A first-generation college student from the small agricultural town of Benton City, Kasey Sigaran entered an unfamiliar world when she enrolled at Eastern Washington University.

Among the challenges was the application for financial aid, with which Sigaran said she “had a lot of issues.” So, when it came time to reapply, she sought help from Rocio Rangel, director of the university’s College Assistance Migrant Program.

“I remember I came in super scared, and I talked to Rocio, and we did it in, like, 15 minutes,” Sigaran said. “So that was such a great relief, because I never thought I could experience it like that, but she made everything very easy.”

The assistance applying for financial aid is just one of the ways the program has helped Sigaran navigate college life in Cheney. Between

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