February 15, 2018
10 events to be held around the state; $15,000 in scholarships to be awarded
Connecticut students and families wanting to learn more about planning and paying for college can attend one of 10 College Nights planned throughout the state between now and April 30. The events are sponsored by Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC), which provides college access and financial education resources to empower students to make informed choices about their futures.
During the next three months, ECMC will give away $15,000 in scholarships at the events. The company has sponsored College Nights in Connecticut for the past six years.
"College is often the first critical milestone in a person's financial life," said Paula Craw, vice president of outreach and student success at ECMC. "Bringing these college planning workshops to students and families will help them better understand their options, enabling them to make informed decisions."
College Nights are interactive events designed to help students and their families choose the right college, navigate the financial aid process and find scholarships while avoiding scholarship scams.
Attendees will receive a copy of ECMC's Opportunities booklet, a free college planning workbook that features worksheets, checklists, and helpful tips along with Connecticut-specific information for high school students and their families. The books are also available free for download in English and Spanish.
In addition, attendees at each event will have the opportunity to win one of three $500 scholarships.
"Our focus is on reaching the highest need students and families—College Nights are traditionally held at high schools where eligibility for free and reduced lunch is 50 percent or greater," Craw said.
A full list of the Connecticut College Nights is available here.
About ECMC
Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to help students succeed. ECMC works to lower student loan default rates; sponsors college access and success initiatives, and financial education programs; and provides resources to support student loan borrowers to successfully repay their loans. To learn more about ECMC's initiatives, visit www.ecmc.org/students.