LEWISTON – Even though there was no school Wednesday, Lewiston High senior Alison Masse, 17, and her mother, Susan Masse, were working in the computer lab.

They were online, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms to help Alison get financial aid for college. An Andover College financial aid officer was sitting by their side, helping them.

“I didn’t go to college myself. I wanted to make sure we’re doing everything right and getting a head start,” Susan said. Her daughter announced she’s been accepted at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. “I want to be a secondgrade teacher.”

Nearby, Tammy Johnson was working with her daughter, Samantha Tremblay, 17, and a Central Maine Community College financial aid officer. “This is my first time dealing with FAFSA,” Johnson said. “It’s been tricky. … All the questions they ask.”

Most high schools offer parents night and lectures on how parents can help their students get to college. But this year, Lewiston High is actively helping parents fill out the daunting federal forms that determine how whether – and how much – students will qualify for financial aid.

Providing direct help is an experiment, said aspirations coordinator Joan Macri, who said she hears students and parents are confused by the FAFSA process. “Some are so intimidated they don’t do it. I don’t want that to be an obstacle,” Macri said. The FAFSA form “is key to getting financial aid. If you don’t fill it out you won’t get any financial aid.”

Andover College financial aid officer Michelle Turcotte said she hasn’t heard of other schools taking such action, but that hopefully other high schools “will follow suit. This is a great idea.”

At Andover, many students come in confused about financial aid and “have never heard of FAFSA,” Turcotte said. “This is a great opportunity to ease the pain and stress.”

Elizabeth Roy and her senior daughter, Kim, sought help “because I had a lot of questions on divorce and responsibility of the parents. I couldn’t find the answers” online. She said she doesn’t want to make any mistakes on the form that will impact her daughter’s college costs. Kim wants to become a veterinarian technician.

Josephina Papailia, 17, and her father, Kristo Papailia, originally from Albania, came “because we’ve never done this before,” said Josephina, who wants to be a pharmacist.

“I am glad for her; she can do what she likes to do,” her father said. In the Communist country of Albania he went to college, but was told what he would study: agriculture. “I didn’t like it.”

For 10 years he ran a business selling flowers. In the United States for 10 years, he now runs Angelo’s Pizzeria in Lisbon. His daughter going to college “is my hope. She’s my hope.”

The computer lab will again be open for seniors and parents from 5 to 7 tonight. Parents should bring their 2006 income tax information.

Copy the Story Link