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Second women ID’d in ‘horrifying’ Falls Church fire

By WTOP Staff

UPDATE: Friday – 2/1/2013, 4:07pm ET

WASHINGTON – Authorities have identified the second woman who died in a Falls Church house fire last month.

The second victim is Mary Ann Margaret Gardner, 16, according to the medical examiner.

Fire investigators continue to investigate the fatal fire that also killed Laura Snyder-Gardner, 48.

UPDATE: Thursday – 1/24/2013, 4:23pm ET

WASHINGTON – One of the women who died in Wednesday’s fire in Falls Church, Va. worked at Gallaudet University.

48-year-old Laura Snyder-Gardner’s body was found inside the home, Fairfax County fire investigators say.

Another woman’s body was found as well, but she has yet to be identified.

Snyder-Gardner’s cause of death has not been released. Gallaudet University confirms she was a faculty member at the school.

Laura Snyder-Gardner was a full-time faculty member in mathematics in the General Studies Program. She began her career at Gallaudet in January 2009, according to a school release.

Last fall, she also served as assistant coach of the girls’ soccer team at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, the release said.

EARLIER: Wednesday – Jan 23, 2013 06:02am

WASHINGTON – Two people and at least seven pets died in a house fire early Wednesday in Falls Church, Va.

The fire broke out about 3:25 a.m. at a home located at 3103 Manor Rd.

An initial search by Fairfax County firefighters found one body. In a secondary search, firefighters found another body.

Neighbors say two people lived in the home. A source tells WTOP the bodies are that of a woman and a teenage girl.

The names of the deceased have not been released. A medical examiner will determine how each died.

Two dogs died in the fire, and a source tells WTOP at least five cats also died.

Neighbor Steve Klass described the scene of the fire as “rather horrifying.”

“The entire front of the house was engulfed in flames,” Klass tells WTOP.

The fire gutted the rancher.

“The house is a total loss,” says Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman Dan Schmidt. “There’s nothing left but a masonry fireplace.”

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire had engulfed all four sides of the home.

Power lines on one side of the house came down as they fought the fire, according to a news release.

“I can’t imagine that anything can burn that rapidly without something feeding the fire,” says Klass.

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this story. Follow @kingWTOP 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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