Free Professional Development Webinars

Our Citizens Sessions™ offer free professional development webinars where we cover important resources, mindfulness training, and best practices on advising students and their families. 

Check out our 2023 sessions below and feel free to forward on to your team!

February 1, 2023 2:00pm (EST)	Developing Focus	Improve your ability to give attention to the important things and reduce distractions withpractical adjustments.
February 8, 2023 2:00pm (EST)	Guide for New Financial Aid Professionals	Learn the tools and resources to utilize in your day to day functions as a Financial AidAdministrator.
February 15, 2023 2:00pm (EST)	Understanding Credit and Private Student Loan Underwriting	Provide guidance with insight into the impact of credit and considerations to help reduce thecost of education.
February 22, 2023 2:00pm (EST)	Delivering an Exceptional Customer Experience	Create positive impressions by understanding the importance of customer service andimproving skills to deal with difficult scenarios.

Register Here: www.citizensbank.com/FAA

Sessions can be customized for your team. Reach out for more details!

Award Nominations

The KASFAA Awards subcommittee is now accepting nominations for Deborah Byers Outstanding Service, Bruce Lopez Meritorious Achievement, Hall of Fame and Rising Star awards. The specifics of each award is below, nomination forms can be found at, https://www.kasfaa.org/awards.php.

Deborah Byers Outstanding Service Award is presented to recognize the outstanding contributions of an individual in the field of financial aid through sustained contributions to KASFAA. The Board may select one member or associate member each year.

Bruce Lopez Meritorious Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made either an important single contribution or significant multiple contributions to KASFAA or the profession. The individual does not have to be a member of KASFAA. The purpose of this award is to encourage members to become involved in carrying out the mission of the Association and to encourage continued individual support to the financial aid profession

The Hall of Fame Award is the highest award made by KASFAA. It is not mandated that this award be given each year and more than one person may be recognized in a given year. This award can be given to any person who has contributed significantly to the financial aid profession for a minimum of fifteen years.

KASFAA Rising Star Award provides recognition to an individual member with fewer than 5 years of experience in KASFAA who shows promise for future contributions to the association or the financial aid profession. This individual has demonstrated quality performance through their passion for their work while exemplifying the professionalism and dedication to the mission of KASFAA.

SCAVENGER HUNT WINNERS!!

Congratulations to Debbie Brewer and Danielle Sullivan!! Amazon gift cards are coming your way!! Be sure to participate in our next blog contest SOON!!!

Election Results!!

KASFAA ELECTIONS: VOTE NOW!!

Attention KASFAA Members!!! The link to vote is below. You will need to log in and if you don’t remember your log in you can reset it easily. The process takes less than a minute! So simple and so important!!

https://my.kasfaa.org/members/elections.php?mid=1442494915&elid=1230233
(You will need to login to participate in the election)

Don’t know the candidates? Read their bios from Diana VanDyke’s email on November 18th. Your participation is important to our organization and we appreciate it!!

SCAVENGER HUNT: Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

1. How long is the term for the President-Elect?
2. Where can you sign up for KASFAA Virtual Trainings?
3. In what year was KASFAA incorporated as a 501(c)(3)?
4. Where can you view committee information, including minutes and reports?
5. Where is the 2023 KASFAA Spring Conference?
6. What are the dates for the Spring Conference?
7. Which committee maintains a flow of information to the membership at large in dealing with the fiscal responsibilities of the financial aid process?
8. According to the KASFAA bylaws, what are the 5 types of membership in the association?
9. How many positions are authorized for the Finance committee?
10. When does KASFAA’s current Strategic Long Range Plan end?

Email your answers to kristina.blanck@mccks.edu by Wednesday, December 21st!! All correct entries will be in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card!! TWO names will be drawn!!

New Year – New Address

When was the last time your payables office updated the mailing address for KASFAA payments? If you or your institution/ organization still make payments for conferences, membership dues or any other KASFAA expenses by check, it’s time to be sure they update the mailing address on file to make sure your payments reach us in a timely manner.

