FAFSA is due soon

The deadline for high school seniors and current or prospective college students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is April 15.

In 2023, Indiana joined seven other states in adopting a FAFSA completion requirement for high school seniors. As of March 15, about 31% of high school seniors in the state had filed the application.

“Education and training beyond high school is associated with better economic and social outcomes for the individual,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. “Significantly higher wages, lower unemployment rates, increased levels of labor participation, and better health outcomes are just a few reasons why continued education is important. The FAFSA is a critical tool that allows students to access those greater outcomes.”

To learn more information, please visit studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Art competition

The 2024 Congressional Art Competition is underway.

The competition for high school artists is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. It is open to all high school artwork, including paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art and photography.

The deadline to enter is April 16. For more information, visit congressionalinstitute.org.

New stamp unveiled

Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites and the U.S. Postal Service recently unveiled a new stamp honoring Indiana anti-slavery activist Catharine Coffin during an event at the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City.

The new stamp, which is a forever stamp, features an image of Catharine Coffin and the words Black/white, cooperation, trust/danger, flight/faith, courage/risk, defiance/hope, underground and railroad/USA. It is one of a series that features 10 key figures of the Underground Railroad.

The Coffins, who operated in both Indiana and Ohio, are credited with helping more than 1,000 people escape slavery.