FALL 2018 TRIO Student Support Services FEDERAL GRANT AID AWARD APPLICATION Section 1: Qualifications and Criteria

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1 Page 1 of 5 FALL 2018 TRIO Student Support Services FEDERAL GRANT AID AWARD APPLICATION Section 1: Qualifications and Criteria The U.S. Department of Education provides monetary support for eligible TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) participants who meet the requirements to support their educational pursuits at Texas A&M University- Texarkana. Grant amounts depend on need and fund availability. Primarily, TRIO SSS Grant Aid funding is for freshmen and sophomore participants who are Pell Grant recipients. We time/date stamp all applications and will NOT accept late applications. The guidelines governing this Federal Grant Aid Award are: Qualifications: Student must be a Pell Grant recipient for the current semester/session (i.e., the semester of application). Student must be enrolled full-time. If funds are available after awarding to eligible, full-time students, we may award the grant at a prorated basis for half-time enrollment. Students who are less than halftime are not eligible for consideration. Student must meet minimum unmet need criteria exceeding $650 as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Student must be a freshman or sophomore while active in the SSS program. Juniors and seniors are eligible on a limited basis, i.e., until TRIO SSS Grant Aid has fulfilled freshmen and sophomore participants unmet need. Student must be a full-time, active participant in the A&M-Texarkana TRIO SSS Project, as evidenced by a minimum of two meetings with the Director or Coordinator and a minimum of two workshops/enrichment activities (at least one financial literacy workshop required) at the time of application. Student will be able to compete for Federal Grant Aid award during their first three semesters of eligibility for the award, as long as his/her classification is freshman or sophomore. Additional Federal Grant Aid eligibility following the third semester of Grant Aid eligibility will be at the discretion of the Director. Student must submit a brief (3-5 sentences) statement including the reason(s) for requesting grant aid within the box on page 4. Page 1 of 5

2 Page 2 of 5 In addition to the aforementioned qualifications, students must meet the following objective criteria. Objective Criteria: Student must be in good academic standing as defined by A&M-Texarkana and TRIO SSS (e.g., GPA of 2.0+). Student must complete the required workshops, including successfully submitting any required assignments. Student must adhere to any other established criteria as per Qualifications and Criteria of the Grant Aid Application. Student must accept the TRIO SSS program shall award first to eligible, qualified freshmen and sophomores with the greatest unmet financial need. Student must complete the Grant Aid Assignment and submit it by the deadline with this application by the deadline below. Student must complete and submit to the TRIO SSS Director, Coordinator, OR Administrative Associate the entire Federal Grant Aid Application packet (including the Grant Aid Assignment) by the designated deadline: Friday, September 21, 2018! Students who do not complete all grant aid requirements will be ineligible for grant aid during the following academic year. Submission: Please fax, , or submit in person to a TRIO SSS staff member all materials by the deadline: fax ( ) or (triosss@tamut.edu). Texas A&M University-Texarkana TRIO Student Support Services 7101 University Avenue Texarkana, Texas Phone: (903) or (903) Fax: (903) triosss@tamut.edu Page 2 of 5

3 Page 3 of 5 PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE. APPLICANT INFORMATION FEDERAL GRANT AID AWARD APPLICATION Section 2: Application NAME: Student ID#: LOCAL ADDRESS: HOME ADDRESS: LAST FIRST CITY: ST: ZIP: CITY: ST: ZIP: PERMANENT PHONE: ( ) -- CELL PHONE: ( ) -- ENROLLMENT STATUS Current Enrollment (SCH-Semester Credit Hours): (Circle one: fall, spring, summer semester) Year: Cumulative grade point average (GPA): (approximate; give high school GPA if enrolled in the Eagle Access Summer Bridge Program) Are you currently on academic probation? Yes No Do you currently receive a Federal Pell Grant? Yes No Have/Will you complete your participation requirements (2 workshops each semester): Yes No Have/Will you met with the Director/Coordinator at least two times this year? Yes No STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I,, have read and understand Section 1 (Qualifications and Criteria) of the TRIO Student Support Services Federal Grant Aid Award. I have also read and completed Section 2 (Application) of the TRIO Student Support Services Federal Grant Aid Award. I understand that the TRIO SSS program does not guarantee a TRIO SSS Federal Grant Aid award or any other funding by completing this application and that I must meet all qualifications and criteria to be considered for a TRIO SSS Federal Grant Aid award and that if I receive supplemental grant aid I will complete all requirements or disqualify myself for future grant aid consideration. / / Applicant s Signature Date Completed Please return the application to TRIO Student Support Services, 7101 University Avenue, Texarkana, Texas 75503, triosss@tamut.edu, drop it off at the SSS office, UC 335. PLEASE NOTE: The Financial Aid Office must process and add TRIO SSS Grant Aid that fits within the calculated cost of attendance as determined by the institution. The program cannot award a student more financial aid than the institution calculates as his/her cost of attendance. If the students receive a refund from the institution (because of remaining need after the Page 3 of 5

