Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) clinics to guide high school students with completing the applications will be provided by the Education Equalizer Foundation.

The foundation received a $10,000 Grant from the U.S. Department of Education as part of the Education Credit Management Corporation’s (ECMC) Student Support Strategy program, officials say.

Part of the mission of ECMC, a Minnesota-based nonprofit established in 1994, is to financially support organizations who are committed to helping students apply for FAFSA.

There was a decline in FAFSA completion rates among high school seniors, with only 43.3% completion as of May 31, compared to 51.2% last year, according to the National College Attainment Network.

Rising seniors: Foundation to help rising high school seniors prepare for college

To schedule an appointment for the FAFSA clinics, visit https://tinyurl.com/2n9es9es.

The FAFSA clinics will help increase the number of students accessing financial aid for their college education, said Carjie Scott, Ed.D., co-founder of EEF.

The foundation’s goal is to help 1,000 students complete their FAFSA by Aug. 31, Scott said.

“This helps people get money to go to college,” Scott said. “Florida is 48 out of 50 states for completing the FAFSA. The state historically has not been taking advantage of the aid. Financial aid increases the chance of graduating.”

There will be FAFSA coaches for Spanish-speaking participants as well, Scott said.

There will be virtual clinics held in July and August, and participants can sign up for and in-person clinics.

The in-person clinics will be on Fridays, July 12, 19, and 26 from noon-2 p.m. at Santa Fe College Blount Center, 401 NW Sixth St., and from 1-4 p.m. on July 20 during the Gainesville Black Professionals Expo at SF College Main Campus at 3000 NW 83rd St.

One of the FAFSA coaches, 71-year-old Bill Gordon, said he has been helping students with their FAFSA applications for 43 years in Alachua County.

“I met a lot of teenagers who have the academic ability to go to college but when I ask them why they didn’t apply for financial aid, some say they didn’t know how,” Gordon said.

The local partnerships that help with the success of local high school students in their collegiate endeavors such as the Gainesville Chamber Commerce’s Cash for College program, the Education Foundation of Alachua County and others are of excellent value to the community, Gordon said.

“When there are organizations out there like that to bring us all together to do these services, it is an A++,” Gordon said. “We all get to where we’re going through partnership. Many good things can happen when we all partner together. There are great outcomes for all of the people.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Help available for Alachua County students applying for financial aid