Coffee with KHEAA

Welcome to another episode of Coffee with KHEAA! In this episode, we're joined by Audrey Price, Director of Financial Aid at Lindsey Wilson University, KASFAA President and Kentucky representative on the SASFAA Board.

Filmed live at the KASFAA Fall Conference in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Audrey shares her journey in financial aid, how she became involved in professional associations and what serving in leadership has meant to her. We discuss the value of getting involved with organizations like KASFAA and SASFAA, building professional connections, continuing education and creating a welcoming community for financial aid professionals at every stage of their careers.

Audrey also shares why investing in staff development and conference attendance matters, how professional networks help financial aid administrators navigate an ever-changing industry and what's ahead for KASFAA, including its upcoming 60th anniversary celebration.

Whether you're new to financial aid or a seasoned professional, there's something to learn from Audrey's experience and perspective.

Interested in getting involved with KASFAA? Visit KASFAA.com to learn more about membership, volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.

Welcome to another episode of Coffee with KHEAA! In this episode, we’re joined by Bill DeBaun and Alessandra Cipriani-Detres from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) to discuss the work being done to expand access to higher education and help more students achieve their college and career goals. From college access and affordability to FAFSA completion and student success, NCAN works with organizations across the country to help remove barriers to postsecondary education. Join us as we explore the importance of connecting students with the resources, information, and support they need to pursue their futures. Thanks to Bill and Alessandra for joining us for a conversation about advancing educational opportunities for students! Learn more about NCAN: https://www.ncan.org/ Subscribe to KHEAA for more conversations, resources and information about higher education and financial aid.

Join Casi Benedict and the KHEAA Outreach team for a special edition of Coffee with KHEAA, recorded live from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Conference in Las Vegas! Casi is joined by Brandon Brown, Zach Smith and Montanna McClain to recap their conference experience, share their biggest takeaways and discuss what Kentucky is doing to support students on their paths to higher education. From creative ways to boost student engagement and new resources for students to the importance of preventing burnout, the team shares ideas they’re excited to bring back to Kentucky. They also discuss the value of connecting with fellow college access professionals, learning from other states and building relationships that last beyond the conference. For Montanna, the conference app helped turn conversations into lasting connections, earning her a free trip to next year’s conference in Baltimore! Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at NCAN, the power of collaboration and the people who make college access work so meaningful.

What does it really take to stand out in the college admissions process? In this episode of Coffee with KHEAA, Casi and Brandi sit down with school counselor, educational leader, author and college access advocate Priscilla Grijalva to talk about what students and families should know when preparing for life after high school. Priscilla shares insight from her experience as a college admissions reader, including what makes an application stand out, why students should focus on the impact of their experiences, and how to tell their story authentically. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI in college admissions and where students should draw the line between using AI as a tool and allowing it to replace their own voice. Plus, Priscilla discusses her book, 10 Lessons for Postsecondary Access and Building Systems for Underrepresented Youth, her work expanding opportunities for students, and why celebrating every student's path, whether college, career, military service, apprenticeships or other training, matters. And, of course, there’s plenty of coffee talk along the way!

BUY PRISCILLA'S BOOK!

"10 Lessons for Postsecondary Access: Building Systems of Hope for Underrepresented Youth"

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0582hzNK

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/10-lessons-for-postsecondary-access-priscilla-grijalva/1150237071?ean=9798234047403 

The FAFSA is now open! On this special episode of Coffee with KHEAA, Casi and Brandi sit down with Neeta Sonalkar, Executive Director of the FAFSA Program at Federal Student Aid, to talk about what’s new for the 2027–28 FAFSA and what students, families and college access professionals need to know.

Neeta shares updates on the latest FAFSA improvements, including open beta testing, real-time results, simplified account creation, family FAFSA features, contributor invitations by text and upcoming renewal enhancements. The conversation also covers identity verification and fraud prevention, how Federal Student Aid is working with students and practitioners, and the importance of making the FAFSA easier and less intimidating.

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the FAFSA, what’s changing and how these updates can help more students access financial aid and opportunities for college.

