File FAFSA by June 30 to take advantage of the new Alaska Performance Scholarship for 2011-12 academic year

Do you have a child who recently graduated from an Alaska high school or home school program? Are they considering attending UA? If so, please note the following information regarding the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS).

Passed by the Alaska Legislature in 2010, the APS provides scholarship funds for Alaska high school graduates who complete a rigorous curriculum, have a minimum GPA and score well on the SAT, ACT or Workkeys examination.

This spring the legislature approved a $6 million appropriation to fund the APS for academic year 2011-12. The APS must be used at an in-state institution, including the University of Alaska.

To receive a scholarship students must:

1. File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.gov by June 30, 2011-(please list a UA campus)
2. Apply and be admitted to a UA campus
3. Register for classes

Even if your son or daughter is eligible to use the Employee Tuition Waiver Benefit, your child must file a FAFSA or they will be ineligible for the APS! The employee tuition waiver benefit is for TUITION ONLY. The APS can be used to cover additional educational expenses beyond tuition. But APS recipients must file a FAFSA by the June 30 deadline.

For full details, including a schedule of webinars for families and students looking for information on the Alaska Performance Scholarship, visit the APS website.