Feb 9, 2023
Students on obstacle course
Students learn to navigate financial obstacles during College of the Mainland’s Financial Aid Awareness Month Kickoff event.

Navigating the financial aid process can be a whirlwind for many college students.  In an effort to alleviate that burden and educate students on their financial aid options, the College of the Mainland (COM) Financial Aid Department hosted a Financial Aid Awareness Month Kickoff event on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Featuring representatives from a variety of financial services including advising, scholarships and enrollment coaches, the event provided hands-on support to students in a fun and approachable setting.

“Financial aid tends to be intimidating for some students when they complete the application themselves,” said Sandra Guzman, COM director of financial aid. “A lot of students don’t know about all the resources we have, such as scholarships and grants. They don’t have to do it alone. We're here to guide them through the process.”

The event is one of the many ongoing initiatives that the College offers to students to make the journey toward higher education more financially accessible. One such initiative is the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship. Open to any eligible student living in the College’s taxing district, the scholarship covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to two full years for individuals pursuing full-time studies at COM.

For COM theatre arts student, Allen Haynes, the event introduced him to a meaningful network of financial support to help him navigate his college journey. “This is great because I’m learning how to do scholarships and how to keep up with my financial aid money,” said Haynes. “I wasn’t really into financial aid. But COM is a school for everyone, and they’ll help you out.”

College of the Mainland offers a variety of financial aid options to make the journey toward higher education manageable for every student including Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), payment installation plans, scholarships, emergency aid and the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship.

For more information about financial resources available at College of the Mainland, visit www.com.edu/paying-for-college/.