFA
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, strives to be Louisiana's first choice for college access by promoting, preparing for and providing equity of college access.