2025 ILASFAA Annual Conference
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Conference Dates:
March 26th - March 28th, 2025
Conference Location:
Embassy Suites by Hilton
East Peoria, IL
FAFSA Simplification: The New Sheriff in Town
After a year of navigating the wild terrain of FAFSA Simplification, we’re ready to blaze new trails! Join ILASFAA for a conference packed with valuable knowledge and insights, inspiration and motivational sessions, policy updates, professional development opportunities and so much more!
Saddle up and join us March 26-28, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, in East Peoria, IL.
Bambie Roy
ILASFAA President
Registration Overview
Early bird registration is now live and available until February 28, 2025.
We’re excited to offer free pre-conference NASFAA Credential sessions on Verification and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), providing additional professional development at no extra cost to attendees.
Attendees and Exhibitors have different registration fees. This year we are offering single day registration on Thursday March 27th for individuals who can't attend the entire conference. Members should note that the conference registration fee does not include ILASFAA's annual Institutional Membership. Membership fees will be collected in June 2025.
Conference payment is due upon registering and must be paid in full by the first day of the conference.
Attendee Registration Fees
- Early Bird Rate: $275.00 (Register on or before 2/28/2025)
- Standard Rate: $325.00 (Register on or after 3/1/2025)
- Single Day Rate: $200.00 (Only attending Thursday, March 27th, 2025)
Click Here to Register for the Conference
The registration fee for the 2025 conference does not include an annual membership to ILASFAA. Membership fees will be collected in June.
Looking for support in justifying your attendance? Access a clear and concise letter here.
Keynote Session: Mental Health: It’s Like WiFi - When It’s Down, Everything’s a Struggle
Join Manda Riley, founder of Ice Cream Social Work, as she shares practical strategies to improve mental health, refresh your energy, and foster a workplace culture of wellness. This session promises to inspire, energize, and maybe even make you laugh, all while tackling the importance of mental wellness in the workplace.
About Manda Riley
Manda Riley (she/her) is the founder of Ice Cream Social Work, where she brings a blend of high energy, humor, and expertise to professional development and team building.She’s on a mission to make learning as fun as it is impactful—because who says you can't laugh and grow at the same time? A social worker at heart, Manda spent years working in suicide prevention, mental health, stress reduction, compassion fatigue, and helping others find support when they need it most. For the past seven years, she’s expanded her expertise into the wild world of financial aid, working as an advisor, scholarship coordinator, and adjunct faculty teaching financial literacy. In 2021, she proudly earned "Outstanding New Professional of the Year" honors from both her state and regional associations. Manda is passionate about helping teams thrive through inclusive communication, holistic student advising, and PsychoGeometrics® - her signature workshop that strengthens team communication and collaboration. If you're looking to level up your team (and have some laughs along the way), Manda would love to chat with you! Outside of her work transforming teams, Manda proudly embraces her title as a self-care extraordinaire. Her favorite ways to recharge include snuggling with her beagle, Winston, binging podcasts and books, tending to her garden (with an unpredictable success rate), and planning her next travel adventure. Manda is deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the 2024 ILASFAA Conference and is excited to connect with you!
NASFAA's 'Inside the Beltway' with Q&A
Karen McCarthy will be joining us IN PERSON this year on Wednesday, March 26th for NASFAA’s ‘Inside the Beltway’ with Q&A session.
About Karen McCarthy
Vice President of Public Policy and Federal Relations , NASFAA
Karen currently works in NASFAA's division of policy and federal relations, providing a financial aid administrator's "on the ground" perspective to federal student aid policy discussions and debates. She began her career in student aid working in the financial aid offices at several large, four-year institutions, including Boston University, Miami University of Ohio, and The Ohio State University. She began work in NASFAA's training department in 1999 before joining NASFAA's policy team in 2010.
Hotel Accommodation
Embassy Suites by Hilton Reservation Details:
Reservations can be made online via this direct booking link for the conference rate. Book your room early to ensure availability.
