Text #askbenji to (602) 786-8171 to see what Benji can do for you!
Educator Toolkit
Here you can find Ask Benji and FAFSA-related resources to share with students and families, training events, ways to engage with Ask Benji, and more!
Engage staff, students, and families with Ask Benji’s Media Kit!
Download and share official Ask Benji assets from our media kit to increase awareness of Ask Benji, including:
Flyers, Handouts, and Posters
Social Media
Videos
Logos & More
Resources for you & your team
Send a Message to Students From Benji
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Do you have a "custom nudge" message you would like to send to your students via Benji’s chat platform relating to FAFSA events and the college-going process? Please submit your request at least two to four weeks in advance so our team can review your submission.
Questions? Email Lizette, Ask Benji's engagement coordinator, at lblancas@educationforwardarizona.org
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Want to see what messages are being sent out or Benji's travels across the state?
Learning Opportunities for Counselors & Educators
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Hello Friends,
Below is the information for our first event for the 26-27 AY cycle, more to come.
Event title: 26–27 Prep: New FAFSA & Promise Program Updates
August 19th, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nU7p4nirTpyf9TEw78_www
Our team is finalizing the topics that you all suggested last season, and our Lunch & Learns will continue to be one hour, once a month on Wednesdays, virtually from August through March (11:30 AM to 12:30 PM). Final titles and dates will be released shortly.
Thank you for taking a moment to share your ideas!
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All our 2025-26 Lunch & Learn events are recorded, and notes are posted below for those who were not able to attend.
August 13th: Effective Messaging to Students & Families: College, Financial Aid, & FAFSA? I 🎦 Zoom I 📂 Slide Deck
September 24th l Tri-University Admission Updates (What You Need to Know)🎓 🎦 Zoom I 📂Slide Deck
October 22nd l FAFSA 2026–27 Updates with ABOR + Special Guest: Maricopa Community Foundation 🎦Zoom l 📂Slide Deck
November 19th l Scholarships 101: Finding Funding For Every Future 🎦 Zoom l 📂Slide Deck & ACF 2026 Scholarship Flyer
January 21st l Expanding Access: Dual Enrollment & Student Support 🎦 Zoom l 📂Slide Deck
February 25th l Arizona’s Community Colleges: Hidden Gems for Career & College Pathways 🎦 Zoom l 📂Slide Deck
March 25th l AZ Department of Education Updates & Special Guest AFFCF 🎦 Zoom l 📂Slide Deck
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Lunch & Learns is our monthly virtual convening of high school counselors, leadership, educators, and college access professionals across AZ to exchange updates, share best practices, and collaborate.
Eating is required! 😉
Recordings
Updates from AZ Dept. Education: March 26th (3/26/25) 📺 Zoom recording | 📂 Slide Deck
AZ College Updates: Maricopa Community College and Eastern Arizona College (2/19/25) 📺 Zoom recording | 📂 Slide Deck
Pre-College 🎓and Summer Opportunities for High School Students (1/22/25) 📺 YouTube recording | 📂 Slide Deck
Innovations in Postsecondary Advising (11/20/24) 📺 Zoom recording (Passcode: d$R1g9Yb)| 📂 Slide Deck
FAFSA Completion Secrets Unlocked (9/25/24) 📺 YouTube recording | 📂 Slide Deck | 📄 FSA ID forms
Postsecondary Planning Resources and Updates (8/14/24) 📺 Zoom recording | 📂 Slide Deck
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April 2024 Spring Training is in the works! If you have any feedback on what we should include, leave us a note at the bottom of this webpage.
Let’s get ahead of the game and score a home run with our statewide college-going efforts.
Review recordings from our annual Spring Training Counselor Event, held on April 19, 2023, to learn more about:
Better FAFSA
Prop 308
CCRI
Postsecondary success for students with disabilities
and more!
