Heslin Santana
Growing up, Heslin Santana was fascinated with the medical industry, especially with regard to childbirth. So it was only natural that when she began to think about going to college, Heslin wanted to pursue a path that would enable her to work directly with women who were about to have babies. As a result, she decided to study to become a diagnostic medical sonographer, or an ultrasound technician.

While Heslin was completing her senior year at Lawrence High School, she began searching for a degree program that would give her the training she needed to become a diagnostic medical sonographer. Her top choice was Middlesex Community College (MCC), located in Lowell, Mass., and one of the only local colleges to offer training specifically for that profession.

Heslin was confident that her academic record was solid enough to gain her acceptance at MCC, but one of her biggest concerns was the cost of attending college.

She knew her family couldn't afford to finance her entire education and she didn't want to be buried under a stack of loans post-graduation. But she was worried about the process of applying for financial aid and specifically about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the federally required form for students seeking financial aid, including grants and loans.

"I was really worried about completing the FAFSA correctly," said Heslin. "I had heard that if you mess up or if you don't provide the right information, then you don't qualify for financial aid. And if I didn't get financial aid, I didn't know how I would be able to afford to go to college."

Then Heslin's high school guidance counselor recommended that Heslin check out College Goal Sunday - a free program that provides assistance in completing the FAFSA application. College Goal Sunday brings together financial aid professionals from colleges and universities all over Massachusetts to help college-bound students take the first step in applying for college through a two-hour moderated session that leads to a completed FAFSA.

Heslin attended the Massachusetts College Goal Sunday event in January 2006 with her mother and left the presentation with a correctly completed FAFSA form. Not only did the presenter walk Heslin and her mother through the process of completing the FAFSA, but there were also translators on hand to help clarify things for Heslin's mother, whose first language is Spanish.

Thanks to the help she received from Massachusetts College Goal Sunday, Heslin qualified for financial aid and is now in her freshman year at Middlesex Community College, studying hard in courses such as Fundamentals of Math and Exploration in Science, which will prepare her to become a diagnostic medical sonographer.

Kimberly Bangma
In order to fulfill her dream of working in a children’s hospital, Kimberly Bangma knew she needed to attend college. Getting a better education was important to her and her future. As a high school senior, Kim knew the cost of college was constantly rising and worried about how she would be able to afford it.

During the college application process, Kim had a tough time accessing resources. Because she was applying to schools over the summer, she did not receive much assistance from her high school, and finding all the proper information for financial aid was a significant hurdle. After getting help from the College Goal Sunday volunteers and completing the FAFSA at the 2005 College Goal Sunday, Kim received the financial assistance she needed to attend college.

Kim also utilized her research skills and found several scholarship applications online. She advises others in her situation to, “apply for all the financial aid you can, it doesn’t hurt to try.”

After receiving financial aid, a scholarship from College Goal Sunday and scholarships from a few other organizations, Kim is currently a freshman at Quinsigamond Community College, where she is working towards her Administrative Professional Degree with a medical secretary line of study.

Shanell Addrene Coney

Shanell knew early on that she needed federal assistance to attend college and begin a successful career. Despite her strong academic performance in high school, she thought money was holding her back from taking her education to the next level. After receiving a flyer in the mail, Shanell and her Mom attended College Goal Sunday and received financial assistance for college by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

As a senior at Newton High School, Shanell worked closely with her Mom and one of her teachers to get through the college application process. The first challenge was narrowing her choices and deciding which schools would help her achieve her goal. Next, gathering all the information for the application, writing her admissions essay and meeting all the deadlines was overwhelming at times, but having the security of federal assistance and scholarships allowed Shanell to worry less about paying for college and gave her more time to focus on her applications and overall goals.

Shanell Addrene Coney also won a scholarship as part of her participation in last year’s College Goal Sunday (All participants are eligible to win a scholarship in addition to applying for financial aid). After filling out the FAFSA she was able to receive several additional scholarships as well, and was accepted to Winston Salem University, where she is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a child psychologist.

Keisha Mabine
Keisha has always helped people though her work with charitable organizations and by offering peer guidance. When it came time for her to put herself first and begin the college application process, she felt that it was important to find the perfect college fit that would lead to a successful business career. She also knew that getting into college was tough, and it seemed impossible without the help of financial aid.

Additionally, in her role as an admissions assistant at Pine Manor College, Keisha is able to reach out to students who are considering going to college. She helps others achieve their goals and lets them know that the financial aid staff is available to help fill out the correct forms. She believes that by making students aware that they have access to financial aid, she can help others attend college and take their place in society.

“Attending college is very important to me and I thought, if I can get financial help, why not try,” said Keisha. “The financial aid program was very generous. Without it, I could not have done it!”

Keisha plans to pursue a career in journalism. She hopes to use her college education and life experiences to help others achieve their dreams.

Guillaume Buell
Guillaume always knew he wanted to go to college. He dreamed of the opportunities that a college education would provide. To him college meant evolving, becoming independent, and learning about life. Guillaume also knew that the key to his future in higher education had to start with financial aid.

Guillaume began the process like many students do: he decided where he wanted to apply. However, he spent an equal amount of time contacting the financial aid offices at the colleges and universities in which he had interest to determine where he could actually afford to go.

During his college search, the financial aid staff at Brandeis University, where he now attends, helped him understand the financial aid process and made it easier than he ever imagined it could be.

Guillaume now has a work-study job in the financial aid office at Brandeis University. Inspired by his experience, he now assists other college students in the pursuit of their education goals. Guillaume uses his first-hand experience to help explain the benefits of financial aid to other students.

Guillaume believes that “College gives students an opportunity to be pointed in the right direction. Financial aid opens the door for students who normally would not be able to afford college.”

His dedication to financial aid research ultimately helped him learn about the appropriate forms to complete and suitable loans for which to apply. During this process, he discovered it is possible to attend college, not need to work a full-time job, and use financial aid to help meet his tuition needs. With the help of financial aid, he was able to improve his overall college life experience as well: he is now involved in his campus community, plays intramural sports and experiences the full benefits of college life.

“Financial aid is worth every effort. It’s not nearly as scary as it may seem. Give the college financial aid offices a call,” said Guillaume. “Financial aid is there to help you attend the college of your dreams, and financial aid offices want to do only one thing - help you pay for college.”

Guillaume, currently a political science/history major, plans to complete his undergraduate degree at Brandeis University and continue his education in law school. His ultimate goal is to lead a long career in politics.