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War heroes honored at ‘Oscars for veterans’

By Kathy Stewart

WASHINGTON – There are plenty of awards ceremonies, but on Saturday a powerful one at the Renaissance Washington Hotel honored the country’s bravest.

The American Veterans Center recognized seven American war heroes who protected the country in conflicts ranging from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The center says that all recipients displayed bravery and valor above and beyond the call of duty during combat.

“It’s like the Oscars for veterans,” said AVC President James Roberts at the annual ceremony.

“The American Veterans Center wants to give these brave heroes an awards ceremony like top stage and screen actors get. They deserve this, as they’ve risked their lives and shaped our country’s history.”

Lt. General Frank E. Petersen Jr., retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, was one of the award recipients. He was the first black Marine Corps general and first black Marine aviator.

Now 81 and living in Kent Island, Md., the Kansas native joined the military in 1950 and flew fighter jets his entire career. He won the Raymond G. Davis award.

“I was shot down in combat in Vietnam. The ejection seat worked. So everything went OK,” joked Petersen, who said he felt humbled in the presence of other veterans.

“But to be able to lead a squadron of Marines in combat — that was the highest point in my career.”

Chester Nez, 92, the last living Navajo code talker and a double amputee, won an Audie Murphy award. The original code talkers, 29 Native Americans, were asked to come up with a code in their native language. It’s the only one in modern war to never be broken.

“I am very happy to have become one of the code talkers. I am very proud to have served my country,” said Nez.

Retired from the U.S. Army, Gen. Frederick J. Kroesen Jr., 90, also won an Audie award Sunday. The four-star general retired in 1983 and lives in Alexandria, Va., with his wife.

“I claim to be in four wars, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War — ’cause the last time I was shot at was during the Cold War,” said Kroesen.

During his acceptance speech he was humbled of honor.

“And while I’m thanking people, I have a young lady over at the table,” Kroesen added. In a few months he and his wife will celebrate 70 years of marriage.

This year marked the 16th year for the conference and ceremony. AVC says the event has grown tremendously over the last several years and brings together America’s most distinguished and decorated veterans and active-duty service members to share experiences and lessons with fellow veterans.

The AVC began a partnership with the Department of Defense and The Pentagon Channel in 2012 to create “The American Veterans Center Honors,” the first and only televised awards show honoring U.S. veterans and active-military men and women.

The AVC website lists all seven honorees and their heroic efforts.

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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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