Changing Tides, Changing Lives
TASFAA 2004, Corpus Christi
By Arnold Trejo, TASFAA 2004 Conference Committee Chair

If you haven’t registered for the conference, we would like to encourage you to do so soon. The pre-registration deadline for the 2004 TASFAA Conference is just around the corner. The conference fee for those registered by Friday, September 3, 2004, is $165.00. If you register after this date, the conference fee will be $195.00.

The conference schedule is almost finalized. We would like to thank you for the enthusiasm many of you have expressed in either presenting or moderating a session. We will be contacting the conference presenters and moderators in the next week. Your support has enabled us to complete the conference program ahead of schedule.

In keeping with our theme, Changing Tides, Changing Lives, we will be showcasing local students whose lives were changed because of financial aid assistance. If you have a student story to share, please feel free to send your stories to Santa Garza by September 15, 2004. In addition, we are delighted to announce that Mr. Billy Riggs and Mr. Tim Fitzpatrick will join us at the conference. Mr. Riggs will discuss how we impact others with our customer service and Mr. Fitzpatrick will discuss where the financial aid industry is heading.

Start thinking about how you can participate in this year’s Thursday night event, “Show Us Your Character”! We encourage all conference attendees to dress up as their favorite cartoon character. Prizes will be given for a variety of categories, such as Best Costume and Best Cast of Characters. For more information, go to www.tasfaa.org.

As a reminder, our service project this year will be The ARK Assessment Center & Emergency Shelter for Youth in Corpus Christi. The ARK works with neglected youth ages 6 through 17. In addition to providing assistance to those in need, we will be highlighting those that we have helped. They are in need of a variety of items, such as luggage, duffle bags, school supplies, diapers, personal hygiene supplies, and cash donations.

If you have any additional suggestions that you would like the committee to consider, please let one of the committee members know.

Conference committee members:

• Arnold Trejo, Chair, Texas A&M University
• Kim Alexander, TG
• Dana Akins, Grayson Community College
• Don Buehrer, Nelnet
• Jody Ford, Texas A&M University
• Henry Garcia, Local Arrangements Co-Chair, Del Mar College
• Santa Garza, University of Texas
• Debra La Grone, Texas A&M University
• Kaye McGill, Sponsor Chair, EFSI
• Brook Pallanez, Chase
• Michael Scott, Texas Christian University
• Belen Valdez, The University of Texas - Pan American
• Dolly Zeriali, Local Arrangements Co-Chair, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

We look forward to seeing you in October!