Statewide Push Aims To Maximize Distribution of Financial Aid to Students
New York State Offers Resources To Support Students and Families in Navigating FAFSA and TAP Application Process
Governor Kathy Hochul is urging students to complete both the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application to maximize the availability of student financial aid heading into the fall college semester. The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the State University of New York (SUNY), and the City University of New York (CUNY) have events, resources, and hands-on support to help students complete these critical applications and access the financial aid for which they are eligible.
"Ensuring access to higher education is essential to building a stronger, more equitable future for all New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "By completing the FAFSA and TAP applications, students open the door to critical financial aid opportunities that can make college more affordable and achievable. I encourage every student and family to take advantage of the resources available and secure the support they need to invest in their education and future success."
Last year, New York students left over $200 million in federal aid unclaimed because they didn’t submit a FAFSA. Submitting a FAFSA is a key step in unlocking federal student aid, including Pell Grants, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans. It also opens the doors to many New York State grants and scholarships like TAP, Excelsior and the NYS STEM Incentive Program, which help make college more affordable for thousands of New Yorkers every year.
Thanks to Governor Hochul’s landmark Universal FAFSA legislation, New York currently ranks sixth in the nation for FAFSA completions — with 62 percent of high school seniors having completed the form — compared to the national average of 56.5 percent. This marks a significant jump from the same time last year, when New York ranked 11th nationally, with a completion rate of 58.1 percent.
A complete list of New York State Grants and Scholarship programs is available on the Higher Education Services Corporation website.
Thanks to these enhancements, New York’s Part-Time TAP further expands opportunities by making higher education more accessible for students who choose to pursue their degree on a part-time basis. Available to students attending SUNY, CUNY, proprietary and independent degree-granting colleges, Part-Time TAP can now be awarded to those enrolled in as few as three credits per term.
New York State is committed to ensuring that students and families have the guidance and support they need to successfully navigate the financial aid process. Virtual and in-person FAFSA and TAP completion events offer one-on-one assistance, while additional resources, such as CUNY’s online FAFSA Guide, provide step-by-step instructions. Through its FAFSA Ready program, HESC also equips high school counselors with specialized training and tools to better assist students in accessing the aid they need.
To help make state financial aid accessible to all eligible New York students, HESC provides three pathways for applying: the FAFSA, the NYS DREAM Act, and the Alternate Eligibility Pathway. A quick and easy prescreening tool is available to help students and families determine which option is right for them.
For assistance with completing the FAFSA and TAP applications, students and families can visit the HESC website, which offers a variety of tools, resources, and information on upcoming events to support them throughout the financial aid process.
Defendant Fired 13 Shots in Pelham Parkway Houses in Broad Daylight; Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for Attempted Murder for firing a gun into a crowd of people, injuring four men who were innocent bystanders.
District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant was 17 years old when he callously fired 13 shots into a crowd of people in broad daylight. He missed his intended targets, and four men were wounded by bullets. They will carry the emotional trauma of their injuries for the rest of their lives. It is a miracle that no one was killed.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Isaac Garcia, 20, of East 181st Street, the Bronx, was sentenced to seven years in prison and five years post release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Seth Steed. The People had recommended a sentence of nine years in prison and five years post release supervision. Garcia pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the second degree on May 15, 2025.
According to the investigation, on September 9, 2022, at approximately 4:40 P.M., Garcia, an associate of the “1300” gang, got into a fight down the street from his school, Pelham Preparatory Academy on Astor Avenue. Garcia contacted a gang associate and told him that he needed a gun. After retrieving a 9-mm pistol, Garcia went to the Pelham Parkway Houses and fired 13 shots. Four men in their 20s were struck by bullets: one victim was hit in the leg, two victims were each shot in the buttocks, and the other victim was struck by three bullets in his right leg. The shooting was captured on video surveillance.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Kyle Keiser of the 49th Precinct Detective Squad, NYPD Officer Christopher Multari of the Evidence Collection Team, Jonathan Ortiz of the NYPD’s Tapes and Records Unit and Luis Santiago of NYCHA for their work on the case.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Jacob Gianelli, and Lieutenant Benjamin Nelson of the Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section for their assistance with the case.
