Waterbury, Conn. – The start of the New Year represents new resolutions, high hopes and for college students and their parents throughout the nation, time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For prospective students who haven’t been through the process before it can prove a daunting and often confusing task, which is why more than 100 future college students and parents attended College Goal Sunday on Jan. 26 at Naugatuck Valley Community College. 

Upon arriving, attendees were assigned to computer labs where volunteer financial aid staffers would help guide them through the financial aid process online. 

"My son plans to attend college in the fall but that's not something our family can afford," said Rita J. who was there with her son, Michael. "I've never been through the financial aid process before, so I appreciate having someone to help us make sense of it." 

More than 20 NVCC staff members as well as area financial aid experts volunteered at the event, which also featured welcomes by NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut’s fifth district. Two students received $100 scholarship door prizes.

"You know, we celebrate sports and next weekend will be the Super Bowl," said Congresswoman Esty, "but you have made an excellent choice in being here because you understand that for the American dream to be real in this highly-competitive global economy, you need to have skills."

College Goal Sunday is funded and sponsored by Lumina Foundation for Education, the CT Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA), the CT Association of Educational Opportunity Programs (CAEOP), and the YMCAs of Connecticut.

The national event was held at multiple locations statewide. For more information visit This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..