MAHONING VALLEY Officials hope to help more students find aid for college

More than 560 students received help from MVCAP last year.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A program aimed at educating parents and students about college financial aid options hopes to nearly double the number of those helped this year compared with last year.
The Mahoning Valley College Access Program started in January 2002, assisting 98 students in the remainder of that school year. During the 2002-03 school year, 563 students received MVCAP assistance.
"During the 2003-04 school year, we hope to exceed 1,000 students helped," said the program's executive director, Joe Rottenborn.
MVCAP formed with a mission to increase the number of students in the Mahoning Valley who go on to education beyond high school.
The Raymond John Wean Foundation of Warren started MVCAP, which is funded by donations and grants with support from schools, businesses and universities in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
Last year, MVCAP worked with Warren G. Harding in Warren; Chaney, Woodrow Wilson and The Rayen School in Youngstown; Victory Christian Academy in Liberty; Springfield Local, Boardman and Lakeview high schools.
Finds program helpful
Bob Wilson, principal at Lakeview High School, said the program was helpful for parents and students last year. "There are a lot of nuances in college applications and financial aid. They can help because it's their specialty," Wilson said.
He said MVCAP's financial aid advisers can go above and beyond what guidance counselors are able to do.
"It's just another way we can help our students," Wilson said.
It started as a pilot at Harding in 2001.
"This year we'll be working with the ones we did last year, and we've sent newsletters to other schools telling them that our services are free and we're hoping that other school districts request us to come in," Rottenborn said.
MVCAP financial aid advisers work with students and their parents to inform them about the types of financial aid available.
"A financial aid adviser pretty well knows from a student's academic record what colleges may offer them a more attractive financial aid package," Rottenborn said.
With financial aid, a family may be able to afford to send a student to a college or university they didn't believe they could afford.
Help with application
The adviser also helps families complete the online Free Application for Federal Financial Student Aid, or FASA, which may be intimidating to some.
MVCAP services also are available to students whose schools don't request the help. The program may be reached by calling (330) 674-7606 or (330) 941-7477.
"We're hoping this year to begin advising ninth-graders as well as juniors and seniors," Rottenborn said.
He said working with students earlier allows advisers to point to courses they need to best prepare for college and their selected career choices.
MVCAP's Web site says that the Mahoning Valley and Ohio rank low in the number of students who attend college.
A recent Case Western Reserve University study found the Youngstown-Warren region near the bottom of the 75 largest metropolitan areas in the percentage of young people who pursue higher education.
"We will help any student who is in need, but we pay particular attention to those who may be the first to apply to college in their family," Rottenborn said.