Graduate uses Facebook to find financial aid

LAS VEGAS: American student Devin Valencia, the first member of his family to graduate college, hopes that others will do the same with his winning idea for a Facebook application to find financial assistance.

The idea won the 24 year old female Nevada a national competition and a price of $ 10,000 a challenge Affordable College in San Diego, where the goal was to find ways to simplify the funding process.

His idea is based on demographic and personal data on Facebook users to lead to scholarships and grants that match their backgrounds and interests.

The request, which could be launched by the end of the year, would also allow young people to share information with other users on sources of help.

"Children feel discouraged, especially if they have no one to guide them," said Valencia, who graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2009.

Her parents did not go beyond high school and his father, an immigrant from Mexico, has a taco shop in Las Vegas. When she wanted to go to college, his parents did not know how to help.

"I did something that my kids could use a day," she said.

The challenge was developed by the cable channel MTV and the College Board, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award was presented on Saturday.

Two-thirds of students say they are a difficult financial aid application, and up to 2 million students a year who might be eligible do not apply because they do not know what is there, said spokesman Jason Rzepka MTV.

"People have difficulty navigating the system. One way we can play a role in making the process easier, "he said. - (Reuters)