Class of 2026 Promise News

The FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) is a report in your FAFSA portal. It provides the answers that you gave for your FAFSA after you and your parent/guardian signed your FAFSA. Once your FAFSA is processed, it will also show your Student Aid Index (SAI). The lower the number, the more likely you are to get financial aid based on financial need. Your FSS will also show any issues that you need to resolve on your FAFSA. Meet with your high school counselor or college advisor if you need help reviewing your SAI.

20-30% of all college students in the USA are selected for random FAFSA verification. If you get selected, it will show in your FSS and in your college portal. This does not mean that you did something wrong, it's just a random check to be sure that students and colleges are following the rules.

If you are selected, you must complete the FAFSA verification with your college before you can use any federal, state, or Promise funds. If you don't, the money isn't there to pay for college. Students can be selected at any time, so check your FSS or college financial aid portal now and again over the summer.

Add a repeating reminder to your calendar to complete your FAFSA every October 1.

You need to do it every year that you plan to attend college, even if you are going for a Masters, PhD, or other advanced degree later. You will need a parent/guardian to do their part every year until you are 25, have a bachelor's degree, or are married.

February 12

• Community Foundation for Muskegon County Scholarships (over 200 scholarships with 1 application)
• MEA Scholarship (parent/guardian is in the MEA or retired)

February 15

• Jennifer VanderStelt Memorial Scholarship (attending MCC or BAker, interest in running, fitness, sports)

February 23

• Mary Jane Dockeray Scholarship

February 25

• GreenStone Scholarship program (incoming Freshman)

February 28

• BigFuture Scholarships Class of 2026
• Gerber Foundation Merit Scholarship
• AFS Family STipend
• American Foundry Society Scholarships
• DJ Campbell Scholarship

March 1

• MSU Institute of Agricultural Tech scholarships

Links are in Xello. Go to "Plans: College Planning: Scholarships" While you're in there, update your college applications' statuses and your FAFSA application completion status.

Many scholarships are due between January and March 1. Check those deadlines and make sure that you've submitted the required items.

You may need to send or upload:

• current high school transcripts
• a copy of your FAFSA SAI
• letters of recommendation

New local scholarships have been added to Xello this week. Check them out.

Your best starting point is always your high school counselor. If you attend CTC, you can also check in with Mrs. Wiles.

Some schools have a college advisor or other staff who help students with college-going activities.

You can always contact the financial aid office at a college for help. Not sure where that is, just ask.

I'm available to work with any potential promise student or parent. You can schedule to meet online or in person at the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center if you need help. I also work with your high school counselors on many college-going activities.

Class of 2026 students are eligible for the Promise if they:

• Complete the FAFSA for 2026-2027 (opens October 1).
• Live in the Muskegon Area ISD (MAISD) boundaries. You can check your address here.
• Graduate with a high school diploma from a school in the MAISD or be in a registered homeschool.
• Have a qualifying GPA of 2.500+ at their high school. This GPA must be unweighted and cumulative.
• Attend one of our partner post-secondary centers: Baker College of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College, NUVO College of Cosmetology, or another local training center.

* Student who finish their associate's degree while in high school (like early college students) can use their award towards a Bachelor's degree at Baker College of Muskegon.