Paul D. Camp Community College is holding an event for aspiring college students at its Suffolk campus next week.

The college is holding a “College Night,” organized by the Educational Credit Management Corp., from 5 to 8:30 p.m. April 18 at its Hobbs Suffolk Campus on Kenyon Road.

The event will have career exhibits and information sessions, college planning presentations and scholarship drawings. Free pizza and beverages also will be provided.

Marie Linton, a Hobbs Suffolk campus financial advisor and host for the Suffolk event, said the goal is to educate people on the best means for them to get college funding.

“We know that education is the key, and students who are informed about financial aid are more likely to come to college,” she said.

She has advised Paul D. Camp students for more than a decade, and she said that in many cases, money decides where a student will go to school.

“A lot our students want to go to a four-year institution, but there are other options, she said. “If your goal is to go to a four-year institution and there’s not enough funding, perhaps there’s a two-year institution. We encourage students to look at other avenues.”

Advisors will aid students with financial aid applications and help them with each step in the process of applying and transferring to schools, giving them the tools and information they need.

“I really believe these things help students be successful,” Linton said.

ECMC is a nonprofit that organizes the free college planning events in Virginia and other states throughout April. One was held at the college’s Franklin campus on April 4, and another will be held at the Smithfield campus on April 25.

“This year, we were very fortunate they gave us funding for Franklin, Suffolk and Smithfield,” she said. “Usually we just get one site funded, which is traditionally our Franklin campus.”

ECMC has contributed three $500 scholarship opportunities for each event. A random drawing at the Suffolk campus event will determine the three recipients. Entrants must be ninth- to 12^th-grade students and be present to accept the scholarships.

Linton said that, while the scholarships are solely for high school students, all higher education seekers are welcome to attend the event.

“Anybody who thinks they need to get education under their belt is welcome,” Linton said.

Visit www.collegenights.org for more information.