Latest news with #MichiganCollegeAccessNetwork
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New sweepstakes to encourage Michigan students to fill out FAFSA
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new state-funded sweepstakes has been launched to encourage Michigan students to complete the — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. GRPS 'encouraged' by education dollars in Whitmer's budget proposal Alongside the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential and the Michigan College Access Network, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduced the sweepstakes on Wednesday. In all, the sweepstakes will give away $900,000 — 10 $50,000 prizes and 40 $10,000 prizes. The Federal Student Aid office distributes approximately $120 billion annually to help students from lower-income homes afford college. Beverly Walker-Griffea, the executive director of , says the sweepstakes will encourage more students to take advantage of a program that removes obstacles to so many potential paths of success. Grand Rapids 'walk-in' aims to show support for public education 'It's not only the $50,000 (prizes), but it makes you eligible for career training of up to $4,000 with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. It means that you can attend your local community college tuition free,' Walker-Griffea said during a news conference. Whitmer says this is another step in her administration's commitment to lowering the cost and expanding access to higher education. She also launched the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Michigan Reconnect program, which provides tuition assistance to Michiganders 21 and up to go back to school to earn skill certificates or an associate's degree. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan tuition sweepstakes gives 10 students chance to win $50,000 for completing FAFSA
Michigan officials launched a "Ticket to Tuition" giveaway April 16 that will give students pursuing higher education the chance to win up to $50,000 to cover education expenses by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The form unlocks both federal and state support for college-bound students, as well as those headed to career schools. The Michigan sweepstakes will give ten students the chance to win $50,000 and 40 students a chance at $10,000. The cash prize will be held in a Michigan Education Savings Program account for winning students to use to pay for a range of education expenses, including tuition, textbooks and room and board. "Filling out the FAFSA makes you eligible for tens of thousands of dollars of in-state and federal scholarships, and with today's sweepstakes, you can earn some extra money, too," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a launch event at Eastern High School in Lansing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential partnered with the Michigan College Access Network — a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of Michigan students that complete college — on the giveaway. Democratic lawmakers in 2024 approved the funds for the incentive program, encouraging students to complete the FAFSA form. The winning funds are already set aside in the current state budget approved in the last legislative session. The funding is one-time, and lawmakers have not decided whether to set aside similar funding again in the next state budget for another sweepstakes in the future. To enter the sweepstakes, Michigan students and parents must create an account on to fill out the FAFSA form and then the student must text "CASH" to 855-50K-TICKET or 855-505-8425. Students who have already completed their FAFSA form can also participate by sending the text message. Students can also mail an entry form available at and send it to: "Ticket to Tuition Entry, c/o Güd Marketing, 1223 Turner Street, Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48906." The deadline to enter is May 16. A random drawing will be conducted in late May. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents living in Michigan who complete the FAFSA form for the first-time to use during the 2025-26 school year. Michigan Education: Preschool is free for all families in Michigan — but many don't know about it Whitmer wants to boost the share of Michigan residents who pursue post-secondary education and skills training and has set a goal of reaching 60% of Michigan adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030. That share stands at about 52%, according to the most recent data shared by Whitmer from the Lumina Foundation, whose analysis her administration has used to track progress made toward reaching target. During the sweepstakes launch event, the governor touted the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides financial aid for college and university, and the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship, which provides support for a career training program. Whitmer also championed the Community College Guarantee, which provides a tuition-free path for graduating high school students to attend their local community college. "We don't want any student to leave money on the table," Whitmer said. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan sweepstakes will award 50 students for FAFSA form
