Reach Higher Montana

On Tuesday, October 10 from 6:30 to 8 pm, the White Sulphur Spring’s school held a night dedicated to college applications. As 2024 seniors gear up to make their life’s plan, several are choosing to go to the route of attaining a college degree. With this decision, of course, several logistics must be worked out between now and the time that they are ready to leave for university. Not only are applications to the actual college an important item to have checked off their to-do list, but also making an effective plan to fund their college venture is a cause worth the attention of the students. To aid in the student’s transition into potential college life, the college application night held by school counselor, Tiffany Sweeney, along with previewing helpful information to use while sending off applications, also highlighted resources pertaining to financial aid. This, of course, included details related to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). FAFSA is an important program provided through the government that allows students to attain money for college that they do not have to pay back through an extensive amount of forms that acquire information about the student, their parents, and their finances. The FAFSA applications for 2024-25 school year do not open until December of 2023. This comes as a change, as FAFSA applications normally open during the month of October. However, several changes are being made to the form, so a later date of availability has been set. Additionally, the information session detailed the importance of scholarships. This included information about local scholarships, as well as statewide programs. One such program is Reach Higher Montana, who provided a guest speaker to the college application night to discuss the program’s missions and impacts. The guest speaker, Andy Beggar, also provided additional insight on the new FAFSA updates happening this year while answering any questions that those in attendance had. Andy Beggar is a Certified Career Service Provider who works for Reach Higher Montana. All Certified Career Service Providers are meant to be a helpful resource pertaining to students with questions about financial aid. Reach Higher Montana specifically aims to use these advisors to aid in the more remote communities of Montana. Reach Higher is a branch initiative of the Montana Higher Education Student Assistance Corporation (MHESAC). Reach Higher Montana is directly funded and governed through the MHESAC’s board of directors. Through their work, Reach Higher Montana provides several services to students of Montana. Items like scholarship applications, information regarding forms of financial planning/aid, career path questionnaires, and other like resources may be found through their website. The White Sulphur Springs School’s college application night was a success. A large portion of the senior students were in attendance, as well as their parents. The local high school will continue to provide resources throughout the class of 2024’s senior year to ensure their transition into adulthood goes as smoothly as possible, no matter the path they choose.