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PORT ANGELES, WA. – Local high school seniors can now receive free one-on-one help with applying for student aid. Two new Peninsula College counselors are dedicated to assisting students with the sometimes daunting task of submitting their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which determines the amount of money awarded to students to cover the cost of college.

In 2020, Washington State ranked 49th of 51 states plus Washington, DC, for student aid completions. Lawmakers decided to rectify the poor showing by passing a bill last year to increase applications in the two lowest performing districts in Peninsula College’s service area.

The bill permits funding to employ one financial aid outreach specialist for every 600 high school seniors. With this money, PC was able to hire two financial aid outreach specialists, with a third to come. The two are Abby Rand and Steven Luther. They act as liaisons between their assigned schools and Peninsula College.

Rand has taken on Sequim High School, Port Townsend High School, Quilcene High School, and OCEAN School.

Luther has been assigned to Chimacum Junior/Senior High School, Chimacum PI Program, Crescent School, Port Angeles High School, Lincoln High School, and the online Seaview Academy.

The two are sharing coverage of Clallam Bay, Neah Bay and Forks High School, as well as the online Insight School of Washington. The college is in the process of hiring the third specialist.