This October, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships hosted a giveaway to give students a chance to win a $650 book scholarship for spring 2024. To enter the giveaway, students must have their photo taken at their Halloween-themed photo booth set up in room 105 of Burgin Dossett and submit their ETSU Scholarship Application before Oct. 31. Uplifting Halloween spirit and giving back to Bucs, the financial aid office continues to support academic success for students while keeping it spooky.

Photo of Latisha Vaughn after applying to the scholarship giveaway. (Contributed/Javiera Cotapos)

Kayla Carter is the communications coordinator for the ETSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Helping promote events such as the giveaway, she encourages students to get involved in financial aid events as well as create awareness for the general scholarship application which opened on Oct. 1.

“The more people who apply, the more good we can do helping people and hopefully be able to better fund their education,” Carter said.

Striving to assist students as well as create a hub for participation, the office aims to make financial aid a more approachable and legible topic for all students. With this year’s FAFSA being delayed, the team aims to make the office a welcoming area where students can walk in, make an appointment and discuss any concerns they may have.

“We’re really just wanting to drive students into the office so we can try to answer their questions, get them more familiar with us, stop by and see us and have a little fun while they’re here,” Carter said.

With applications open, financial aid day on the Oct.18 and Halloween happening, the office combined all aspects into one event with the addition of the book scholarship for students to take advantage of it all, efficiently. By making the general application a requirement for the giveaway, the possibility for everyone to leave with a prize, even if they did not get chosen as the giveaway winner, was majorly expanded.

Photo of Allister Banasiak at the scholarship giveaway. (Contributed/Javiera Cotapos)

“That is really what we’re here for,” Carter said, “ To make sure that students get their questions answered and have a good experience, and get all the aid that they’re eligible for.”

Although not required, dressing up in a Halloween costume for the photo booth is encouraged, staff in the office will be in their costumes as they welcome students in. To learn more about the giveaway, visit https://go.activecalendar.com/etsu/site/students/event/halloween-photo-booth–scholarship-giveaway-14/. To learn more about the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, visit https://www.etsu.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships/.