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Politics Roundup: Apple Ballot, Duncan Transit Center Video

By WTOP Staff

D-16 Delegate candidate Hrant Jamgochian (file photo)Frick, Jamgochian Get On Apple Ballot — The Montgomery County Education Association on Tuesday announced more endorsements that will appear on its influential apple ballot this primary, including its picks for District 16.

The MCEA — the union representing 12,000 educators in MCPS — will support Del. Susan Lee to fill the State Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Brian Frosh, who is running for attorney general.

The union had already endorsed Del. Ariana Kelly for re-election. On Tuesday, it threw its support behind Del. Bill Frick, who pulled a last-minute reversal and decided to pursue re-election rather than run for attorney general.

It also endorsed Hrant Jamgochian, one of the five non-incumbent candidates for three seats:

Mr. Frick is a favorable incumbent with a positive voting record on education issues. Through his service on the Ways & Means Committee, Mr. Frick has been a valuable voice advocating for education funding. MCEA is recommending Hrant Jamgochian to fill the vacant seat in this district. MCEA’s interview team was impressed by Mr. Jamgochian’s policy background and insight. His record of community involvement has prepared him well for public service.

The apple ballot, literally a piece of paper shaped like an apple listing all of MCEA’s endorsements, is thought to be highly influential on election day, especially to voters who haven’t paid attention to down ballot races.

MCEA members pass the ballots out at most polling places around Montgomery County. The primary this year is June 24.

Duncan Pokes Fun At Transit Center Delays — Doug Duncan’s campaign on Tuesday released a YouTube video showing “just how much has gone on in our community, our country and the world,” since County Executive Isiah Leggett got into office and took over oversight of the long-delayed Silver Spring Transit Center project.

Duncan, who was county executive for three terms before Leggett took over in 2008, wants his old job back. In recent weeks Duncan has hammered Leggett on the status of the Transit Center, part of his pitch that he would be a stronger leader for Montgomery County.

The video lists events that have happened since the construction contract between Montgomery County and construction company Foulger-Pratt was signed in September 2008. The Transit Center is currently delayed because of problems with concrete pourings, with no estimated opening date.

The video points out how that estimated opening date kept getting pushed back and how in that time the Washington Redskins fired two coaches.

While the video is a light-hearted way to look at this failure to deliver, I take this subject very seriously. Our county leaders have been silent to my request for answers to the problems at the Silver Spring Transit Center. But I believe that by standing together, we will not be ignored.  The time has come for answers.

Crews are waiting for warmer weather to apply a concrete overlay to fix varying concrete thickness and cracking in the structure.

Video via Doug Duncan

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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