The school will host a free workshop to help seniors with secondary education plans fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the media center computer labs, according to Linda Christy, College and Career Resource Center (CCRC) counselor. Parents are also welcome, Christy said, and students can complete and submit their applications at the workshop itself.

The state deadline for the FAFSA is March 10, but some students may need to submit it by Feb. 15 to meet the requirements of certain colleges, Christy said. Seniors should be sure to go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to fill out the FAFSA, she said, and not another fake website.

“The FAFSA is important for families to complete because it qualifies them for all types of federal and state aid to help their students attend college,” Christy said via email.

Senior Catherine Onofrey said she has gotten a head start on the federal aid process by submitting her FAFSA in early February. She said she is hopeful for returns on her effort because she has good grades and some financial need.

“Many families may decide they are not going to complete the FAFSA because they are not a “need based” family,” Christy said. “However, I would encourage all families to complete the FAFSA as they never know when their financial situation may change.”

Colleges, she said, can use FAFSA information to help students cover costs if their financial situation turns sour or to determine scholarship awards.

According to Onofrey, filling out the FAFSA was not more trouble than it is worth.

“(The process) was pretty straightforward,” Onofrey said.

According to Christy, students and parents can get answers to any questions they do have about the FAFSA at the workshop or at the CCRC in the counseling center.