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Recordings
📺 4 yr College Programs & Tribal College Updates|📂 Slide Deck (08/30/23)📺 TRI U Admission Updates | 📂 Slide Deck (09/20/23)
📺 ABOR’s AZ College Connect Updates | 📂 Slide Deck (10/25/23)
📺 Better FAFSA Update & Resources | 📂 Slide Deck (11/15/23)
📺 Better FAFSA “Best” Practices | 📂 Slide Deck (1/17/24)
📺 Summer Programs (College & University Resources) | 📂 Slide Deck (2/21/24)
📺 ECAP Overview with ADE | 📂 Slide Deck (3/27/24)
NEW FAFSA 2025-26 Training
2026-27 FAFSA Resources
Up-to-date FAFSA resources: AzCAN FAFSA Resource Hub
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2026–27 FAFSA Updates – What You Need to Know Thursday, September 18, 2025, 10 AM - 11 AM
Get ready for the next FAFSA cycle with the latest updates to the 2026–27 FAFSA form and what they mean for the way you support students and families. Learn about the new instant verification process for creating a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID). Also, guidance on the updated contributor invite process so parents, guardians, and others can complete their portions smoothly.
After the FAFSA – What Happens Next? Thursday, September 25, 2025, 10 AM - 11 AM
Submitting the FAFSA is just the beginning! This session covers what happens after students hit “submit,” so you can guide them through the next steps with confidence. Learn how to understand the FAFSA Submission Summary and its role, how colleges use the Student Aid Index (SAI), and review financial aid award letters, etc.
Arizona College Connect – New Features & Tools for FAFSA Success Thursday, October 2, 2025, 10 AM - 11 AM
Whether you’re new to Arizona College Connect or a long-time user, discover how the latest updates make it even easier to track FAFSA progress and drive strategic outreach. Access real-time student-level FAFSA data to identify who needs follow-up. Learn how to turn data into action to boost FAFSA completion rates, and much more.
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2025-26 FAFSA Overview for New Counselors | Oct 31, 2024 | Slide Deck
What to Expect with the 2025-26 FAFSA | Nov 7, 2024 | Recording & Slide Deck
Next Steps to Success: Guiding Students After FAFSA Submission | Nov 14, 2024 | Recording & Slide Deck
Arizona College Connect: New Features and System Enhancements | Nov 21, 2024, 10:00-11:00 AM | Registration
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Preparing for the Better FAFSA: Learn about the latest changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA and how to create an FSA ID, including the new process for parents without a social security number, in this engaging training webinar. Watch Recording Here
FAFSA 101 - Form Overview and Pell Eligibility: Gain clarity on which parent information is required, learn how to support special student populations, review the FAFSA Submission Summary and master the verification process. Watch Recording Here
FAFSA 201 - Advanced FAFSA Topics: This training will provide a demo of the 2024-25 FAFSA, details on the new SAI calculation to determine Pell Grant eligibility and additional updates and information to know about the new Better FAFSA form. Watch Recording Here
Arizona College Connect - New FAFSA Database Enhancements & Updates: Discover the powerful features of the Arizona College Connect FAFSA database and learn how to leverage your student-level FAFSA data for strategic outreach to high school seniors. Watch Recording Here
Opportunities for you, your school & student
Counselor and school opportunities
College Access Professionals (CAP) Training
AzCAN’s College Access Professional (CAP) Trainings are for professionals who help students prepare for and be successful in postsecondary education.
Earn recertification hours
Join online discussions with peers
Complete an action plan that contributes to the college-going culture of your school or organization
Student Opportunities
Education Forward Arizona - Scholarship Links
Since 2005, Education Forward Arizona has worked with students enrolled in postsecondary education across Arizona to provide support services that empower them to persist and thrive through college and beyond.
A college education can be transformative. Earning a certificate or degree opens doors to personal and professional opportunities and greater economic and social mobility.
EFA works with partners to administer the following scholarship opportunities:
Need something you don’t see?
Need something else to promote Benji and increase FAFSA completion? Let us know! We are always looking for innovative ways to support you.