When Senator Jack Reed and the College Planning Center of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority held a college financial planning workshop on Dec. 15, a record 200 turned out forcing some people to be turned away because of fire codes.

Noel Simpson expects the turnout may be even greater when similar workshops are held at four locations this Sunday. But, Simpson, who is the treasurer of the Rhode Island Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (RIASFAA) that is sponsoring the event, said there would be plenty of seats.

The second annual College Goal Sunday Rhode Island will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Central Falls High School, 24 Summer St.; the Flanagan Campus of the Community College of Rhode Island in Lincoln; the CCRI Newport campus; and the CCRI Liston Campus at One Hilton St. in Providence.

Last year College Goal Sunday helped 160 Rhode Island Students complete the FAFSA. This year, College Goal Sunday has been expanded to encourage more students to apply for college financial aid. Students and parents can register for the event and get more information at www.collegegoalri.org. A complete list of the items a student or parent will need to complete the FAFSA form is available on the Web site noted. Students and parents are encouraged to arrive early because the event will start promptly at 1:30 p.m.

Simpson said the program is directed to "reach out to as many students as possible." The service is provided at not cost. So that counselors will be able to assess the full extent of available funding, Simpson, who is the Chief Financial and Compliance Officer of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority asked that parents bring a copy of their 2007 tax return, W2 Form or pay stub.

RIASFAA is a not-for-profit professional association of student financial administrators working at both public and private higher education institutions located in Rhode Island.†The Lumina Foundation funds college Goal Sunday.

Simpson serves as the State Co-Coordinator along with Wynette Richardson from Brown University for this event. Greg Silva from Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority is past president of RIASFAA and is site coordinator for the event.