Stonehill Students Take Part in Student Financial Aid Day
March 02, 2010
Several Stonehill students took part in a special event at the State House last week to thank legislators for their continued support of need-based financial aid.
Sponsored by AICUM (Associations of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts), the Student Financial Aid Day was attended by nearly 150 students from 28 schools.
"Massachusetts State grants have been an invaluable resource for many of our students in determining the affordability of higher education," said Stonehill Student Accounts Coordinator and Loan Assistant Eric Newnum (top right), who attended last Wednesday's event with Associate Director for Loans Janice Lindstrom (bottom right) and students Alex Linder '11 (bottom left), Ryan Maynes '11 (top left), and Kevin Burke '12 (center).
"AICUM's Student Financial Aid Day gave students across the state the opportunity to meet with Senators and Representatives to express their concern for continued funding, as well as gratitude for past support. Alex, Ryan and Kevin had the chance to discuss the many opportunities they will experience while attending Stonehill as a result of state aid, with staff aids for Senator Thomas Kennedy '03, and Senator Geraldine Creedon," said Newnum.
The students were addressed by Speaker Robert DeLeo, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education Ben Downing, and Representative Marie St. Fleur. All of them discussed the importance of financial aid and praised the students for sharing their stories and doing their own advocacy.
After the assembly the students fanned out across the State House, visiting individual senators and representatives. The day's activities garnered good print and radio coverage across the state, from Springfield to Boston.
AICUM's outreach for the event included a new initiative utilizing the popular social networking site Facebook. AICUM's presence on Facebook, called Massachusetts Financial Aid Advocates, will be used in the coming weeks to complement its efforts in a letter-writing campaign to legislators, asking for continued support for financial aid.
Established in 1967 by college and university presidents, AICUM consists of 60 degree-granting, accredited independent, or private, colleges and universities in the Commonwealth. AICUM is the leading voice on public policy matters relating to independent higher education in Massachusetts.
AICUM works closely with its member institutions to preserve and strengthen higher education; provide advocacy for need-based financial aid for Massachusetts students; help create a climate in the state in which the resources of privately supported higher education are fully leveraged; address state and Federal legislative and regulatory issues; and bring about a greater understanding of the impact and contributions of the independent colleges and universities in the Commonwealth.
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