Financial Aid staff earns large number of national credentials

December 13, 2018

UNG Financial Aid staff members have earned 182 credentials from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Financial Aid staff members have earned 182 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) credentials.

That far exceeded the team's goal of 50 credentials for its 28 team members. Three Financial Aid staff have earned all 17 NASFAA credentials, while each team member has earned at least one.

Jill Rayner, UNG financial aid director, said the federal regulations for financial aid are about 2,000 pages long. She said her staff could study anywhere from three to eight hours for each credential, which is earned by scoring an 80 percent or higher on a 90-minute test.

"They wanted to learn as much as they possibly can about federal regulations so we can provide the best service to our students," Rayner said. "I'm very proud of them."

Sophomore is named a Jack Kent Cooke semifinalist
Susana Olivo Sandoval was selected as a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This year, 406 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,500 applicants attending 398 community colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Sandoval and 405 other semifinalists will learn if they win the scholarship in April.

New STEM scholarship helps two Oconee students
The College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) received $1,000 from the Lois and Lucy Lampkin Foundation to enrich the experience of first-generation science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students on UNG's Oconee Campus through access to high-impact practices, specifically undergraduate research. Two students receiving the scholarship were MacKensey Clark and Julia Raybon,

REACH Day to connect scholars with university students and staff
On March 2, Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Georgia will host a virtual day for students and their mentors, parents, teachers, and peers to learn about the college admission process, financial aid applications, and budget management. The program will be livestreamed from 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. via YouTube.

Second round of CARES funds disperses Feb. 14-19
The University of North Georgia (UNG) has been awarded another $6.8 million through the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to continue to support students who have an exceptional need due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial Aid staff earns large number of national credentials

Sophomore is named a Jack Kent Cooke semifinalist

New STEM scholarship helps two Oconee students

REACH Day to connect scholars with university students and staff

Second round of CARES funds disperses Feb. 14-19