PHEAA biweekly podcast guides college-bound students and their families

HARRISBURG – February is Financial Aid Awareness Month and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) invites students and their families to join them biweekly for their college-planning podcast, The Higher Education Access Corner.

Higher Education Access Partner Tiffanie DeVan relies upon her more than 30 years of experience in the student industry as she hosts the podcast, providing candid conversations around access and affordability to higher education – including 4-year schools, community colleges, and technical and trade schools.

“Students and parents seek information from many various mediums,” said Senator Wayne Fontana, Chairman of the PHEAA Board of Directors. “We are pleased to have an ongoing podcast that provides the information they need most in a format that they welcome and appreciate.”

A new episode airs every other Wednesday, offering a variety of engaging discussion on topics relating to financial aid, student loans, and the importance of avoiding unnecessary debt. The Higher Education Access Corner can be heard on Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify and PHEAA’s YouTube channel, PHEAAStudentAid.

“The Higher Education Access Corner podcast has been a creative resource for collegebound students and families,” said James Steeley, PHEAA President & CEO. “Tiffanie DeVan has proven to be the perfect host for our podcast, using her experience and connections to create truly worthwhile podcasts that address every aspect of the college-planning experience.”

Numerous higher education experts have appeared on the podcast since its launch in September 2022, speaking on all aspects related to postsecondary education from being a parent, attending a college fair, searching for scholarships, comparing loans, and exploring your options – to name just a few of the past podcast topics.

“The Higher Education Access Corner continues to be a growing platform that allows us to share valuable information regarding postsecondary access and affordability,” host Tiffanie DeVan shared. “I’ve had the pleasure of conversing with various guests who’ve shared their knowledge, experiences, and resources with our listeners. I am grateful for the opportunity to host the Higher Education Access Corner and I cannot wait to share what we have in store for 2024.”

The upcoming February 7 episode, “Hot Topics: FAFSA® & Financial Aid,” will provide an update on the new 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This episode is especially timely, considering the recent FAFSA delays and numerous changes in this year’s form. In honor of Financial Aid Awareness Month, financial aid resources for students and families will be shared.

The February 21 episode, “Searching for Scholarships,” welcomes guest Celina Bertovic, Program Director for Educational Opportunities at The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, sharing tips to help students successfully search and apply for scholarships.

Past podcasts can be accessed via the archive found at https:// www.pheaa.org/toolsresources/podcasts/index.shtml.