Camden Education Fund and NJ Children’s Foundation Announce Challenge to Kick-Start  Momentum-Building Year for College Enrollment

The 2024 “FAFSA Challenge” will kick off on Thursday morning with a friendly competition between Camden and Newark to empower local students and fuel higher education aspirations. The challenge will be endorsed at dueling press conferences scheduled for January 23 by Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, with the goal to increase Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates and open doors to postsecondary success. 

In partnership with Camden Education Fund, the NJ Children’s Foundation and the City of Camden and Newark, Camden and Newark public high schools will compete for the highest completion rate by city. In total, $70,000 will be awarded with each sponsoring organization allocating $30,000 apiece to the schools with the highest completion rates in their respective cities. In addition, the organization in the losing city will pay an extra $10,000 to the winning city’s organization to be distributed to participating schools.  

“As leaders, we recognize the transformative power of education. The FAFSA Challenge is a rallying cry for our youth, unlocking the doors to a world of possibilities through accessible financial aid and academic support,” said Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen.

“Education is the cornerstone of our nation’s future. The FAFSA Challenge underscores our commitment to providing every student in Camden the opportunity to pursue higher education and build a brighter tomorrow,” said Giana Campbell, executive director of Camden Education Fund. 

In 2022, Camden Education Fund and City of Camden launched the FAFSA Challenge, a citywide competition across district, renaissance, and charter high schools. The challenge awarded the public high school with the highest percentage of seniors to complete the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid application, a $25,000 prize at Citywide College Signing Day.

The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) officially opened on Sunday, December 31, 2023, for students who plan to attend college. Seniors who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in higher education, persist in their college coursework, and successfully obtain a degree.

Schools can track their progress throughout the competition on the FAFSA Tracker website.