Financial aid stories

Krista Olson, a 35-year-old mother of two, lost three jobs within the span of a year before she decided to enroll at Riverland Community College and study accounting.

Now, she's taking courses through Bemidji State University. She had help from a federal Pell Grant.

"Everything about my life has changed," said Olson.

Olson was in the library at the college Friday morning, sharing her story with a few other Riverland students and officials and 1st District Rep. Tim Walz, who came to the college to talk about recent changes to federal financial aid programs. The health care bill that President Obama signed this spring means 100 percent of the student aid funding from the direct loan program will come directly from the federal government, eliminating banks and private lenders. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the change will help save $61 billion over 10 years.

The maximum amount of the Pell Grant will increase and income-based repayment will go into effect in 2014.

Walz said he wanted to visit Riverland because it has seen 13 percent growth, many of them older than traditional college-age students.