Check payments should be sent directly to our new Treasurer-Elect, Kelly Baker, for processing.

Kelly Baker
Allen County Community College
1801 N. Cottonwood
Iola, Kansas 66749

We would hate for your payment to be flying all around the state by being sent to an old address so update your records today!! 😊

Meet the Candidates for President: Tanya McGee and Dori Roth

Tanya McGee, Associate Director of Student Financial Assistance at Kansas State University. Like many of you, I accidentally found this career. I simply needed a part-time job as a student, and somehow 25 years later, here I am. The initial appeal to this profession was the help, assistance and guidance that I could provide to students and parents. That same appeal remains today, coupled with the variety of tasks to complete and puzzles to solve. My institution has encouraged my participation in KASFAA, which I am grateful. I have served on a variety of committees throughout the years, including: Archive Committee, Conference Planning, Finance Committee, Welcome & Membership Committee, Training Committee, and currently, Professional Development Committee. I have also served as the Vice President twice (2004-2005, 2017-2018). KASFAA is a great organization with great members!

Hi! I’m Dori Roth. I am the Director of Financial Aid at Hesston College. I have worked in financial aid for over 8 years. I am honored and humbled to be considered for the role of KASFAA President. I have served on various committees in KASFAA including, Conference Planning, Membership, and have been a Mentor in the KASFAA Mentorship Program. I have been involved with RMASFAA in the Leadership Pipeline as a mentor, Summer Institute as faculty for two years, and am currently the Chair of Summer Institute.

I feel getting involved in KASFAA is not only rewarding, but beneficial. I feel it is important to encourage others to be involved in our state organization. When I started in this profession, I was encouraged to be involved and it’s been incredibly valuable in my growth in financial aid. My goal would be to help carry on the great traditions and help the growth or our organization. I want to help show the importance of dialogue and volunteerism, and to help others give back to our organization. I have learned from so many colleagues in this profession, and hope to help others do the same. The world of financial aid is complex, ever changing, and rewarding. I feel the relationships we build and the people we meet along the way, help us to become better in what we do in our profession and in our lives. Thank you for considering me for the role of President of KASFAA.

Meet the Candidates for Secretary: Kristina Blanck and Rachel Touchatt

I am honored to be considered for the secretary position. In 2019, I started working at Manhattan Christian College, knowing very little about Financial Aid. My background is in non-profits, public relations and social work. A friend who worked for MCC talked me into trying it and I will be forever grateful. As a Student Financial Counselor, my main responsibilities are scholarships, packaging and meeting with students and their parents. Volunteering has always been very important to me. I began in KASFAA by serving on the Association News & Publicity committee because it seemed like a great fit for me. After Summer Institute last summer, I decided to join RMASFAA’s committee as well. For the past six months I have pulled double duty as co-chair for KASFAA and chair for RMASFAA.

KASFAA is a very impressive organization and the enthusiasm of its members is inspiring. There is still so much I have to learn and absorb; what better way than to be involved with this organization! Serving on other organizational boards in the past has given me a skillset that can only be improved upon with this position. I am looking forward to being a part of KASFAA’s future.

My name is Rachel Touchatt. I am the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at WSU Tech. I have worked in the Financial Aid industry for over 18 years. I have previously had positions as the Director of Financial Aid at the Columbia Area Career Center and at Stephens College, in Columbia, MO. I served four years as the Treasurer for the MASFAP Association when I was in Missouri. More recently I served two years with the KASFAA Archives Committee and won the 2021-22 Committee of the Year while chairing the Archives Committee. I have a passion for helping others reach their goals and dreams and have loved working in Financial Aid because of that. If I am elected, I will bring my passion for helping others, my enthusiasm for the KASFAA organization, and my love for writing and organizing. I look forward to the opportunity to give back to KASFAA and to build new friendships in the process.

Meet the Candidates for KASFAA Treasurer: Nathan Buche and Kathy Ramsey