NextStudent Announces Winner of ‘Rock My Grad Party’ Contest

Matthew Pierre, a junior at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, AZ, won a new laptop computer and $5,000 for his school’s Grad Night Party. NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, launched the Web-based “Rock My Grad Party” contest in April as a way to promote higher education and its Scholarship Search Engine to high schools throughout the Phoenix area.
Of the dozens of high schools and students that participated, Pierre was able to total a staggering 2,551,580 hits on the “Rock My Grad Party” landing page, more than double that of any other participant.
Although he only is a junior and will not graduate until 2008, Pierre said that he was inspired to participate in the contest by his love for his high school. “Marcos is an awesome school,” he said.
Pierre, who is an avid technophile, first learned about the contest through a topic posted on the school’s MySpace profile and decided that it would be a great way to honor his senior friends. In true high school spirit, the co-chairs of Marcos de Niza’s 2007 Grad Night Party, Gilbert and Linda Rodriguez, announced that the committee decided to split the $5,000 prize between this year’s grad night party and next year’s party when Pierre will be a senior. After graduating from high school Pierre plans on studying cyber security at college.
Grad Night Party at Marcos de Niza High School
Since 1991, the parents of seniors at Marcos de Niza High School have sponsored a graduation party at Arizona State University’s Memorial Union. True to the tradition of grad night parties throughout the country, Marcos de Niza’s party promises to provide a fun-filled alcohol/drug free environment for seniors to celebrate their graduation with their classmates.
The party is open to all seniors for a nominal entrance fee and provides food, nonalcoholic drinks, snacks, entertainment acts, activities and door prizes for each and every attendee. The entrance fee does not cover all grad party expenses, so throughout the year parents raise funds to cover the costs of the party; the nominal entrance fee helps to slightly offset the door prize costs. The actual party held May 24, 2007, began at 11 p.m. soon after the actual graduation ceremony. The students were released at 5 a.m. after all the fun.
According to Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, activities included: a henna tattoo artist, a caricaturist, hypnotist, tarot card reader, and casino games where fake money was redeemed for door-prize chances that included everything from coupons for iPods and PSPs to free dental work. The grad night also offered students a chance to sing karaoke and make use of other activities available at ASU’s Memorial Union, such as bowling and video games. Attendance was slightly more than 50 percent of the graduating class, and every student who attended received a free Target gift card. Throughout the past year parents raised funds for the party by volunteering at concessions, working the Tempe Arts Festival, and sponsoring the annual poinsettia sale.
History behind Grad Night Parties
High schools throughout the United States have been holding graduation night parties for the past couple of decades. Many cite California as being the state where these parties began. The objective of the parties is to create a fun, safe, alcohol-free environment for students to interact together in celebration of their graduation achievements and culmination of their high school years.
According to GradNight.org, “Over thirty years ago, a graduating senior from Valencia High School died in a drinking and driving related accident. Unfortunately, it’s not a unique story. Drinking and driving related traffic deaths are the number one cause of death amongst teenagers. As a result of this tragedy, Valencia adopted stricter drinking/drug free codes and began seeking safer ways for seniors to celebrate their high school graduation. The answer, of course, was Sober Grad Night. Currently, in California alone, hundreds of high schools celebrate graduation with this life-saving program.”
NextStudent supports the ethical values and healthy living that is at the core of the Grad Night tradition and wishes all students and high schools throughout the Phoenix area a happy, healthy and safe graduation night celebration.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about student loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

NextStudent’s Fixed-Rate Consolidation Loan Helps Students Manage Debt.

