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Memorial held for students killed in College Park murder-suicide

By WTOP Staff

Michelle Basch, wtop.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – There were prayers, songs and reassuring words at a memorial gathering Tuesday night at the University of Maryland in College Park.

The event, held at Memorial Chapel, was organized in the wake of Tuesday’s early morning shootings that left two students dead and third injured.

“Our campus mourns tonight. Those directly touched by this tragedy hurt the most, but all of us are deeply shocked and saddened,” University President Dr. Wallace Loh told the audience of more than 100 people.

“The telephone call that woke me up this morning will keep me wakeful for many nights,” he added.

Loh offered condolences to the families of the shooting victims and said the University family will mourn and heal together.

“I urge you to seek help if you need it. Share your grief. Speak up if you see something troubling,” he said.

Without being specific, Loh also said changes will come at the university as a result of the shootings.

“There are lessons to be learned, policy questions to be discussed and changes to be made. When our shock is dimmed we will work together as a community to see that all these appropriate acts are taken. We will not forget. We will act.”

The event also included speeches by student body leaders.

“Sadly in the short time that it has been with us, 2013 has already been filled with news of violent crimes affecting students,” said David Colon-Cabrera, President of Graduate Student Government.

“These occurrences seem to have become so commonplace that we run the risk of reacting with nonchalance when violence happens far away, which is a sad state of affairs. And yet, this event is not foreign to us this time. It happened in our home. This home.”

“I didn’t know any of the victims involved, but this has changed me,” said Student Government Association President Samantha Zwerling.

She said she felt overwhelmed and scared after the shootings.

“I come here to tell you that it’s okay not to be okay, and that sometimes we must lean on each other when we experience the (inexplicable),” said Zwerling.

“Asking for help is a sign of strength and it makes our entire community stronger. Talk to your friends, talk to your families, talk to the counseling services on campus like the Help Center, Counseling Center, and Mental Health Services. These are all parts of our community that are here to help. But this, here in this room tonight, this is the first step towards healing and it doesn’t leave once we leave this room,” she said.

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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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