4 Page 4 of 5 awarding of all grants and loans), students are free to use the money however they deem reasonable; however, the Office of Financial Aid may require students to use the money to lower loans if they have no remaining need. Please provide a brief statement (3-5 sentences) of why you are requesting the TRIO SSS Federal Grant and how you will benefit from receiving it. You may attach a separate document with your statement. Please type or write clearly. We are happy to inform you that if you meet all of the necessary qualifications to receive the funds and score high enough on the rubric of criteria, you have a chance to compete for and possibly receive one TRIO Student Support Grant Aid in the amount of at least $650 for Fall 2018! This funding will supplement your finances to help you reduce your overall loan burden. NOTE: TRIO SSS Grant Aid is payable for the current academic semester, and will the A&M-Texarkana Financial Aid Office will process and administer the funds. If you currently have an outstanding balance on your A&M-Texarkana account, the funds will go towards that balance. If you do not have an outstanding balance, the funds will be available to use to support your academic financial needs and decrease your student loan burden. The Financial Aid Office will award the recipients approximately two weeks after approval and notification from the TRIO SSS Office. This aid is available ONLY to TRIO SSS participants through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. By accepting the TRIO-SSS Grant Aid, you agree to remain active in TRIO SSS throughout your journey at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, as evidenced by: 1. Meeting at least two times a semester/session with a TRIO staff member (required). 2. Attending per semester at least two financial and economic literacy workshops (required), career/cultural enrichment workshops, or advising sessions--for workshops In addition, you are required to complete the following items by Friday, September 21, 2018 to be considered for Fall 2018 supplemental grant aid: Page 4 of 5

5 Page 5 of 5 1. Please view the online video at the link provided One Life-Changing Class You Never Took: Alexa von Tobel at TEDxWallStreet 2. Submit a one-page summary on the video, including: personal relevance it had to you, the importance of financial literacy, and how you plan to properly budget your grant aid award. The summary must be typed, double-spaced, with 12-point Times New Roman font, and 1 margins. 3. It is proper professional etiquette to send a thank-you letter to financial donors. Please acknowledge your appreciation to the donor, A&M-Texarkana TRIO SSS, who is responsible for providing the funds for your scholarship. If you need some tips on how to write a thank you letter for scholarship funding, please refer to this website- Please address your thank you note to Texas A&M University-Texarkana TRIO SSS. Using proper scholarship etiquette is not only professional but also beneficial to your future and future financial aid endeavors. 4. Acknowledge that you will submit the above items in-person or by to triosss@tamut.edu by signing this letter in the signature box below. Please submit this signed letter along with the other required items by the designated deadline above. Grant Aid Applicant s Signature: We are honored that we can assist you in your journey of achieving your academic goals (ACE: Achieving College Excellence through TRIO Student Support Services)! TRIO SSS Supplemental Grant Aid Checklist: Complete the application. View the video. Type a one-page, double-spaced summary of the video (instructions above). Attend minimum of one (1) financial literacy workshop and TRIO SSS Orientation. Meet at least one time with the Director and/or Coordinator prior to submitting application. **If awarded, type a thank you letter for your file. We advise that you submit this with your packet so that your award will not be delayed, if you get one! *If grant aid recipients do not complete all requirements, the TRIO SSS Director may disqualify them for future supplemental grant aid consideration. FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Date Received: / / By: Page 5 of 5