Flathead Valley Community College’s Kalispell campus will host College Goal Montana from noon to 6 p.m. Feb. 13.

The session will be in Room 140 of Ross Hall. Appointments are not required.

Free and open to all higher-education-bound students and their families of all income levels, College Goal Montana is dedicated to guiding students and their families through the paperwork required to apply for financial assistance. 

Financial aid officers and other qualified professionals will help students  understand and complete necessary paperwork, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, to receive financial aid. 

“About $150 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds are available each year, and that doesn’t include the state and institutional aid that is out there,” said Rhonda Safford, College Goal Montana statewide coordinator.

“Financial aid professionals in Montana will tell you that the return on the investment of taking half an hour or 45 minutes to complete the FAFSA is worth it.”

To complete the application, students and their families will need: 

n FAFSA PIN numbers that can be obtained at www.pin.ed.gov (students and at least one parent will need PINs if the student is under 24). 

n Social Security numbers (for both students and parents).

n 2013 federal income tax returns (or 2012 federal income tax returns if 2013 returns are not completed).

n W-2 forms, tribal income or other aid information such as TANF, child support or other benefits.

n Additional asset information including money market funds, stocks and other investments.

Students who submit their FAFSA at the event can enter to win a $500 scholarship that may be used at any accredited college or program in the nation. 

For more information, contact Mary Howard at 871-4735 or visit www.smartaboutcollege.org.