Lincoln High School, along with other Yonkers schools, benefits from a systemic districtwide approach to helping students complete the FAFSA.
The district works with Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), a foundation that aims to ensure students are ready for, enroll in, and complete college, to host events such as an annual college fair, where district and YPIE staff assist parents in completing the FAFSA. More than 60 colleges typically attend, also offering families an opportunity to learn more about programs and have their questions answered.
The district also offers additional school-based opportunities where parents have access to computers and staff to assist them in filling out the FAFSA. Lincoln also partners with the College of Westchester to host a College Goal Sunday, where the college staff assists students and parents in completing the FAFSA. Throughout the year, guest speakers meet with students to advise them on the importance of completing FAFSA.
Esmeralda, who will receive the FAFSA Challenge scholarship, is a diligent Honor Roll student who is eager to learn new things. She is a quick learner with the ability to adapt to change, and finishes tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
During her time in high school, she served as the treasurer of the Latino American Club and participated in other groups including the Ambassadors Committee, the Multicultural Club, the softball team and the Black Culture Club.
She also completed an internship working at a dentist office. Esmerelda plans to attend SUNY Purchase.
The school won the Challenge for having the greatest improvement among high schools with more than 100 seniors in the Big 4 school districts.
The Challenge was part of The New York FAFSA Completion Project, a statewide campaign launched by Ed Trust–NY to encourage public high schools to increase the proportion of eligible low-income students who complete the FAFSA.
Explore data for each high school in the state, read more about FAFSA completion strategies being used at New York schools, and find additional resources at NYFAFSAChallenge.org.