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Holtby reflects on postseason performance

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – It was a wild ride that had the Washington area on the edge of its seat for the last month.

And while the Capitals lost in the second round of the NHL playoffs for the second straight year, the team inspired a growing fan base with their effort and heart against the top-seeded Rangers.

Despite the loss in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, rookie goalie Braden Holtby’s performance turned heads. Holtby tells WTOP he feels the team can be proud of their efforts.

“It was a fun playoff,” he says. “We came up just short. It obviously wasn’t the result we wanted, but it definitely wasn’t an effort we have any regrets about.”

Holtby started his season with the Hershey Bears before before returning to Washington for the last game of the 2012 regular season. He stopped more pucks than any goalie this postseason, an experience he says very few players get.

“I knew it was an opportunity that I had to make the most of,” he says. “We had a job to do, to win games, and all I could really focus on was really giving our team a chance to win. We did that as a defensive core.”

During the playoffs, there was plenty of frustration for Caps fans: nail-biting, anxiety-riddled games that often came down to one goal. But Holtby says the frustration never got to him.

“I have the one job at my end of the ice and then I have all the confidence in the world in the guys at the other end to do theirs.”

Holtby was solid in the net throughout the two series, keeping games so close that he almost made it look easy. He says the difference between the NHL and the American Hockey League, where he played for the Bears, is not just about skill levels.

“The main difference is just your mental game, is not letting the big stage really affect anything,” he says. “[It’s] just going about the games the same way you have for years and doing the same things that got you here.”

In the handshake line at the end of Saturday night’s game, Holtby shook hands with Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He congratulated Holtby on a great series and said he’ll be seeing Holtby a lot next year.

Holtby’s goal for next season is to win games and be one of the best goalies in the NHL. He intends to stay in the best shape he can during the off-season.

“We have a focus next year and that’s to win games,” he says. “If I can be part of it where I help the team [and] give us the best chance we have to win games, then I’ll be glad to fill in that role.”

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(Copyright 2012 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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