2025-2026 Edward M Kennedy Public Service Award
MassEdCo
MASFAA is pleased to award the 2025 Edward M. Kennedy Public Service Award to MassEdCO. This distinguished award recognizes the sustained service of a champion advocating for the needs and rights of underserved individuals while promoting student advocacy within the financial aid profession. MASFAA recognizes MassEdCO, a true champion, for their longstanding commitment to underserved individuals across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
For more than 50 years, MassEdCO provided high-quality service and expert guidance to more than 250,000 clients. Over the years, these services were made possible by a dedicated team who tirelessly assisted low-income, first-generation students and families with post-secondary planning. And, through collaboration with trusted partners across the Commonwealth, MassEdCO expanded its reach into numerous communities, assisting many more students achieve post-secondary success. Sadly, MassEdCO closed its doors on September 30th due to the U.S. Department of Education’s cancellation of their EOC grants.
Established in the 1970’s, MassEdCO was one of the first EOC programs in the country and over the years grew to be one of the largest providers of EOC services across the country assisting thousands of young adults 19 years and older with access to postsecondary opportunities and a path for the future. Their work also supported additional TRIO programs including Education Talent Search and Gear-Up programs assisting low income, underrepresented students in the Worcester, Southbridge, and New Bedford public schools. And in recent years, MassEdCO supported the Higher Education Center at the Boston Public Library. Whether through career exploration tools, college application guidance, FAFSA completion assistance, financial aid counseling, or financial literacy resources, there’s little doubt MassEdCO’s free education and career advising services helped thousands of students make sound academic and career choices.
MASFAA commends MassEdCO’s extraordinary years of service to Commonwealth students and the Massachusetts financial aid community and, moreover, applauds MassEdCO’s dedication to student success that resulted in thousands of underserved individuals achieve a brighter future.