Most college students have left finals long behind and are considering their options for summer school, a fun job or other pursuits to occupy their time this summer. According to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, this is the perfect time of year for students and their parents to consider consolidating their federal student loans, especially if they have a variable rate Stafford Loan or PLUS Loan.
Students who graduated in 2007 and took out Stafford Loans in prior years are likely faced with multiple variable interest rate Stafford Loans with rates that may fluctuate from year to year. Since adjustable rates mean that payment amounts vary, it makes smart financial sense to consolidate these and other variable rate student loans in order to lock in low fixed rates. This allows students and their parents to easily manage their debt and plan ahead for repayment.
Multiple Benefits of Consolidation
In addition to no longer having to worry about variable interest rates, students who consolidate may be able to lower the total amount they currently pay per month for all their bills. In fact, many borrowers find that they can reduce their monthly payments by up to 60 percent in the process. Another advantage is that student loan consolidation simplifies the debt management and repayment process, with only a single payment required to one company each month. A final benefit is that since student loan consolidation extends repayment to 30 years, this gives many new graduates some financial breathing room when starting out in their new careers.
Qualification is easy with a NextStudent Federal Consolidation Loan and may be done over the phone with the borrower’s personally assigned Education Finance Advisor. An EFA will answer any questions parents or students may have and will walk them through the student loan consolidation process from start to finish.
NextStudent’s Impressive LOCKED Discount
Borrowers have the option of consolidating their student loans with so many different lenders that oftentimes finding the best one is a difficult and confusing process. Student loan borrowers can relax knowing that NextStudent has their best interests at heart in terms of excellent customer service, savings, and long-time retention of benefits.
Since the government sets the base interest rate on all Federal Consolidation Loans, companies offer incentives to win business. With NextStudent, when a borrower makes 36 consecutive on-time payments, borrowers qualify for an incentive that is tough to beat. They receive a 1 percent LOCKED interest rate reduction that once earned remains in effect for the life of the loan.
NextStudent Consolidation Packages
There are two options that borrowers may consider when choosing the best student loan consolidation package for their needs:
Package No. 1
.25 percent interest rate discount for using automatic-debit to make monthly payments
1 percent LOCKED RATE interest reduction after 36 consecutive on-time payments
Package No. 2
.25 percent interest rate discount for using automatic-debit to make monthly payments
After 48 on-time payments borrowers receive a 2 percent interest rate discount (not locked)
It is important for borrowers to take the time to thoroughly research each lender with which they are considering doing business in order to ensure that the company operates with integrity, honesty and ethics. NextStudent has a long-standing reputation as a trustworthy, high-caliber organization that places serving others as its top priority.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

Prepared Parents Pave the Way for College Success

Many parents dream of the day when their children have attained a well-rounded education, a top-paying job, and are equipped with the character to succeed in the working world. Students spend hours of their lives laboring to achieve their college degree; and parents invest years of hard work to ensure that their children have what it takes to get there.
Those who are most likely to achieve their dreams of a college education are those who are the most prepared and take advantage of the many resources available to them, according to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company. Oftentimes, this comes down to parents planning ahead by researching options, starting savings plans, and putting together strategies that result in students being accepted to the college of their choice.
Many Resources Available for College-Bound Students
Though some parents start saving immediately after their child is born, others are not able to set aside funds until college is just a few years away. There are many programs and resources that parents may use in order to prepare for their child’s attendance at college.
If your child soon will be a college freshman, one of the best places to start is by searching for FREE scholarships and grants. This is money that does not have to be paid back and does not result in going into debt to attain that important degree.
If your child already has been accepted at college, one of the best places to start is the financial aid office of your child’s college. Every single year there are thousands of little-known grants and obscure scholarships that remain unclaimed, largely because students are unaware of their existence. An easy way to begin the search process is with the NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, where students may review more than 2.4 million awards valued at over $3.4 billion from over 42,000 college funding sources.
Government Lends a Helping Hand
Alternately, perhaps your child is not yet in high school. If this is the case, now is the perfect time to start saving for his future education. The federal government allows parents to set aside funds in such tax-advantaged savings plans or “qualified tuition plans” referred to as 529 Plans. Find out more about these at www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/intro529.htm.
Tax benefits are another important consideration. The federal government offers you specific tax credits, such as the Hope Credit. This program may enable you to offset the cost of higher education expenses by allowing you to subtract up to a certain amount of college costs from your federal income tax. Please see the IRS Web site for more information: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=121452,00.html.
Important Tip when Applying for Federal Aid
Many parents do not know about the “FAFSA,” or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Those who do most likely are already involved in the college financial aid process. A FAFSA is the document that the federal government requires students and their parents to complete when applying for federal financial aid. Although the deadline for the next school year is the end of June of the previous year, many parents are not aware that they may complete the application as early as Jan. 2 of each calendar year. Those who are prepared and apply early are more likely to receive the funds they need, compared to those who wait until July to apply.
In addition, some parents may be under the impression that they first need to file their taxes before completing the FAFSA. This also is not the case, as parents simply may estimate their income on the FAFSA and update it later, if needed. If parents and students wait until April or so to apply for funds they may miss out and not get what they need, so it is advisable to apply as close to Jan. 2 to obtain the optimum results.
NextStudent’s Personalized Service Makes Preparing for College Simple
Wherever parents and students are in the planning and saving process, it is never too soon to get started. The key is to approach college funding strategically by taking advantage of all the resources at your disposal and maximizing your options. Part of that process involves your decision in partnering with NextStudent in making your child’s dream of a college education a reality. When you contact NextStudent, you will be assigned your own personal Education Finance Advisor who will answer any questions you have and guide you through the college funding process quickly and easily. With one simple call you could be on your way to making your years of preparation and planning pay off beautifully.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

