Thousands run Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon

By WTOP Staff
May 20, 2012 | 4:27 PM

Kathy Stewart, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – It was a perfect day for a run Sunday morning in Fredericksburg for the 5th annual Marine Corps Historic Half. The weather could not have been better. The air was charged with energy as thousands of runners waited anxiously for the big start.

At 6:59 a.m., the wheelchair and hand-crank cyclists headed out. At 7:15 a.m. this year’s celebrity starter for the 13.1 miler, Alison Sweeney host of “The Biggest Loser,” fired off the starting pistol. Then she jumped into the sea of nearly 6,000 runners flooding the streets of the city.

Sweeney says she’s honored to be a part of this especially since her dad is a retired Marine. She just beams when she says, “My dad is so proud of me for being out and supporting the Marines. And I’m excited.”

Some call this race a warm up to the full Marine Corps Marathon in October.

For Lauren Lee, from Poolesville, Md., the half marathon is a training ground for the big one.

“This is my third half-marathon since starting my journey on “The Biggest Loser,” she says.

Lauren and her mom, Gail Lee, were on “The Biggest Loser, a weight-loss reality show. They both lost nearly 90 pounds.

“Lauren got her life back and I saved mine,” Gail Lee says. Lauren’s mom and dad both did the Semper Fred 5K on Sunday.

Racers came from all across the nation and from nine different countries. But in the end Fredericksburg’s own Bert Jacoby, 29, was the first one over the finish line with a time of 1:11:33.

His expected finish time was 1:12:00 but says, “I just wanted to win.”

The third grade teacher at Lafayette Upper Elementary School says it’s his second best race time for the half.

Courtney Chapman from Norfolk, Va. was the first female to finish with a time of 1:21:56.

She says she began running after losing her mother to cancer two years ago.

Charles Stalzer from Cincinnati, Ohio was the oldest runner at 84 years old.

Sweeney finished in 2:04:36, besting her anticipated finish time by 10 minutes.

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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
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

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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