Are you a Financial Aid Champion?
Thank you to everyone who worked hard to become a Financial Aid Champion last year. If you didn’t get a chance to participate, you’re in luck. Because we’re doing it again!
We’re recognizing high school staff and community partners who are Financial Aid Champions for the hard work they do to increase financial aid awareness. We are providing an easy-to-follow checklist of events and steps designed to help students access financial aid.
All high school counselors/advisors/partners who earn a minimum of 100 points from completing best practice items provided on the checklist will be recognized at a CFNC Fall 2026 Regional Training. In addition to that, they will also receive CFNC branded swag, such as financial aid trivia cards, pop-up banners, and more
Note: Participation is optional. Recognition goes to the high school or community partner organization earning the designation.
| Demonstrate Your Interest |
Rules and Details
- School or organization is a registered C2C Site.
- Counselor, college advisor, or other school representative registers to attend the CFNC Spring 2026 Regional Trainings.
- School/partner organization completes the Financial Aid Champion Checklist (with a minimum of 100 points earned) and provides all required data and documentation by Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
- Only one counselor/advisor/partner organization member should complete the interest and nomination form per school/organization.
If you are planning to complete checklist items for recognition at a CFNC Fall 2026 Regional Training, fill out the short interest form.
Using the NC FAFSA Tracker, check how your school did last year and determine a feasible goal for your school to achieve that shows growth and improvement compared to last year’s end of April FAFSA completion rate.
Follow these steps to see your school’s end of April FAFSA completion rate:
- Select the school tab
- Search for your school
- Hover over last year’s completion rate for the month of April

- Create a CFNC.org account using your professional (work) email.
- Submit request to add ProTools access to your account.
- Submit Finish the FAFSA Report access request.
Visit www.nextncscholarship.org/toolkit to access flyer, social media posts, digital displays and PowerPoint presentation slides (all toolkit items are available in English and Spanish).
By achieving the FAFSA completion goal for your school, you will receive the assigned 20 points for that item. Extra points are available if you meet one of the following:
- Improved FAFSA completion rate from previous year by 5%+ (extra 10 points)
- Improved FAFSA completion rate from previous year by 10%+ (extra 15 points)
You can earn extra points by providing bilingual assistance at your FAFSA/financial aid events. You will receive additional points as follows:
- Bilingual support is available throughout the event in person or virtually to assist families in completing the FAFSA (extra 10 points)
- Handouts or other informational items given at the event were available in more than one language (extra 10 points)
For a bulletin board to fulfill this checklist item it must predominately contain financial aid information such as FAFSA, scholarships and grants, loans or work study. Note that if you only have access to one bulletin board at your school, switching out the information will count as having two bulletin boards (it is not a requirement for them to be at separate locations if that is not a possibility at your school).
Share college access email alert form with the trusted influencers at your school to get them signed up for email alerts.
Please use this form to upload all documentation to be recognized as a Financial Aid Champion at a CFNC Fall 2026 Regional Training. All supporting documents that show you completed a checklist item must be submitted by Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Acceptable documentation includes pictures, screenshots of email communication, and event flyers.
Note: Participation is optional and only completed applications will be accepted. Your application must include all necessary documents to be considered complete. Email outreach@ncseaa.edu with any questions.
| Submit Financial Aid Champion Nomination Form |
Due March 31, 2026

School counselors and college advisors provide essential support for students and their families throughout the college application and financial aid process. This year, we recognized those of you who are Financial Aid Champions for the hard work you do, and provided an easy-to-follow checklist of events and steps designed to help students access financial aid.
Congratulations to the following 2025 Financial Aid Champions:
The Middle College at GTCC-High Point
Lee County High School
Elkin High School Chase High School
Mount Airy High School
Lexington Senior High School
North East Carolina Prep School
Cabarrus Early College of Technology
North Wilkes High School
South Columbus High School
A&T Four Middle College
Wilson Academy of Applied Technology
McDowell High School
East Lincoln High School
Corinth Holders High School
Heide Trask High School
Grimsley High School
Chase High School
New Hanover County Schools - Central office counselor support staff
Crosby Scholars Community Partnership (non-profit partnered with Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Schools)