BOAZ – Snead State Community College offers free assistance to students wanting help in filing for financial aid to pay for their college education.

Snead State has signed on as an official College Goal Sunday site. College Goal Sunday is a free program designed to help Alabama students seeking undergraduate admission to a college or technical school in 2012 in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Interested students can come to the McCain Student Success and Career Center on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, loans and scholarships at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. Students are encouraged to apply early and follow up with the Financial Aid Office of the school they plan to attend.

Completing this required form correctly is sometimes perceived to be complicated and time consuming. In one afternoon at College Goal Sunday, students and their families can get free help filing the form and get many of their financial aid questions answered.

Students under the age of 24 should attend with their parent(s) or guardian(s) and their parents’ completed 2011 IRS tax returns, W-2 forms and other 2010 income and benefits information. Students who worked last year should bring their income information and 2011 federal tax returns.

Students age 24 years or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2011 IRS tax return, W-2 Form or other 2011 income and benefits information. Students and parents should apply for their U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) atwww.pin.ed.gov before coming to the event.

Now in its 23rd year overall and its second in Alabama, College Goal Sunday has helped thousands of students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time, opening the door to financial aid for college. More information is available atwww.collegegoalalabama.org orwww.facebook.com/bamacollegegoal.