Arkansas Governor Issues Two Proclamations
AASFAA is pleased to announce the approval of two AASFAA proclamations this year! On January 31st, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe signed a proclamation proclaiming February as Financial Aid Awareness Month and a proclamation proclaiming February 18th as College Goal Sunday. As it turned out, in Arkansas’s first year participating in College Goal Sunday, we had 2,245 attendees, at least 1,005 FAFSA filers (probably more) and 30 sites. There were over 500 volunteers who gave of their time and effort to make College Goal Sunday a success!

Successful Financial Aid Awareness Programs
AASFAA’s Financial Aid Awareness Committee, chaired by Jennifer Ball and Mark LeBahn, led the successful implementation of AASFAA’s AETN Money for College program and 7 On Your Side phone bank program. The AETN Money for College program was aired on February 6th at 8:00 p.m and resulted in 75 calls received and 45 packets sent out. During this hour-long program, Financial Aid Administrators from throughout the state answered questions and explained how students’ entry to post-secondary education can be made possible. The 7 On Your Side phone bank program allowed AASFAA to broadcast financial aid information and a hotline number during two news programs from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We recorded 291 phone calls and 153 packets of information from the calls were sent out.

National Leadership Conference
AASFAA sponsored four new EC members to attend the 2007 NASFAA Leadership Conference. Attendees were—Scott Medlin, Associate Delegate-at-Large; Teresa Cash, Secretary; Lisa Vanoven, Delegate-at-Large; and John Lewis, President. AASFAA attendees received valuable leadership training and resources. Also, on March 6th AASFAA attendees took advantage of Capitol Hill visits and spoke with Congressman John Boozman, staff members from Senator Mark Pryor’s office, and staff members from Senator Blanche Loncoln’s office. We were able to speak with these representatives on the following federal student aid issues that will impact Arkansas students: S. 486, H.R. 890, The Student Loan Sunshine Act; S. 359, H.R. 1010, Student Aid Reward Act; concerns with President Bush’s FY 2008 Budget; ACG/SMART programs.

2007 NASFAA Leadership Conference Attendees (From left to right: Teresa Cash, Lisa Vanoven, Scott Medlin, and John Lewis)

Current AASFAA Board

• President – John Lewis, UACC-Batesville
• President-Elect – Louise Strauser, Lyon College
• Past President – Lisa Hopper, National Park CC
• Past Past President – Jay Simpson, Harding University
• Treasurer – Jackie Brubaker, Mid-South CC
• Secretary – Becky Hammett, UA-Monticello
• Secretary-Elect – Teresa Cash, UACC-Morrilton
• Delegate-at-Large – Julia Robison, UCA
• Delegate-at-Large – Jana Hart, University of the Ozarks
• Delegate-at-Large – Vacant
• Associate Delegate-at-Large – Scott Medlin, OSLA
• SWASFAA Delegate-at-Large – Jo Holland, Henderson State University

The 2007 Spring AASFAA conference will be April 25-27, at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. The theme of our conference will be C.S.I. Hot Springs “College Scene Investigation.” The conference will include a Mystery Murder Dinner, and sessions on Identify Theft and campus crime & safety to go along with the theme. The conference will also host a silent auction and a poker fun walk to raise money for student scholarships. For more information visit www.aasfaa.net.

table of contents