Student Loan Repayment Alternatives Suggest Straightforward Debt Retirement Strategy

For many college seniors who have recently graduated, college now is but a fading memory, and the prospect of getting that ideal job is ever present. Many parents relish their child’s commencement when they receive that college degree, a major symbol of not only the effort required for its attainment, but also an indication of even better things to come.
Perhaps your child already had received that great job offer and is just settling into the working world, learning about budgets, personal financial planning, and starting to consider the repayment of student loan debt.
Take Time to Plan Ahead
Whatever the case, many graduates and their parents do not look forward to the time when they are required to start repaying their student loans. However, according to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, once borrowers receive accurate information on their repayment options and what is available to them, most find it easier than they originally thought.
Students probably are already aware that most federal student loans have a grace period. What that means is that the day after they graduate they do not have to automatically make that first payment. For example, for Stafford Loans, students may not have to begin repayment until a full six months following graduation. Perkins Loan repayment is not mandated until three months later, or a total of nine months after graduation. Repayment of PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) and PLUS Loans for Graduates are different. Parents or students must begin repayment only 60 days after disbursement of the funds.
This grace period is the perfect time for parents to work with their children by planning for the future, such as establishing a budget, coaching their children about new living arrangements, adapting to a first real job, and getting their financial house in order.
Repayment Options Abound
There are many different types of repayment options with unique terms and requirements. A common option is deferment. Borrowers may qualify for deferment if they are experiencing economic hardship, unemployment or certain other conditions. Deferment allows the borrower to postpone payments usually in six-month or one-year increments. A borrower must apply for this option on a yearly basis, which may be extended to a maximum of three to five years. Since interest accrues on the account during deferment with the exception of subsidized Stafford Loans, it is wise to begin repayment at the first opportunity, or perhaps consider setting aside the funds monthly to cover interest accruals.
Consolidation Simplifies Repayment
Students may be burdened with a significant amount of college debt and multiple student loans that require several payments to different lenders or servicing companies each month. This is an exceptionally confusing prospect to face when looking at repayment. In order for students to know their obligations, it is best for them to contact all their lenders to find out the required payments, student loan balances, interest rates, and terms on all student loans.
With this information in hand, consolidation of all student loan debt may be a great way for students and their parents to simplify debt repayment, thereby eliminating the hassles and headaches of dealing with multiple lenders and payments that must be made monthly.
Many students realize rather quickly that student loan consolidation is a simple, easy process that allows them to reduce their monthly payment by up to 60 percent. With a NextStudent Consolidation Loan, parents and their children receive one of the most competitive packages in the industry, as well as personal, professional service. In fact, when borrowers contact NextStudent, they are personally assigned their own Education Finance Advisor who will guide them through the student loan consolidation process from start to finish, inform them of their best options, and address any questions they might have.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

