Ten students traveled to the State Capitol in Harrisburg on April 14 to urge legislators to support funding for PHEAA grants.

Political Science Professor Robert McMonagle and Campus Ministry Director Guilherme Lopes accompanied the group as part of an annual student advocacy day, sponsored by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP).

Students met with Representative Leanne Krueger (House District 161), explaining how the grants made higher education accessible and affordable for them.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency administers several state-level and national higher education student financial aid programs. PHEAA grants provide need-based financial assistance to eligible Pennsylvanians and help them afford the costs of higher education at the undergraduate level.

The grant program provides maximum awards of $5,000 per year to students who meet the qualifying criteria.