(Washington, DC) March 7, 2007 —The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) recognized Representative Tom Petri (R-WI) as a “Friend of College Access” at the association’s annual legislative conference in Washington, DC.
NACAC members, led by the association’s Government Relations Committee, honored Representative Petri for his continued efforts to improve college access through innovation in the federal student aid programs.
As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, Representative Petri has played a leading role in bipartisan effort to make common-sense reforms to the student loan programs and, in so doing, generate more funding for need-based financial aid, one of NACAC’s top federal college access priorities. One of Petri’s most significant contributions is the development of the Student Aid Reward (STAR) Act, which NACAC has endorsed.
“Representative Petri’s commitment to college access is outstanding,” said Mary Lee Hoganson, NACAC president. “His innovative, bipartisan approach to education policymaking gives us hope that, with his help, we can achieve great strides toward improving college access in the 110th Congress. We are pleased to recognize him for his efforts, both past and present.”
"I very much appreciate receiving recognition for my efforts to make student loans work better and be more cost-effective both for students and taxpayers" said Petri. "Being recognized helps me to move necessary reforms forward. At the end of the day, however, who gets the credit is far less important than actually getting the job done, and I'm thankful for all the support NACAC is providing for that effort."
Jim Miller, member of NACAC’s Board of Directors and Coordinator of Institutional and Enrollment Research at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, said, “We are proud to honor Representative Petri for his dedication to improving college access. His leadership will brighten the college access prospects of students in Wisconsin and across the nation.”
About NACAC:
NACAC is an Alexandria, VA-based education association of more than 9,800 secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.