Colorado
The University of Colorado - Denver is pleased to announce two
new staff members. Gail Sasao has joined the
University of Colorado - Denver as an advisor at the downtown
campus. She came to the institution from the University of Denver.
In addition, Matt Lemme is joining the University
the week of February 25, 2008 as a Senior Associate Director for
Operations. He's coming to us from Metropolitan State College
of Denver and his office will be at the downtown campus.
CollegeInvest’s Judy Ransom is
Retiring
After 26 years in the student loan and financial aid trenches,
CollegeInvest’s Judy Ransom has decided
to retire in June 2008. Judy has held positions at the Colorado
Student Loan Program, ASAP/Union Bank and Trust and, most recently,
as Senior Marketing Manager at the not-for-profit CollegeInvest.
Judy received the CAFAA Professional of the Year Award twice and
the Hall of Fame distinction in 2006. She has been an active member
of CAFAA and RMASFAA since 1985. She also received the Colorado
Council on High School/College Relations Outstanding Service Award
in 2006 and currently serves as a committee chair on the CCHSCR
board. Judy is planning on pulling up stakes in Colorado and returning
to the warm weather in Florida to be near her family…..and
to start a new chapter. CollegeInvest and the entire financial
aid community in Colorado will greatly miss Judy, her many contributions,
and her deep commitment to students and their families. We wish
Judy good luck and much happiness.
Kansas
Access Group
Julie Esau has resigned from Access Group and
is once again employed by the College Board. Her position with
the College Board is Chief Higher Education Manager for the Southwest
Region. Julie and her husband, Felix, will be relocating to Austin,
TX. Julie will be missed.
Benedictine College
Benedictine College announces that Tony Tanking,
Financial Aid Director, and Jennifer Tufte, Assistant
Financial Aid Director, came on board in January, 2008. Both have
Benedictine roots, receiving their undergrad and graduate degrees
from Benedictine. Welcome to both.
Friends University
Brandon Pierce and Tony Lubbers
have successfully completed the Certified Financial Planning courses
in January, 2008. These courses are sponsored by AFCPE and NSLP.
Seward County Community College
Donna Fisher has been named the Director of Financial
Aid.
Births
The Washburn University Financial Aid Office is pleased to announce
the birth of Jay Alan Hill to Assistant Director, Jennifer
Hill and her husband Chris. The bouncing baby boy arrived
Monday, November 5, weighing 8 lbs and 1 oz. and measuring 21
inches long. This is the family’s first child and they are
doing great. Please join us in wishing them hearty congratulations.
Congratulations to Mandy (USA Funds) and Scott
Sponholtz (KU-Academic Advising) on the birth
of their daughter, Morgan Jane, born February 9. Morgan weighed
6 lbs. 5 oz. and was 18 inches long. To add to the excitement
of having a new baby, they were stopped for speeding on the way
to the hospital. Baby and parents are doing fine.
Retirements
Julie Cooper, Financial Aid Director at Johnson
County Community College, retired in November, 2007.
Carol Wirthman, Regional Market Manager, US
Bank, retired in January, 2008.
Both Julie and Carol contributed much to the RMASFAA and KASFAA
organizations and will be missed.
Montana
Jessica O'Boyle Lane (Montana Tech Financial
Aid Office in Butte, MT) and Nick Petritz announced their engagement
on New Year's Eve. They will be married at Canyon Ferry Lake on
July 19, 2008.
Kristy Gilreath is the new Financial Aid Advisor
at Carroll College. Kristy is a 2007 graduate from Carroll College.
Kristy has already attended MASFAA Support Staff Training, and
is looking forward to going to the spring conference and RMASFAA
Summer Institute.
Amber Dushin will be leaving Carroll College
this June. She has accepted a position with the State of Montana
Legislative Audit Division. Amber will be completing her final
accounting courses this spring and will sit for the CPA exam in
June. Amber is also expecting her second child in early April.
SAF/DPHHS Accepting Applications for
Foster Youth College Prep Camp
(Helena) Montana foster care youth are invited to apply for available
slots at the “A Step Ahead” college preparatory camp
to be hosted July 7-9 at Montana State University, Billings. The
program offers foster care students the opportunity to experience
learning in a college campus setting.
