Nebraska
FAFSA delay continues as Nebraska students and colleges wait
The U.S. Department of Education aims to send completed 2024-25 Free Applications for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSAs, to colleges this month.
The FAFSA typically goes out in October, but for the 2024-25 form, there have been roadblocks due to needed changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act.
The completed FAFSAs were supposed to be sent to colleges in February. Then, the U.S. Department of Education discovered a calculation error that would have resulted in less aid for some students.
The department is hoping to correct that mistake and start sending completed forms to colleges in March.
Jodi Vanden Berge, the Kearney director of college planning and outreach services for EducationQuest, said not having those financial aid offers makes it hard for students to decide where to go for college.
“Some of those colleges need early decisions, you need to be doing housing deposits so that you’re guaranteed rooms, so there are a lot of factors that are affecting especially those seniors who are applying for the first time,” Vanden Berge said.
Another glitch students should watch out for is signatures dropping from their FAFSA. Vanden Berge said students will need to watch their messages to see if their signature didn’t go through. If a student needs to re-sign, it could take three to five days to have the signature process.
Vanden Berge said students should ensure they submit their FAFSA so it can be reviewed as soon as possible once the form is fixed. Outside of that, it’s a waiting game.
“There’s not a lot we can do. It’s kind of status quo at this point,” Vanden Berge said. “They’re in review, and we just have to hope that the federal government is able to get them processed in March. I know there’s a large amount of FAFSAs that have been submitted that are sitting there.”
According to the National College Attainment Network, 7,626 high school seniors in Nebraska have submitted the form as of Feb. 16. Last year, 12,111 had submitted the form by Feb. 16.
Vanden Berge said most colleges and scholarship organizations adjusted their deadlines to accommodate for the delay.
Nebraska Game and Parks is offering residents a chance to win prizes simply for getting outside and moving, as part of a challenge honoring America’s 250th birthday.
The Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge invites participants to log miles through activities like walking, running, kayaking, horseback riding and more using any fitness app. The goal is to reach 250 miles before the end of the year. Once completed, participants fill out a form on the Nebraska Game and Parks website to become eligible for prizes.
Mike Selman, a regular walker at Zorinsky Lake, said the challenge caught his attention.
“I think it’s great, as long as you put in the time and effort,” Selman said.
Selman said getting outdoors is already a big part of his routine.
“I absolutely love it, I love being outdoors, just the beauty, the nature, the trees, the water,” Selman said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the challenge is the opportunity to explore Nebraska’s many outdoor spaces.
“Especially here, around Zorinsky, Standing Bear, Flanagan, you got great opportunities and great places to go,” Selman said.
When asked if he planned to submit his miles, Selman did not hesitate.
“I’ll definitely think about it, most definitely,” Selman said.
Between Memorial Day and the end of the year, logging just over 1 mile a day would be enough to reach the 250-mile goal and qualify for prizes.
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We’ll have to wait a bit longer to get into the Cowgirls’ Super Regional.
A rainy night in Lincoln meant the teams only managed to get four outs into the Super between Oklahoma State and Nebraska. The game is tied at 0. The weather delay lasted about two hours before they called it.
The game will resume at 4 p.m. Friday and be televised on ESPN2. They will not play another game Friday, as Game 2 will now take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Nebraska football team added its third 2027 offensive line commitment and addition from the state of Georgia on Wednesday.
Loganville (Ga.) Grayson offensive lineman KD Jones officially announced his commitment to NU this week. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jones picked the Huskers over Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. He visited Lincoln on May 6 and is scheduled to take his official visit to Nebraska on June 6.
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The Huskers first offered Jones in April, after offensive line coach Geep Wade had previously been recruiting him at Georgia Tech.
“Coach Wade called me and offered me today,” Jones told HuskerOnline on Apr. 25. “He has been on me for a long time, ever since he was at Tech. So his interest wasn’t anything new to me. He came to watch me train at school and was amazed. He offered the next day.”
Jones joins safety Corey Hadley from the state of Georgia in NU’s 2027 recruiting class.
“I knew nothing about Nebraska before the offer,” Jones said in April. But now that Coach Wade and Coach (Lonnie) Teasley are there, I know I can trust them.”
Jones had planned to take official visits to all the schools recruiting him, but his early commitment to NU appears to have shut down those visits.
He jones Omaha (Neb.) Millard North’s Matt Erickson and fellow Grayson product Jordan Agbanoma are the other offensive linemen in the Huskers’ 2027 recruiting class. He’s now the 10th commitment in Nebraska’s class of 2027.
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