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Registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Register here.
About Race to the FAFSA Line
As part of the Detroit Drives Degrees initiative, which aims to improve regional postsecondary outcomes, the Detroit Regional Chamber is entering its fourth year hosting the Student Aid Challenge for Southeast Michigan, “Race to the FAFSA Line.”
Despite the hard work of school counselors and local college access networks last year, Michigan students left more than $90 million of federal aid on the table by not filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). According to the National College Access Network, high school graduates who complete FAFSA are 63% more likely to enroll in college.
This year, The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Drives Degrees initiative will launch an inaugural, select cohort as part of its regional FAFSA competition. The high schools in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties that are selected to participate in the 2019 Sprint to the Finish Cohort will be assigned a financial aid expert specifically dedicated to their school and will benefit from additional FAFSA training, specially tailored resources, student/parent event support, and special incentives designed to increase engagement. Eligible schools for the 2019 cohort have predominantly low-income student populations and a 2018-2019 FAFSA completion rate under 40%.
The challenge is a collaborative effort involving partners such as the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU), Michigan College Access Network, Detroit College Access Network, Emagine Entertainment, Oakland Schools, Wayne RESA, Macomb Intermediate School District and several local college access networks. More than 85 schools throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties registered for the competition last year.
The grand prize winner for the 2019-2020 year will be awarded an all-night senior class party and $1000 toward the school’s counseling budget, and the three other winners will receive VIP movie screenings, courtesy of Emagine Entertainment and other partners.