The 2008 camp marks the third of its kind to be held in Montana.
Applications must be received by April 25. To request an application,
call (406) 495-7750 or send an email to rsafford@safmt.org.
Nebraska
Governor Dave Heineman proclaimed the week of March 31 through
April 4 at Nebraska Financial Literacy Week. NeASFAA and NSLP
are teaming up to deliver financial education seminars to college
students on campuses across the state. The goal of the Nebraska
Financial Literacy Week is to enhance the money management skills
of college students and to raise the awareness about the importance
of a sound financial education for young adults. NSLP’s
Accredited Financial Counselors will deliver the seminars at eight
campuses throughout Nebraska starting March 31st.
South Dakota
Krista Tyler-Raye has joined the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology as the new Assistant Financial Aid Director (replacing Kim Bold). Krista comes to Mines with nearly 9 years experience working in the Financial Aid Office at Western Dakota Technical Institute.
Marlene Seeklander joined the Financial Aid Office at Lake Area Technical Institute as Director of Financial Aid on July 1, 2007, replacing Rich Coplan who joined the retirement ranks. Marlene joined LATI after spending 10 years with Education Assistance Corporation in Aberdeen.
The University of Sioux Falls proudly welcomed Tracey Buisker as a Financial Aid Counselor in July 2007. Tracey came to USF with great experience after working in the University of North Dakota Financial Aid Office for over two years. Tracey works with institutional and outside
scholarship programs, manages the verification process, monitors third-party assistance programs, and counsels students and parents through the financial aid process. Tracey has been a great addition to the USF campus and financial aid staff.
Colorado Technical Institute (CTU) announces the promotion of Judy Nearman to Senior Financial Aid Officer. Judy has been with CTU for 10 years.
Mindy Lapka of CTU welcomed Meg Ellen on November 1st at 1:17 a.m. Meg weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Utah
Utah bids a fond farewell to Bill Osborne at
the College of Eastern Utah. Bill has retired and is now in Arizona,
serving as director at Mojave Community College. We welcome Kim
Booth in his place. Kim has long ties to southern Utah,
and we wish him success in his new position.
Utah is excited to team up with the State Office of Education
to create College Goal Utah... like College Goal Sunday, but with
a twist. All high school students in Utah are required to participate
in a Financial Literacy course prior to graduation. Part of this
course is a higher education component. UASFAA members are teaming
up with the Financial Literacy teachers around the state to provide
a comprehensive overview of the financial aid process, as well
as the opportunity to have help filling out the FAFSA. We are,
effectively, trying to make participation in a Financial Aid Night
as well as completion of the FAFSA, FAFSAForecaster, or UtahMentor
a requirement for graduation from high school. We have a few nights
set up around the state, trying to center on March 12th, but being
flexible for the Financial Literacy teachers. This started with
Cristi Easton-Millard's tenure as president and is a perfect next
step to the early awareness postcards we have been sending since
Terry Bell's presidency. We are looking forward to a successful
event, and will pursue even tighter relationships with the Financial
Literacy teachers over the next year.
We are looking forward to our annual conference in Midway, Utah:
"Midway Get-Away", May 15-16, 2008.
Wyoming
WyASFAA President, Randy Thompson, and his Conference Committee
have been hard at work on this year’s annual WyASFAA Conference.
This year the theme is “The Winds of Change”. The
conference will be held at Little America in Cheyenne. Keynote
speakers include Sean Moore from the Wyoming Department of Education,
Governor Dave Freudenthal, Debra Tarpley from the U.S. Department
of Education, and RMASFAA Hall of Famer Mary Sommers. Session
topics include Hathaway Scholarship Updates, Financial Aid’s
Role in Retention, Identity Theft, Leadership Training, Negotiated
Rulemaking, Washington Updates, and the new Teacher Grant. As
an added bonus, the conference will start off with a guided tour
of Warren Air Force Base.
Lucy Wagner, University of Wyoming, has been
promoted to Financial Aid Specialist - Scholarships. Taking her
place as Office Assistant, Sr. is Winter Hansen,
who came to UW from the Admissions Office at Casper College. Congratulations
to Lucy and Winter.
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