College Zone Outreach Center Now Open at Lincoln Land

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, announced the opening of the College Zone Outreach Center at Lincoln Land Community College.  Starting today, this walk-in center will be devoted to helping students and families find valuable student financial aid information and assistance.

 Larry Matejka, ISAC’s Executive Director, joined Jack Daniels, President of Lincoln Land Community College, in cutting the ribbon across the doorway to the Outreach Center.  Other dignitaries attending the ceremony were Geoffrey Obrzut, President of the Illinois Community College Board, Gary Davis, President of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, State Representative Rich Brauer and State Representative Jim Watson.

 “This center will undoubtedly become an invaluable resource for thousands of central Illinois students and families, as they look for ways to finance their college education,” Matejka explained.  “Lincoln Land Community College should be very proud of its proven commitment to serving its community through efforts like the new College Zone Outreach Center.”

ISAC is partnering with the 48 community colleges throughout Illinois to establish a College Zone Outreach Center on each campus.  These centers will support ISAC outreach activities aimed at promoting the availability of student financial aid programs through College Zone, including the Web site, http://www.collegezone.com/, and phone counselors via a toll-free telephone number at 800-899-ISAC (4722).  The primary benefit of the walk-in centers on community college campuses will be providing year-round personal assistance in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and computer accessibility to collegezone.com, where students can search for additional financial aid programs. 

The opening of the College Zone Outreach Center at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield represents the first of these 48 centers.  ISAC hopes to see the remaining centers opened at all Illinois community colleges within the next two months. 

Students and families interested in visiting the College Zone Outreach Center can find it at Room 1133 in Menard Hall on Lincoln Land’s campus, located at 5250 Shepherd Road in Springfield.  The center will be open during regular business hours Monday through Friday.  Visitors do not need to be enrolled at Lincoln Land Community College to utilize the Outreach Center’s resources.

	Archived News Conference
	Archived News Conference

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.