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Bruce Boudreau is back in business

By WTOP Staff

Ben Raby, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – If every laid off worker in this country could get back to work as quickly as Bruce Boudreau has this week, politicians would be dancing in the streets. Less than 72 hours after he was fired by the Capitals, Boudreau has been hired to replace Randy Carlyle as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray made the announcement early Thursday morning on the east coast, about 40 minutes after Anaheim’s 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. It was only the Ducks’ third win in their last 19 games as they remain in last place in the Pacific Division.

“We simply felt a new voice was needed,” Murray said in a statement. “Bruce is a proven winner with a great track record, and we are optimistic we can turn this season around under his leadership.”

Boudreau will make his Anaheim coaching debut Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers, coincidentally the same team he faced in his Capitals debut Nov. 23, 2007. The former Caps bench boss becomes the eighth coach in Ducks history replacing a man that Boudreau knows quite well.

“I played with my nonbiological twin, Randy Carlyle, in Toronto and Dallas,” Boudreau wrote in his 2009 autobiography “Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer.”

“A lot of people thought we were brothers then and we could pass for brothers now,” Boudreau says of his follicly challenge former teammate. “Randy is one of the most underrated players ever. Not too many people win the Norris Trophy. I don’t think he’s gotten his due as a great player.”

Boudreau and Carlyle were teammates from 1976 to 1978 with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and CHL’s Dallas Black Hawks and Boudreau notes in his book that Carlyle had the primary assist on his first career NHL goal.

“My goal was the first one of the game in a 6-0 Toronto win at Maple Leaf Gardens,” Boudreau wrote of his first of 28 career NHL tallies.

“I don’t know if I was floating or not,” he says. “I came back near our blue line, and Randy Carlyle collected the puck behind our goal and fed me a pass that set up a breakaway

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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