A federal jury in the Eastern District of New York convicted Joel David Forney, 42, of Kissimmee, Florida, on two counts of sex trafficking and related charges for his conduct in trafficking two women to work in commercial sex in New York, including at an open-air sex trafficking market along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in Brooklyn known as the Penn Track, as well as the defendant’s transportation of a woman from New York to multiple other states, including Connecticut and Wisconsin, with the intent that she engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Forney was also found guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor for having sexual intercourse with a teenager when he was 31 years old.
“The defendant used violence and threats to force victims into commercial sex for his profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such inhumane conduct has no place in a civilized society. The Justice Department is committed to combating human trafficking and securing justice for its victims.”
“The jury found that Forney used violence and threats to compel women to engage in commercial sex acts at the Penn Track for his own profit, and enticed a vulnerable minor into having sex with him,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our office will relentlessly pursue those, like the defendant, who engage in sex trafficking, and I commend the survivors of Forney’s depraved conduct who bravely assisted law enforcement in bringing him to justice.”
“Joel Forney’s actions inflicted lasting harm on his victims through violence, coercion and manipulation,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting everyone in our communities, and we hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure to the victims.”
Evidence at trial showed that Forney used false promises to lure women into his trafficking network. The defendant then compelled these women to have sex with multiple men per day for money, while keeping the proceeds for himself. If the women refused to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit, the defendant subjected them to physical abuse and threatened to hurt or kill them if they did not comply.
The evidence also showed that the defendant lured a third victim to his home by sending her romantic and sexual text messages. Once in his house, the defendant had sex with the victim, even though he was 31 years old at the time and she knew no more than 15. Forney then sent the victim text messages that implied he was recruiting her for commercial sex.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Forney faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the FBI NYPD Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Elbert and Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the conviction of DANIEL V. SMITH of first-degree murder. SMITH was convicted by a jury following a trial before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern and will be sentenced on December 4, 2025. SMITH faces a mandatory life sentence.
“Daniel V. Smith murdered a fellow inmate in cold blood at FCI Otisville by brutally beating him in the head with a lock tied to a belt,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Thanks to the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for his heinous crime.”
According to the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in court:
On October 26, 2021, SMITH was incarcerated at FCI Otisville, where he was serving a sentence related to a prior assault he committed in 2013 while incarcerated. To obtain a transfer to a different housing unit, SMITH, without provocation, brutally attacked another inmate—housed in the cell next to his own—by swinging a lock tied to a belt and striking his victim in the head repeatedly, cracking open the victim’s skull. The inmate suffered traumatic brain injury, fell into a vegetative state, and died from his injuries.
SMITH, 65, of Otisville, New York, was convicted of one count of murder in the first degree, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Mr. Clayton thanked the staff of FCI Otisville for their assistance and praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force.
The summer sun and balmy nights seem endless until the tail end of August creeps up on us. In this bittersweet moment of the season, find some shade under a tree and tuck away memories in the gaps of sunlight that flitter through the leaves. Wave Hill is the perfect place to bring your loved ones and enjoy the meaningful moments you’ve had together. Reflect on the moments of laughter with family, the strangers that became dear friends, and our communities that encouraged us to blossom. Press pause on life and find solace in the lingering warmth of summer and the serene gardens.
Garden Highlights Walk
Take a leisurely guided walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide to observe summer garden highlights. All are welcome!
Art:
Public Gallery Tour
Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view in Glyndor Gallery and in the Sunroom Project Space, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden between nature, culture and site.
Family:
Stories in the Garden
Family Art Project: Buzzing Bee Hives
Buzz into the fascinating world of bees and their incredible homes. Craft your own miniature bee hives using upcycled materials. Learn about life in the hive and the vital roles bees play in our ecosystem. At 11:30am families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome.
Special Events:
Afternoon Tea
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00AM or 1:30PM, enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and delectable pastries with a specialty tea selection served on our Kate French Terrace, provided by our exclusive partner Great Performances. Due to the nature of the event, no substitutions or changes are available.
Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.
