On September 24, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Ashe County, North Carolina.
The devastation following the storm left many families in rural Ashe without power, water, internet, or access to main roads for weeks. Ashe County Schools were also greatly affected by the storm, with the district only having 60 in-person instructional days between October and February.
With the FAFSA opening in November, this lack of access and instructional time came at an already high-stress season for high school seniors. Typically, students would reach out to Lorena Calvillo, the College Adviser for Ashe County Schools, for assistance filling out the FAFSA — but with internet access out and dangerous road conditions, students had no way to access her as a resource.
Instead of potentially putting families in danger by having them drive into West Jefferson for FAFSA events that would have been hosted at Ashe County High School, Calvillo found a way to meet families where they were.
Collaborating with local fire stations in Ashe, Calvillo organized the FAFSA events to take place throughout the county from November to March, meeting families at fire stations in Fleetwood, Glendale Springs, and Warrensville.
These auxiliary events were made possible through a grant from the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC). The grant allowed Calvillo to offer students the chance to win one of two $200 scholarships if they attended the event and submitted their FAFSA.
CFNC’s Northwest Financial Aid Connections Grant was awarded to Ashe County Schools last fall, and thanks to creative thinking by Lorena Calvillo, the funds greatly impacted her seniors affected by Hurricane Helene.
“This has been a hard year with some of the most rewarding moments in my advising career,” Calvillo said. “I am very proud of the students who continue to show up for themselves and their dreams. There were some events that only one or two families attended, but what I'm doing is still relatively new for the community, so for me, each family served is an accomplishment. College advising is not about the numbers, but rather ensuring those who need the help feel supported and empowered.”
College Adviser Meets Students Where They Are
College Adviser Meets Students Where They Are