The 700 member Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) recently presented the newly established and annual Edward M. Kennedy Public Service Award to R.I. Congressman Patrick Kennedy the son of the late Senator and also an avid education proponent. Executive Council member Raymond O’Rourke the Director of Financial Aid at Roxbury Community College, shared the award during a recent meeting.

As the Chairman and longtime member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Kennedy helped shape the major federal student aid programs, including Pell Grants in 1972, the Direct Loan program in the 1990s, and the Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants in 2006. After the creation of these aid programs, Senator Kennedy constantly fought to increase funding for student aid and oppose efforts to eliminate or cut funding. It seemed fitting that Kennedy himself should be awarded posthumously the Charles Jack Sheehan Distinguished Service Award as Jack was often called upon by Federal officials for advice and he was influential himself in helping shape Federal legislation and regulation.