Phil Campbell High School has recently received the Best Hustle Award from Alabama Possible, a statewide non-profit organization that “breaks down barriers to prosperity through advocacy, education and collaboration.”

This award recognizes the school for improving its early FAFSA completion rate by at least 10 percent.

PCHS is one of 116 schools in Alabama receiving this award. According to counselor Luanne Vickery, the school now has a 62 percent completion rate for the 2019-20 FAFSA.

“I am so proud of our seniors for their hard work,” Vickery said.

Northwest-Shoals Community College has been working with the seniors and helping with the process of filling out the information and making sure the correct data is being inputted.

“It was a step-by-step process that took several weeks,” Vickery said.

They are still working with some of the students to get the applications completed, and Vickery said she is hopeful the numbers will continue to rise.

“Since I started as the counselor at PC this year, I have tried to develop a relationship with the students and especially the seniors,” Vickery said. “I want them to feel comfortable talking with me and know that I am here to help them in any way that I can.”

PCHS participates in the Cash for College Alabama campaign coordinated by Alabama Possible, which “helps school counselors, career coaches and other educators at high schools across the state promote financial aid form completion.”

“High school seniors should complete the form as early as possible so they can access the money they need for college,” said Kristina Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible. “We are thrilled to see so many Cash for College schools promoting early FAFSA completion, and we congratulate them for earning a Best Hustle Award.”

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.

To learn more about the FAFSA and Cash for College, visit cashforcollegealabama.org.