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Civil War Santa headed to Frederick Saturday

By WTOP Staff

A retired professor will bring a seasonal Civil War icon to life Saturday in downtown Frederick.

Jim Tent — a former professor of military history at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and now a docent at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine — will fill the role of Civil War Santa.

This is the first time Frederick will be visited by its own Union Civil War Santa.

Tent was asked to play the role last spring, he said, and considering his resemblance to Santa Claus, he agreed.

“He has become a terrific volunteer, and he really does look like Santa,” said Adele Air, director of education for the museum.

Tent was studying in the museum next to a framed Thomas Nast picture of Santa in Harper’s Weekly when Air said she noticed the likeness and asked if he was interested in playing Santa.

Nast’s image of St. Nick was the first Americanized version of the Christmas icon, and his demeanor and dress differed from those of his original European counterpart.

Civil War Santa was a plump, rosy-cheeked and pleasant fellow compared with the skinny and sometimes irritable European Santa.

“He had a kind word for everyone,” Tent said, “unlike the well-established European figure who would give coal to those who misbehaved.”

Harper’s Jan. 3, 1863, issue includes a drawing of Santa giving socks to soldiers and wooden toys to young drummer boys — the earliest portrayal of his visits to the Union Army.

“This made kids feel better,” Air said, “that Santa was out with their dad.”

Santa’s presence among the soldiers was as important to Army morale as it was to children, especially after the Union’s devastating defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862.

He has maintained his jolly demeanor for the last 148 years, but his attire has changed.

Civil War Santa wore a blue tunic dotted with white stars over red- and white-striped trousers. The only items that remain unchanged are the tall black boots and red cap.

Tent’s wife, Bunnie Tent, fashioned his outfit by hand, taking five days to complete the task.

“It’s a festive costume, I think the kids are going to like it,” Tent said.

Despite the unusual costume, Air said she believes the children who come to visit Civil War Santa will still enjoy his company.

“I think what makes Santa is his personality and a big white beard,” Air said. “He’s a sweet, wonderful man. I think they’ll really enjoy him.”

The popular Harper’s image of Santa was civilianized at the end of the Civil War, when he traded in his stars and stripes for a plain, red suit.

Musicians, docents and carolers will join Civil War Santa on Saturday at the museum, where supplies will be provided to make cards that will be delivered on Christmas to modern-day wounded veterans.

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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