Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at 40 sites throughout the state to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2 p.m. on Feb. 12.

Organizers say the free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. Officials say the FAFSA must be filed by March 10 to be eligible for Indiana financial aid.

The event in Columbus will be held at the Columbus Learning Center. Other College Goal Sunday events in the area will take place at Franklin’s Ivy Tech campus and Jennings County High School in North Vernon.

Event organizers say that students should attend College Goal Sunday with a parent or guardian. The parents should bring completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2015 income and benefits information. Students who worked last year should bring their income information as well. Officials say that students, age 24 and over, may attend alone and bring their own completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2015 income and benefits information. Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at fsaid.ed.gov before coming to the event.