Mo. Higher Ed Commissioner visits MCC

David Russell, commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education, visited MCC last week for the first time since taking office last summer.

Commissioner David Russell and MCC leaders stop by the MCC-Longview automotive technology department as one stop on their four-campus tour of MCC.

Russell visited four of MCC's five campuses during his trip to Kansas City on Thursday. After meeting with MCC officers for briefings on a number of district-wide initiatives, the commissioner toured the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute, then traveled to Longview, Business & Technology and Blue River. Time constraints prevented him from visiting MCC-Maple Woods but he received an overview of the campus during his meeting with the officers.

Russell was very complimentary of MCC throughout the day and appreciated being introduced to many of MCC's programs and initiatives, said Associate Vice Chancellor Tom Vansaghi, who hosted the commissioner's visit.

To see addition photos of the day-long whirlwind MCC tour, visit the photo album on MCC's Flickr page.

MCC-Penn Valley launches financial aid ad campaign

MCC-Penn Valley recently launched a financial aid awareness promotion campaign. The advertising campaign, funded by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, is aimed at first-generation African-American and Latino prospective students in the Kansas City, Missouri urban core.

Ads are running on the following mediums:

• 13 billboards
• radio stations KPRS FM and KDTD AM
• newspapers: The Kansas City Call, The Kansas City Globe, Dos Mundos, Kansas City Hispanic News.

Scholarships to be awarded through FAFSA Frenzy events

Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who come to “FAFSA Frenzy” events to participate and enter the drawing. Metropolitan Community College-Blue River will be hosting two “FAFSA Frenzy” events the weekend of Friday, March 25th and Saturday, March 26th, 2011.

You may be familiar with the FAFSA application. It’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it’s one of the first steps any college student should take toward obtaining financial assistance to fund their higher education. All colleges and universities consider the FAFSA when determining who should be awarded need-based financial aid. The Missouri Department of Higher Education urges students to complete their FAFSA as early as possible and most certainly before April 1st to receive timely consideration.

Participants are asked to bring these items to the “FAFSA Frenzy” at MCC-Blue River:
· 2010 W-2 forms
· Copies of 2010 tax forms, if they are ready, or any year-end pay stubs, statements of interest earned in 2010, 2009 tax forms, 1099 forms, and any other forms required to complete taxes
· Student PIN and parent PIN. These can be obtained at http://www.pin.ed.gov/

Students who attend a “FAFSA Frenzy” event will be entered into a drawing to win one of four $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to four attendees who participate in one of the many FAFSA Frenzy events that are being held this winter at several locations across Missouri. All students receive gift bags with helpful information for planning and paying for college.

“FAFSA Frenzy” at MCC-Blue River, Friday, March 25, 2011 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Financial literacy seminar coming to MCC-Penn Valley

Join the Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) for a seminar on financial literacy survival skills for college students on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. in the MCC-Penn Valley cafeteria. The session will be facilitated by Sarah Schedler of MDHE who will cover such topics as spending and savings strategies for college students as well as offering prizes to attendees.

The seminar is free but reservations are required. To RSVP, contact Laura Schneider by noon on Sept. 20 at 816.604.4049 or laura.schneider@mcckc.edu.