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Final Mournal Entry: Get that ‘caterpillar’ off your face

By WTOP Staff

Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com

WASHINGTON — A lot has happened in the last two weeks of this moustache fundraiser. My Movember “mo” has become visible to the naked eye, and I’ve been getting a lot of reaction to it.

Not all of it has been flattering.

Here is a smattering of what I’ve confronted this month:

“You come to an interview about moustaches without one?” (Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md.)

(Long pause) “You know I support you in everything you do, but I do have my limits.” (I appreciate that, sweetie)

“When do you shave that thing off your face?” (Clerk at an Eastern Market liquor store)

“Intention is everything.” (Thanks, Mom)

“This whole month I thought I was always looking at you in poor lighting, but that’s a moustache, right?” (This guy signs my paychecks, so it’s whatever he wants it to be.)

“I’m glad to know its not only my facial follicles that grow so slow.” (Strong words from a fellow Mo)

“Dude, nice mo.” (Flying Dog Brewery sales manager)

“I’m so glad I hired Paul to do these quality, hard-hitting, investigative stories. Paul is a fair-haired boy, so I had my doubts about his ability to pull off a man’s style moustache. But when colleagues started looking at him funny, and women began walking in the opposite direction — it was clearly working its magic.” (Thanks, boss)

The discomfort I’ve been dealt from the invariable sideways looks all gave way Tuesday night when I attended the Team D.C. Mo culminating raffle and fundraiser at Meridian Pint, sponsored by Flying Dog. Dozens of moustachioed mo “Bros” and Sistas” showed up to reflect on a month of what one described as “facial caterpillars.”

Check out photos of the parade of facial hair in the gallery at right and by following this link.

In addition to the individual funds each participant or group raised, the benefit collected an additional $1,665. They gave out prizes for the best moustache, fake moustache, costume and group, as well as crowning Mr. and Mrs. Movember.

It’s all been worth it, if only through the money many WTOP listeners generously donated. The Washington, D.C. Network raised over $32,000 as a part of the more than $11 million raised by Movember participants in the U.S.

Almost $90 million has been raised worldwide to “change the face of men’s health.”

And it isn’t too late to get involved! Movember is accepting donations through Wednesday.

I’m growing my moustache in remembrance of my father to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, particularly prostate cancer. Check out my Movember profile page here. Please consider donating to this cause.

Learn more here:

Follow Paul D. Shinkman and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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