WESTWOOD — In an effort to make graduation regalia more accessible for low-income students, the UCLA Financial Aid & Scholarships Office announced a new supplement to FAFSA that will cover the high costs of graduation sashes. “We hope to cover 100% of the costs of all sashes by offering competitive academic scholarships, state grants, and student loans,” explained George Peterson, the appointed Graduation Sash Department director. A University of California graduate himself, Peterson recalled the pain of having to buy graduation sashes back in the 1990s, when sashes did not cost upwards of $30. “We must note that in order to receive full financial aid and benefits, students must adhere to quarterly unit requirements and file an easy, 12-page addendum to their FAFSA at least one year in advance in order for the aid to be disbursed.” The financial aid program, although not fully implemented at press time, has already received much criticism for its failure to also address the costs of caps, gowns, ceremony tickets, and parking permits.