What’s the difference between the new Repayment Assistance Plan and the Tiered Standard Repayment Plan? Which plan might make sense for different borrowers? And what should students and families know before choosing how they’ll repay their federal student loans?

In this episode of Coffee with KHEAA, Casi Benedict, Brandi Forker and Connor Vogt dive into the newest student loan repayment options, including income-based payments, interest protection, principal matching, forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. They also discuss the importance of choosing a repayment plan based on your income, career path and loan balance.

Plus, the team talks about FAFSA beta testing, KHEAA’s partnership with Kentucky ACAC for the College Counselor Information Exchange, the upcoming Super Conference and some memorable stories from years of traveling for work.

Whether you’re a student, parent, counselor or financial aid professional, this episode is packed with information to help you better understand the changing student loan landscape.

In this special Kentucky State Fair episode of Coffee with KHEAA, Casi and Brandi take the podcast outside the office for a conversation filled with fair food, questionable carnival rides and important updates for students and families.

They discuss FAFSA beta testing and what to expect ahead of the full FAFSA launch, new federal student loan limits and professional degree definitions, record FAFSA completion rates for the Class of 2026, changes to Kentucky’s Dual Credit Scholarship and the new 2.75 high school GPA requirement for earning KEES money.

Plus, the hosts share their favorite Kentucky State Fair foods and some unforgettable stories about carnival rides.

Whether you're here for the financial aid news or just want to hear a few laughs about summer in Kentucky, there's something for everyone in this special Coffee with KHEAA" episode. Subscribe to stay up to date with college planning advice, financial aid tips, and KHEAA news. Learn more at kheaa.com Follow us on Facebook

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This special summer edition of Coffee with KHEAA comes to you from our annual outreach staff training at the lake—where the coffee has been replaced with cold drinks! Cassie and Brandy share a fun conversation about favorite summer memories, ice cream, pools, and all things Kentucky before diving into important updates for students and families. In this episode, we discuss: What happens at KHEAA's twice-yearly outreach staff training and why ongoing professional development matters. Creative team projects and collaboration across Kentucky. The latest developments surrounding federal student loan legislation, negotiated rulemaking, and new repayment plan changes. Updates from the ACT Summit, including the recent acquisition of ACT by ETS. What borrowers should know about changing repayment options and why checking your StudentAid.gov account is more important than ever. Whether you're here for the financial aid news or just want to hear a few laughs about summer in Kentucky, there's something for everyone in this special "Cold Drinks with KHEAA" episode. Subscribe to stay up to date with college planning advice, financial aid tips, and KHEAA news. Learn more at kheaa.com 

Grab a cup of coffee and join us for one of our most entertaining episodes yet!

This month, we're joined by our friends from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for a conversation that's equal parts higher education and hilarious detours. From Garth Brooks and Nashville stories to direct admissions, FAFSA, Tennessee Promise, and the future of college, this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and meaningful conversations.

We discuss how Kentucky and Tennessee are working to improve college access, the biggest challenges students face when planning and paying for college, the growing role of direct admissions, and what the future of higher education could look like. Along the way, we compare programs in both states, share advice for students and families beginning the college planning process, and even hear some exciting news about a brand-new podcast launching from our friends in Tennessee.

Whether you're a student, parent, educator, counselor, or simply enjoy a fun conversation, this episode has something for everyone.

Thanks for joining us for another episode of Coffee with KHEAA! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

This week on Coffee with KHEAA, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what KHEAA Outreach does during the summer months.

While schools may be out, our Outreach Counselors are still hard at work helping students, families, and communities across Kentucky. From library story times and summer camps to college orientations and FAFSA assistance, we discuss how our team stays connected and continues supporting students year-round.

Plus, we kick things off with a fun coffee talk about everyone's favorite summer cookout foods, from hot dogs and potato salad to pasta salad and the great charcoal vs. gas grill debate!

Whether you're a student, parent, educator, or community partner, this episode highlights the many ways KHEAA Outreach is here to help, even when school isn't in session.