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Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit that breaks down barriers to prosperity, today announced that Sweet Water High School will receive the Best Hustle Award for successfully improving its early Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion by at least 10 percent from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1. This year, 120 Alabama high schools earned this recognition, including Sweet Water High School, which increased completion by 65 percent.

All the schools participate in the Cash for College Alabama campaign coordinated by Alabama Possible. Cash for College works with school counselors, career coaches, and other educators at high schools across the state to equip students to continue their education after high school by completing their financial aid form.

More than 340 Alabama high schools participate in the Cash for College campaign. By Dec. 1, nearly 12,000 Alabama high school seniors had completed the FAFSA, up .17 percent compared to last year.

Any student seeking federal or state financial aid – including grants, loans, and work-study programs – must complete the FAFSA. Most Alabama students qualify for Pell Grants of up to $6,195 per year. Students can use Pell Grants for two-year and four-year technical and academic programs. If you want to learn more about the FAFSA and Cash for College, visit cashforcollegealabama.org.

Alabama aims to add 500,000 individuals with valuable postsecondary credentials to its workforce by 2025, and Governor Kay Ivey’s Success Plus strategic plan recognizes the critical role that financial aid plays in making education after high school accessible and affordable.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, December 25 issue of the Demopolis Times.)