A local college is gearing up to host a financial aid workshop to people fill out the appropriate paperwork to apply for financial aid to attend college during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Beaufort County Community College will have financial aid officers and specialists available from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 28 in Room 927 of Building 9 on its campus, according to a press release from BCCC. Known as FAFSA Day, the workshop is structured to help area high school seniors and their families complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, which is required for them to be considered for federal and most state financial aid for college, including grants and scholarships. The event is one of several FAFSA Day events planned across North Carolina on that date, the release said.

During FAFSA Day, sponsored by College Foundation of NC, the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the State Employees Credit Union, BCCC will help college applicants prepare their paperwork, which may then be submitted to multiple colleges and universities. Pre-registration is strongly recommended, according to Megan Sommers, director of Financial Aid for BCCC. Registration is available at CFNC.org/FAFSAday or by calling 866-866-CFNC toll-free.

In order to be fully prepared to complete the FAFSA forms on Feb. 28, event participants should file their 2014 federal taxes in advance, if possible, and bring the following items to FAFSA Day: both the student’s and parents’ federal 1040 tax forms for 2014 (or W-2 forms and other income and asset documents if completed tax forms are not available); the student’s or parents’ Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) obtained in advance from the U.S. Department of Education website, www.pin.ed.gov; a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet with as much information entered as possible, which is available online at www.fafsa.gov, according to Sommers. Betty Gray, public relations coordinator for BCCC, spoke about the event.

“”FAFSA Day is a great chance for anyone considering college to learn about applying for financial aid to help them achieve their goals,” said Betty Mitchell Gray, public relations coordinator. “BCCC’s Office of Financial Aid look forward to helping prospective students start the financial aid process.”

Information on financial aid and FAFSA requirements is also available on the BCCC website at www.beaufortccc.edu. Applicants should note that BCCC’s priority deadline for the FAFSA and required follow-up documentation if June 1 for the 2015-2016 academic year. This will ensure that eligible students will have financial aid in place for the Fall 2015 semester, Sommers said.

For more information about FAFSA Day at BCCC, interested persons may contact the BCCC Financial Aid Office at 252-940-6222.