- Double Room Rate: $139.00/night
Meal Plan Schedule
| Wednesday, March 26 | |
|---|---|
| Lunch (12:00 – 1:00pm) | Taco Bar Lunch Buffet: Seasoned Beef, Smoked Chicken, Flour Tortilla Shells, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans, Tortilla Chips and Salsa, Lettuce, Shredded Cheese, Pico De Gallo, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Churros Beverages: Iced Tea, Water, Coffee |
| Vendor Meet and Greet & Happy Hour (5:15pm - 6:30pm) | Happy Hour located at the Hotel Bar |
| Dinner (6:30 – 8:00pm) | Back Yard BBQ Dinner Buffet: Salad Bar with 2 Dressings, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Brisket, BBQ Chicken Breast, Corn, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans, Corn Bread, Dessert Display Beverages: Iced Tea, Water, Coffee |
| Entertainment (8:00 – 9:30pm) | Country Hoedown – Cowboy Games, DJ, Line Dancing Cash Bar |
| Thursday, March 27 | |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | On your own or at hotel for hotel guests |
| Lunch (12:00 – 1:00pm) | Sunday Dinner Lunch Buffet: Salad Bar with 2 Dressings, Pasta and Fruit Salad, Tuscan Chicken, Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls and Butter, Assorted Dessert Bar Beverages: Iced Tea, Water, Coffee |
| Break (3:45pm) | Ball Park Snacks: Cracker Jacks, Soft Pretzel Sticks with Pub Cheese, Mini Corn Dogs, Candy Bars Beverages: Assorted Coke Products, Water Station |
| Happy Hour (5:30pm to 6:30pm) | Happy Hour located at the Hotel Bar |
| Dinner (6:00 – 8:00pm) | On your own Restaurant Guide Coming Soon |
| Entertainment (8:00pm) | Trivia Night Cash Bar |
| Friday, March 28 | |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | On your own or at hotel for hotel guests |
| AM Snacks (10:15am) (In lieu of box lunch) | Chocoholic: Mini Chocolate Bars, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Cookies, Brownie Bites Power Hour: Kashi Bars, Cliff Bars, Crudité Display, Fruit Display Beverages: Body Armor, Water Station |
CASA Kane County
CASA Kane County is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to advocating for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are placed in foster care within the Juvenile Court system. They recruit, train, and supervise volunteers serving as Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardians ad Litem (CASA/GAL), acting as the child's voice and the judge's eyes and ears throughout their case. Their mission is to ensure that every child is placed in a safe and permanent home, allowing them the chance to reach their full potential in life.
CASA's ImpactChanging a Child’s Story is what we do for children who have been abused and neglected by the hands that were supposed to protect them and are now in the foster care system. We have the unique position of being appointed by the Juvenile Court Judge to advocate for the child’s best interest and work alongside DCFS and other agencies to find children the safe, permanent home they deserve. CASA provides the constant and stable adult presence in the child’s life. We are governed by 25 Board of Directors, 22 professional and experienced staff along with 217 CASA/GAL volunteers who have been recruited, trained and sworn in under oath to be the GAL (Guardian ad Litem) for children. CASA Kane County is one of over 1,000 CASA organizations across the country, and one of 38 within the State of Illinois. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, and relies solely on philanthropic support from individuals, grants and special event fundraising to support its operations. The CASA Kane County office is located in the downtown district of Geneva in the old courthouse that represents a county with over 500,000 people serving 28 cities. REALITY: Child abuse and neglect affects children of every age, race and income level.
Conference Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation Requests: All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email to either Heidi Schmidt (hschmid@ilstu.edu) or Nathan Eaton (nweaton@ilstu.edu)
- Refunds: Cancellation requests received on or before February 09, 2025, will receive a full refund.
- No-Show Policy: “No shows” are not refundable and are liable for the full registration fee.
- Extenuating Circumstances: In extenuating circumstances, event registrations can be transferred to another delegate with a $25 administration fee. Please contact either Heidi Schmidt (hschmid@ilstu.edu) or Nathan Eaton (nweaton@ilstu.edu) for assistance.
- Contact Information: For any additional questions or concerns regarding the cancellation policy, please contact either Heidi Schmidt (hschmid@ilstu.edu) or Nathan Eaton (nweaton@ilstu.edu).