Trailblazer Program
The Trailblazer Program is a unique approach to training high school students about the availability of financial aid as a
means of access to postsecondary education. The program includes a comprehensive three-day training workshop,
presented on a college campus by LOSFA personnel and other financial aid professionals for the purpose of educating
selected high school juniors about the college admissions process and how to obtain financial assistance for college. One
student is nominated by each public and non-public high school in the state. Under the direct supervision of the high school
guidance counselor, each Trailblazer is expected to use every opportunity to share knowledge of financial aid procedures
with peers throughout their senior year of high school. Each Trailblazer is given a manual outlining all aspects of the
federal and state financial aid programs available.
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Professional School Counselor Workshops
Each Fall, LOSFA conducts half-day workshops for high school counselors at nine locations around the state.
These workshops are designed to update counselors about the student financial aid process so they can best assist their
students in preparing for their crucial first year of college. At each workshop, LOSFA representatives and financial aid
professionals instruct counselors on the latest changes to both federal and state aid programs, completion of the FAFSA
and other LOSFA services. During the 2008-09 school year LOSFA introduced workshops for middle school
counselors. These workshops are designed to provide middle school counselors with some tools and resources to promote
early college and career awareness.
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information
High School Presentations
and Workshops
LOSFA annually provides presenters for individual high school financial aid
workshops for parents and students. In Academic Year 2009-2010, LOSFA conducted
financial aid and college access workshops at 229 individual high schools and
76 multi-high school events that were attended by 54,650 students and parents.
To schedule a presentation, call 1-800- 259-5626, extension 1012.
Click
here for a list of presentation topics
College Goal Sunday
College Goal Sunday is a FREE event designed to help Louisiana college bound students and their families with the financial
aid application process. Financial Aid professionals will be on hand to help complete the necessary paperwork (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid—FAFSA) to get the funding needed to go to college with a particular focus on helping
low-income, first-generation college students and their families. Louisiana’s College Goal Sunday event takes place in
February of each year. Continue to check this website for the exact date of the next College Goal Sunday event.
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information
College Knowledge
The Louisiana Board of Regents, Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) and Gear Up are working together to better
educate parents and students about the opportunities available and the requirements that must be met for a student to be
eligible for college. The three groups together have received a two-year federal College Access Challenge Grant to
spearhead communication with potential college students and their families.
The grant allowed LOSFA to develop an interactive website, www.osfa.la.gov/collegeknowledge,
and planning tools
aimed at providing information to students and parents throughout the state on 2 year and 4 year college options, benefits
of attending college, costs associated with college and how to prepare both academically and financially to make
attendance a reality.
Parents interested in getting College Knowledge events scheduled at their school should contact their school principal or
counselor. School officials should contact LOSFA at 1-800-259-5626 ext. 1012 or custserv@osfa.la.gov
LOSFA’s FLY (Financial
Literacy for You) Team
LOSFA has created an inter-divisional team consisting of members from our Financial
Literacy and Development, Public Information and Communications, Default Prevention
and Default Recoveries sections to provide Financial Literacy training. Three
separate presentations are available depending on the audience: one for college
students, one for high school students andone for middle school students . The
programs include information on budgeting, credit, banking functions, debt management
and repayment and identity theft prevention.
On-Campus Seminars for College Students
LOSFA provides outreach, training and professional development programs and materials to college students,
parents and financial aid officers.
Program topics include:
Financial Literacy and Development
Financial Literacy and Development provides outreach, training and professional development programs and materials
to students, parents, educators and the general public. Those programs include: Financial Literacy for You (FLY)
consisting of presentations on credit,banking, money management, credit cards, identity theft, budgeting, debt, and
student loans. FLY presentations are available for college, high school and middle school students as well as
educators and the general public. Other programs include TOPS Retention, Default Prevention, Loan Workshops and the
START Saving Program, Louisiana's 529 college savings plan.
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information
Telephone and Email Assistance
LOSFA employs a staff of public information specialists who are available to
assist students and parents via telephone from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM, Monday
through Friday. To utilize this service, call 1-800-259-5626, extension 1012.
For Email assistance, write custserv@osfa.la.gov
During 2008-2009, LOSFA assisted 46,965 callers and an answered 2,813 Email
inquiries.
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