Post-high school plans on radar as FAFSA looms

Sunday, Oct. 28 is a big day to be thinking about education after high school no matter the age of the youth.

One major statewide event with a local host site is titled College Goal Sunday. On this day, there is a statewide emphasis for youth to sign up for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, likely more known as that acronym FAFSA.

Completing this application is often viewed as challenging to correctly submit and time consuming.

The good news is that Ivy Tech in Greencastle is a host site. Ivy Tech is located at 915 S. Zinc Mill Rd. Experts in financial aid will be ready to offer free help so families can work together to file the FAFSA form online in one single afternoon.

The time for the event will be 2-4 p.m. And better yet, the help is free. Putnam County is very fortunate to have a local host site.

Also as a reminder, any 4-H’er in grade three in 2018 as well as incoming grade-three 4-H’ers, don’t forget to provide your UGift form showing you have a College Choice 529 Savings plan so the Putnam 4-H Council can submit a batch of forms to provide $25 to each account through the Putnam 4-H Education Pledge.

The program uses the term “post-high school education” because the discussion should not be centered on a traditional four-year college degree. In fact, the labor markets are hungry for skilled labor that does not involve a college degree and leaving many in work force development pondering how to meet the needs.

Furthermore, the program is centered on building the “expectation” of youth seeking some sort of post high school education and realizing the attainment of such education.

Several studies have shown that there are significant differences in those who have a post-high school educational savings plan compared to those who do not have such a plan.

Research supports that the money or funds being placed into such accounts is not as much a factor as is building the expectation that one has post high school educational goals and objectives to be met.

The Putnam 4-H Education Pledge will include workforce development and other professional experiences providing youth with life skills needed to find their niche in the work force.

The Putnam County 4-H Council is sponsoring matching funds of $25 for those in third grade as of Jan. 1, 2018 and plans to continue with future grade three incentive programs.

Currently, less than eight percent of Putnam youth in grades K-12 have a 529 college savings plan, thus many families are missing out on a key state income tax direct credit.

Research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that youth who have a 529 college savings plan for post-high school education are greater than 70 percent more likely to go and seek education after high school compared to those who do not.

Having an account played a bigger role than how much was in the account.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events.

It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

Oct. 29 – Junior Leader Kickoff, 3-D Bowl, 6 p.m.

Nov. 4 – Putnam 4-H Awards and Volunteer Recognition Program, Fairgrounds, 2 p.m.

Nov. 6 – Extension Office closed for Election Day.

Nov. 10 – 4-H Leadership Summit, register by Oct. 22 at http://wxww.cvent.com/d/wbqjg4.

Nov. 12 – Extension Office closed, Veterans Day holiday.