June/July 2001 Online Publication

	return to table of contents	WASFAA Conference 2001... by Cub Reporter Diane Rooney, DeVry Institute of Technology This was my first WASFAA Conference. I checked out the WASFAA web site and ended up getting help with the registration process from Addalou Davis and Toni DuBois. I then eagerly waited for April 21! I contacted my former co-workers from Southern California and no one I knew was going to the Conference. I work for DeVry Institute of Technology and transferred from our three Southern California campuses to our newest campus in Federal Way, Washington. We will open for classes on July 16, 2001. I was a little apprehensive, since I did not know anyone else who would be attending from the schools. I knew a couple of vendors, and had spoken to our new lender representatives in Washington who would be at WASFAA. While waiting for the van at the airport I met two women headed for the conference. From that moment on, I was not alone anymore! Everywhere I went I found everyone to be friendly and welcoming, as a first time attendee and with DeVry being welcomed to Washington state. I met many vendors and attendees while roaming the vending area, at all the meals, the sessions, and relaxing between events. I learned about the vendors and their companies, services, and products. I learned about other schools and how their financial aid offices are structured, what software they use and the responsibilities of various staff members. The entertainment was superb - from the speakers, to the Taiko Dan Drummers, to the musicians. The updates were informative for all of us. June Cline's presentation, "Strike it Rich with Humor" and Dr. Maryellen Lipinski's session, "Skating on the Edge of Change" were both informative, uplifting and humorous, while delivering some good information and ideas for us to use at work and in our personal lives. All of the sessions I attended were educational. I wish I could have attended several at the same time - it was hard to decide which one to attend for each time slot! A special thanks to July Saling for asking me to be a Cub Reporter for WASFAA. The only challenge I had was to make the film last throughout the length of the conference! I'll see you next year in Boise, Idaho. I was thrilled to win the National Student Loan Program's (NSLP) prize, which is my conference fee for next year! That was a wonderful end to a very productive three days.
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