Hug High School seniors and parents of those Hug students who qualify for college admission will attend a free financial aid workshop at the high school’s career center on Friday, Jan. 16, from 1-3 p.m.

Mentors from the All Students College Educated in Nevada Today (ASCENT) program, along with staff from Hug and the University of Nevada, Reno, will gather to help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the standard financial aid application used by most universities, including the University.

“We’re excited about this class of 2009, and we are trying to do everything we can to ensure their success,” said Fabienne McPhail Naples, associate vice president for the University’s Student Success Services unit. “The University plans to help these students get to college by conducting a structured recruitment approach to filling out college applications, and by offering the financial aid workshop.”

ASCENT is a partnership program for the University with the Washoe County School District. The program pairs high school students in their 10th-grade year with mentors from campus. The mentors meet with students at least once a month to discuss college aspirations and to offer guidance on college applications, financial goals, and scholarship and career opportunities.

Many ASCENT students will be the first in their families to attend a university. Founded in 2007, the program currently has close to 100 active mentors involved. The University of Nevada, Reno also sponsors special events for ASCENT students and their mentors.

For more information about the program, please call the University’s Center for Student Cultural Diversity at (775) 784-4936.