Reps. Bauer, Ball, Bieda, Booher, Brown, Condino, Constan, Cushingberry, Dean, Donigan, Farrah, Gonzales, Hansen, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Lemmons, Meisner, Polidori, Proos, Sheltrown, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Valentine, Wojno, Clack, Hammel, Hammon, Leland, Melton and Nitz offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 266.

            A resolution declaring February 10, 2008 as Michigan College Goal Sunday.

            Whereas, EduGuide initiated Michigan College Goal Sunday in 2004 on the second Sunday in February to help students access financial aid so they can afford to attend college. Since one-in-four students who said they wanted to go to college but never made it, later say they probably would have gone if they knew more about financial aid; and

            Whereas, EduGuide coordinates the statewide volunteer effort to help families, especially low-income families and those who do not have a college-going tradition, complete the complex, federal financial aid application (Free Application for Federal Student Aid form – the FAFSA) required to qualify for college financial aid nationwide; and  

Whereas, EduGuide has responded to the demand for the expansion of Michigan College Goal Sunday by growing from 10 College Goal Sunday sites in 2004 to 27 sites in 2008; and

            Whereas, EduGuide now works with more than 300 volunteers and collaborates with state agencies, universities and colleges and several funding partners to create the largest free financial aid form completion program in the nation, helping to dramatically boost FAFSA application forms and thus access to financial aid by Michigan’s families; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare February 10, 2008 as Michigan College Goal Sunday. We applaud the efforts of EduGuide to initiate Michigan College Goal Sunday to help increase the number of Michigan students who access financial aid so they can afford to attend college.