NextStudent Helps College Students Formulate College Funding Strategy

By now, college students across the country have had ample opportunity to enjoy their summer vacation, and their break from school soon will be drawing to a close. Now is the ideal time to consider more serious matters like how students will plan for their next year of education, according to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.
Alternately, for many high school seniors, perhaps the joy of being accepted at their college of choice has faded, only to be replaced by confusion on how best to proceed with funding for their first year of school. It is time for students to dig out the award letters they may have received months ago and begin preparing to finance their fall semester.
Personalized Attention Helps Solidify Plan
Since college award letters often are a little confusing and sometimes can be a challenge to understand and interpret correctly, NextStudent takes pride in helping students and their parents clarify and understand their financial picture so they can formulate the best funding strategy to finance their college education.
When contacting NextStudent, students are assigned their own personal Education Finance Advisor who will walk them through the college funding process from start to finish in a simple, straightforward manner. This personalized attention helps take the guesswork out of college financial aid and frequently results in peace of mind for many students and their parents once they have a better grasp of their financial picture, options, and best way to proceed.
Accurate Understanding Clarifies Best Options
Students and their parents can rest easy knowing that they are in good hands when working with NextStudent. Since many do not know where to turn or how best to proceed, students may be educated with respect to the actual cost of attending their college; the need-based aid for which they qualify such as subsidized Stafford Loans and federal non-need-based student loans; and the possible out-of-pocket funds needed to attend college.
A common mistake occurs when students and their parents believe that they do not qualify for any federal student aid. In many cases, it is not that students do not qualify for ANY federal aid at all, but rather that they do not qualify for SUBSIDIZED federal aid such as a subsidized Stafford Loan. Instead, they may qualify for an UNSUBSIDIZED Federal Stafford Loan. This is the type of scenario that a NextStudent Education Finance Advisor is equipped to handle. A personal Education Finance Advisor will answer any questions students have, advise them on the best options to pursue, and assist them in formulating the strategy that best suits their needs.
Different Awards, Different Needs
Other common types of financial aid include Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans) and Private Student Loans. Regardless of what type of federal aid for which a student qualifies and regardless of the perceived financial challenge, chances are NextStudent can help.
Since the fall semester is just around the corner, students who wish to get a jump on putting together their funding package for school may want to contact NextStudent at their first opportunity. NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

NextStudent Encourages Students to Take Advantage of Federal Work-Study Opportunities

Since some colleges start posting available work-study positions as early as the summer, students looking to get their first choice of campus jobs in the fall may want to get a head start by already having their résumé and cover letter written and polished. The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for both undergraduate and graduate students with qualifying financial need and encourages students to participate in community service and try out employment opportunities related to their course of study. Work-study jobs are required to pay at least the current federal minimum wage but might pay more, depending on the type of work the student does and the skills required.
Work-study, on- or off-campus, can offer students a paycheck while allowing them enough flexibility to accommodate their class schedule. Work-study jobs run the gamut from tutoring children or other college students, to working as a museum aide, to serving as an usher at public or school events. According to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, work-study programs can be a great option for students who need a little help meeting their college expenses.
Benefits of Work-Study Jobs
Because the Federal Work-Study Program is based on financial need, work-study income does not affect a student’s financial aid eligibility. While their work-study income is taxable, students who receive on-campus work-study jobs can enjoy the benefits of walking to work straight from class—they save on gas money and can meet up with friends at the dorm right after their shift. And whereas students in non–work-study jobs may get bogged down in work hours, work-study employers tend to be more sensitive to a student’s schedule and offer more flexibility. Universities may cap an undergraduate’s work availability at 20 hours per week.
In addition to offering convenience and flexibility, work-study allows students to start building their work history. When these students are ready to head out into the real world, they’ll be a step ahead of those students who chose not to work. Prospective employers may look more favorably on students who were able to balance the demands of a higher education with the requirements and scheduling of work.
Qualifying for Federal Work-Study
Students interested in work-study positions must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and mark “yes” when asked if they are interested in student employment. Students must demonstrate sufficient financial need and meet other qualifications. Since the number of work-study positions is limited, students should apply as early as possible to increase their chances of getting the job of their choice.
Students who qualify for work-study will be notified by their university’s financial aid office. Students who don’t receive a work-study award and believe they are eligible to receive one should make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss their options. Some schools may offer to put students on a waiting list.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at www.nextstudent.com.