Welcome to the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA) website. VASFAA is an organization of individuals who assist students in financing their post-secondary education, and also support others who are active in financial aid-related professions.

Thomas Monson has said that “The past is behind us, learn from it.  The future is ahead, prepare for it.  The present is here, live it.” The sentiment behind these words is so very true. Thus, “The BIG Picture:  Snapshots of the Past, Present, and Future” has been chosen as our theme for 2010-2011 as we begin to reconnect with what has been learned in the past, prepare for what will be in the future, and live with the changes in our profession today. We need to think globally about our profession so that we have the opportunity to use the knowledge we have learned, and will continue to learn to enact change in the profession itself and create greater access for our students.  We need to support each other in learning, so we can pass this knowledge to our youth.  They are why we are here.

Our goal is to provide our members training opportunities that focus on issues that we face today, and to provide insight into what lies ahead.  When we educate ourselves, we educate our students and families about resources available for higher education.  Each and every student should have the opportunity to grow and realize their dreams.

I encourage all Financial Aid professionals to consider becoming members of VASFAA in order to take advantage of the experience, insight, and knowledge of colleagues across the state.  Become involved!

Committees are already hard at work preparing for a wonderful year of professional development, networking, and financial aid access opportunities to further solidify the bond of aid professionals, so that we may in turn have resources available for our student populations.  We are also hard at work on professional training opportunities for High School Guidance Counselors and students, and look forward to being able to serve all constituents in some way.

I appreciate everyone who visits our website and if each visitor, whether student, financial aid professional, or guidance counselor, takes a new piece of knowledge away with them then we have been successful.  Please feel free to contact me at anytime during the year with thoughts, questions, and concerns.

Heather Hollandsworth
VASFAA President, 2010-11
hhollandsworth@ferrum.edu