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D-16 Political Roundup: Back To School, Food Drive, Mizeur Endorsement

By WTOP Staff

Jordan Cooper speaks to Walter Johnson government studentsThere’s been a lot going on in the highly competitive, if still far away, race for three District 16 House of Delegates seats. Also, a new group of local neighborhood activists has come out with an interesting endorsement in the gubernatorial primary.

Cooper Heads Back To Alma Mater For Civics Lesson — D-16 Delegate candidate Jordan Cooper did some guest teaching on Monday at Walter Johnson High School. The subject — AP National, State and Local Government — was near and dear to Cooper’s aspirations for state office.

“I was first introduced to government in these same classrooms. My overarching goal today is to make the pathway towards public service for our students clearer,” Cooper said in a prepared release. “I hope to open their eyes to the fact they too can run for public office and transform their visions of a better community into a new reality.”

Cooper graduated from Walter Johnson in 2003 and served as a student page in Annapolis during his senior year.

Jamgochian Joins Leventhal For Boy Scouts Food Drive — D-16 Delegate candidate Hrant Jamgochian joined County Councilmember George Leventhal on Saturday in Potomac at an annual food drive held by Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from throughout the county. Scouts from more than 30 units collected and loaded food for distribution to in-need families through the Manna Food Center.

Hrant Jamgochian at Boy Scouts Charity EventKuker-Kihl Actively Campaigning — Karen Kuker-Kihl, a retired teacher and one-time County Council candidate, is actively campaigning for a D-16 Delegate seat. Kuker-Kihl spoke at the Montgomery County Renters Alliance candidates forum last month in Silver Spring and was at the 2013 State of the Schools event on Monday in North Bethesda.

Kuker-Kihl makes seven announced candidates for the three delegate seats, joining Cooper, Jamgochian, incumbent Ariana Kelly, Marc Korman, Gareth Murray and Kevin Walling.

News and Notes — Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy and Sheriff Darren Popkin have endorsed Korman for delegate, the Korman campaign announced Tuesday. ….Kelly held a fundraiser on Thursday and got support from County Executive Isiah Leggett. “I cannot afford to not have her,” in Annapolis, was Leggett’s message. …A group called Progressive Neighbors announced its endorsement of Takoma Park Del. Heather Mizeur for the Democratic gubernatorial bid, calling Mizeur “the most progressive candidate in the race.” The group of local civic leaders cites schools, a living wage, universal health care, public transportation and sustainable land use policies as some of its values.

Photos via Jordan Cooper, Hrant Jamgochian campaigns

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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