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Ballou’s Majestic Marching Knights see symbolism in parade participation

By WTOP Staff

Andrew Mollenbeck, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – When he got the message that the Ballou Senior High School marching band had been selected for the inaugural parade, director Darrell Watson was floored – more than figuratively.

“Thank goodness that wall was behind me because I backed up into it, and I basically just slid down the wall until I was sitting down on the floor, and tears started flowing down my eyes,” Watson says.

Through the years, the Majestic Marching Knights have performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and on several television shows.

But the 57th inauguration carries a special meaning to the bandleader, the students and the community in general.

“This is a celebration in two [ways],” says Watson.

“We’re honoring the re-election of our president, as well as paying tribute to a man who paved the way for our president,” he says.

“It doesn’t get any [more] perfect than that.”

Adding symbolism to the band’s role in the parade, the Knights will follow a float honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I’m really excited. I have a lot of emotions in me right now. I just can’t wait until it happens,” says Genuine Kinsey, a senior drum major.

“It’s the inauguration, but I’m still not nervous about it,” says Danae Giles, a junior dancer.

“It just gets me more excited because I know the president’s watching us,” she says.

On Tuesday, Mayor Vince Gray stopped by the high school in Southeast to both congratulate the band members and reinforce the potential they have for changing attitudes.

“There are a lot of people who think when you come to Southeast all you’re going to find is bad stuff,” he says.

“That is not true!”

In addition to the band’s accomplishments, Gray highlighted students’ achievements in earning academic scholarships.

“You all are an inspiration,” Gray told the students. “What you have done is absolutely fantastic.”

To his knowledge, about 3,000 groups initially filed an application to participate in the parade. And with fewer entries to usher in President Barack Obama’s second term, Gray considers the selection to be a more impressive honor.

Watson stresses the journey.

“I always tell my students, ‘We’re not the best,'” he says.

“‘But, oh, what a wonderful road we travel on to get there.”

Follow @MollenbeckWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 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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