Aid, but not awareness, abounds

Nasir Jiwa

Orange Coast College hosted its Spring Financial Aid Fair on

Wednesday providing cash-strapped students with information about

government aid, scholarships, grants and student loans.

“We distribute booklets, brochures, free food,” said Rina

Bustamante, a financial aid specialist at the college. “A lot of

students think they won’t qualify, but many end up qualifying

anyway.”

Monetary aid for students is divided categorically. Government

financial aid is usually for low-income households. Scholarships are

normally gifted to students with exceptional grades. Unlike loans,

grants need not be paid back. Some aid covers only tuition. Others

can cover books, housing and transportation as well. But financial

aid given through OCC requires filing a Free Application for Federal

Student Aid, better known as a “FAFSA.”

“I think there isn’t enough awareness,” OCC student Kristin Powers

said of the financial aid available. “My friend told me about it. I

qualified,” the respiratory care student from Tustin said.

Students strolled from table to table in the college quad, picking

up aid literature along with free letter openers, mini highlighters,

pencils, pens, notepads and compass key chains from banks and other

vendors.

“Getting an education is not cheap,” said Jan Szymanski,

representing USA Funds, a guarantor of student loans. “You have to

know where to get your resources from.”