17th annual convention helps thousands of local, low-income students plan for college and maximize federal and state financial aid
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with its affiliate, UNITE-LA, will provide college preparation, financial aid and scholarship training to more than 6,000 students who attend their 17th annual College & Career Convention. They will also award $1,000 scholarships to 20 students who attend the event on Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10 at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
“A great way to ensure more young adults are able to pursue higher education is to alleviate students’ financial stress, particularly for those students coming from low income backgrounds, to help them access and succeed in college,” said L.A. Area Chamber Executive Vice President of the Chamber’s Center for Education Excellence and Talent Development, David Rattray. “The Cash for College Convention provides available financial aid opportunities to students and their families, as well as help them understand the application process, which often can discourage their participation.”
The two-day convention provides local, college-bound students (whose schools have limited access to counselors and college resources due to budget constraints) with the latest information on how to maximize their financial aid for college. It features financial aid, college and career preparation workshops, with experts from local colleges, providing an inside look at how to pay for school and giving students an edge in completing the FAFSA, California Dream Act, and Chafee Grant applications.
Students also have the opportunity to learn more about the L.A. College Promise, a partnership among the Chamber, UNITE LA, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and private philanthropy, that provides one year of free enrollment at any LACCD college to all full-time qualifying LAUSD students graduating from and charter high schools.
The Convention is part of a campaign to help students become more familiar with financial aid applications and the resources available to them. The Chamber supports hundreds of workshops walking students through filling out their FAFSA step-by-step.
Cash for College is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, Kresge Foundation, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, California Student Aid Commission, AT&T, Ralphs, BNSF Railway Foundation, Ric & Suzanne Kayne Foundation, Deutsch Family Foundation, The California State University, Farmers Insurance Foundation, Lakers Youth Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles Community College District, Union Bank and supported by media partners Univision Communications, Inc. and 97.1 AMP Radio.
Cash for College is part of the Chamber’s and its affiliate, UNITE-LA’s, body of work, College Ready L.A., that ensures collaboration in assisting all L.A. area students to be prepared, be able to access and be able to complete college.
