Well, it has been quite a year for all of us, I'm sure, with computer changes, regulations, mergers, process analysis, data tracking, reporting, and so many issues to manage.

As I think about our profession and my term as president, which will soon be ending, and as I prepare to hand over the reins to Cristi, I have—among many concerns for the association—one main hope. I hope that among the many technical and legal concerns we face as financial aid professionals, that we will all remember our real purpose is to provide the means to an education for potentially great students who could otherwise not pursue a higher education. All we do must serve that purpose.

Along with this, I hope that as an association we can continue to work together combining and sharing our knowledge and experience for the greater good. A collective voice is much louder than any individual whisper. I also hope that the start of a new year finds each of you well and getting back to a somewhat normal work load.

Todd Milovich