Travels with Nick

Submitted by Nick Prewett, MASFAA Past President

Representing MASFAA on the state conference circuit has been a highlight of my service as president.  As you know, MASFAA consists of nine states and the MASFAA presidents split up the
states and visit three conferences per year.  I was even lucky enough to visit one state twice!  Through my travels, I drove 2,080 miles and flew 7,642 miles.  I had the distinct pleasure of attending four 50th anniversary parties and celebrating all things that are financial aid association related.  I thought I would share something that I will always treasure from my state visits.

Indiana (January 2017): I will recall Indiana as the first state that I visited.  The memory I will always treasure is cruising around greater Indy with Alex DeLonis in his sweet vanilla smelling car as fluffy flakes of snow fell from the sky.

Illinois (April 2017): This was an exciting conference in the suburbs of Chicago.  By far, Illinois had a unique set-up for snacks at a conference with different types of beef jerky.  A shout out to Michelle Trame for letting me ride in the third row (or torture row) of her SUV.  I am sure that my back and I will always remember that.

Minnesota (May 2017): When I think of Minnesota I think of lakes, so of course this was held at Madden’s on Gull Lake.  I am not sure you could get much more stereotypical Minnesota than having a conference on a lake, with pontoon boats, fried walleye, glow in the dark golf, bingo, and a buffet of hot dishes.

West Virginia (November 2017): Any visit to West Virginia is not complete without listening to some John Denver.  I will never forget attending the board meeting and someone saying that the board is just like Mayberry, where everyone has different hats and they trade them around the table each year.  What a fun place to visit is Charleston.  Who doesn’t love Karaoke at a conference?

Missouri (November 2017): This was by far the largest state conference that I attended and had pomp and circumstance associated more with the Academy Awards than a conference.  There was a red carpet walk, photographers, tuxedos, and stars of the past, present, and future.

Michigan (January 2018): The Henry Hotel in Dearborn overlooks the Ford offices and is in a great location.  This was the 2nd 50th that I was able to attend.  Professional casino games, great charities, and cool sessions.  I could even see Canada from my hotel room.

Iowa (April 2018): Iowa stands out for their 50th, not because they brought back their past presidents, but because they also brought back their first IASFAA president.  Dueling pianos led by the son of a former financial aid director lead you to one heck of a celebration.  I also learned that in Iowa adding a lime to Busch Light was a way to “make it a classy beer.”

Ohio (October 2018): 50th parties and casino themes seem to be a thing.  OASFAA threw a formal night and had their past presidents share some inspirational quotes and inside jokes that made a number of people blush.  As a first, the entertainment crew had so much fun that they stayed late at no charge.

Wisconsin (April 2019): When I heard that WASFAA was going to be held in Green Bay, I hoped there was one activity that we’d have, so of course, we were able to tour Lambeau field!  Financial aid folks at a football stadium is one heck of a party.  WASFAA had a number of new attendees and the future of their association looks bright.  If you were curious, there was a lot of cheese to be found at the conference.   

Iowa (April 2019): IASFAA was worth a second trip to discuss the finer points of financial aid.  I learned a great deal about Bacon, the maple kind, or as most people call it Bacon.

It was a great pleasure to serve MASFAA and meet so many great people throughout the MASFAA region.  I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity and become active in our association and you too may have a once in a lifetime experience.

MASFAA Member Spotlight!

One of the tasks of the Summer Institute faculty is to identify a winner of MASFAA's Haywood Legacy Scholarship, an award that provides for registration to the MASFAA conference and membership dues for the upcoming year. This week, it is our pleasure to introduce you to a newcomer to our profession - Vie Ward from University of Illinois, the 2017 Haywood Legacy Scholarship recipient!



How did you get started in financial aid?

I began my career in higher education as an admissions counselor where I enjoyed the atmosphere and energy of a college campus. I then stepped away from higher education and moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I worked at the headquarters for a startup ride-sharing company. During my time there, I was drawn to understanding the complexities of how the mobile app operated from engineering, to product management, to customer service.

Pairing my tech and higher education backgrounds, I knew working in financial aid would allow me to stay challenged by learning the intricacies of a new system, while holding on to my passion for helping others.

What did you study in college? What drew you to that subject?

I have a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies with an interpersonal emphasis. I've always been fascinated with how humans communicate with one another across various mediums and wanted to study something I would use every single day.

What advice do you have for someone new to financial aid?

In my short time in the field, I have learned that financial aid is ever-changing. My advice would be to allow yourself time to develop a strong foundation for financial aid concepts so that adapting to change will be that much easier. Be sure to lean on your colleagues and supervisors for advice and guidance. And lastly, have fun!

What keeps you motivated when you are having a difficult day at the office?

I stay motivated by remembering the critical role we play in contributing to student success. We all work hard to guide students and families through the financial aid process and even during difficult situations, we help to explore alternative solutions. During the busier or more stressful times, I take a deep breath and remember why I am here and the importance of my role.

What do you enjoy doing outside work? 

Outside of the office I love to spend time with my family. My son began crawling at the beginning of August and it's been wonderful to see him move around so much!

Are there any fun facts that would surprise someone who just met you?

I'm a singer/songwriter and play piano, guitar, harmonica and ukulele. I have auditioned for roles on the TV shows "Glee" and "Nashville". I was also on my college's table tennis team and once lost in a regional tournament to a 9-year-old!

Thank you, Vie, for sharing a bit about yourself with the MASFAA membership. We encourage those attending the conference to say hello and welcome this new member.


The Haywood Legacy Scholarship, established by former MASFAA president Zina Haywood, is awarded to one person of color to attend the annual MASFAA conference. The recipient is selected from amongst Summer Institute attendees by the SI faculty. MASFAA is grateful to Ms. Haywood for her continued support of both MASFAA and the professional development of people of color.