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The NFL draft’s top picks share about their moms

By WTOP Staff

LEANNE ITALIE
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Top prospects in the NFL draft took some special guests to Radio City Music Hall’s red carpet: their mothers.

Before the clock started ticking Thursday in the first round, the AP asked players and their moms to share stories about each other ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday. The players told us what they most loved and admired about their moms, and the moms gave us a few of their proudest moments and most precious memories.

Blake Bortles, the Central Florida quarterback picked third by Jacksonville, said it best of his mother, Suzy: “She’s my hero.”

Here’s more from the NFL Class of 2014 and their moms:

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JADEVEON CLOWNEY, picked first by the Houston Texans: “She did everything she could to raise me to the young man I am today. She took care of me and did a great job. You can’t tell? Look at me!”

JOSENNA CLOWNEY: “That’s my baby. He was not this outgoing like he is today.”

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TEDDY BRIDGEWATER surprised his mom, a breast cancer survivor, with a pink Cadillac for her birthday earlier this week, provided by the car company. The Minnesota Vikings’ pick had promised her the car when he was 9 years old.

“She told me that I’m blessed and God blessed me with talent so use it to the best of my ability and take advantage. She told me to have a purpose in life and that’s one thing that I take away from her, besides her fight, determination and sacrifices that she made. To live that purpose out loud.”

ROSE MURPHY: “When he was in third grade he was talking about the pink Escalade. I love it! I can’t wait to get it back home to drive it.”

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SAMMY WATKINS, who was picked fourth by Buffalo: “She’s beautiful, she’s wonderful. She’s supported me all my life. That’s the one that birthed me, that’s the one that disciplined me, took care of me all my life and grinded and struggled for me.”

NICOLE McMILLER: “Everything in Sammy’s life has been precious to me. His college years were precious because we never thought we would be able to afford him going to college.”

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C.J. MOSLEY, picked 17th by Baltimore: “My whole personality is based off her. She’s laid back and quiet most of the time and I’m pretty much the same way. She raised me and my brother right and I’m proud to say that I grew up in a happy home. She was willing to do whatever she could to put food on the table and do whatever she could to keep us safe.”

TRACY MOSELY: “Walking across the stage getting his degree. That was the best.”

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KHALIL MACK, picked fifth by Oakland: “Oh man, she’s beautiful. Her persistence, her intelligence and her wisdom. She’s very wise. Her guidance has put me in the position to be able to talk to you.”

YOLANDA MACK: “When he was a little boy he would get up every morning at 7 and listen to praise and worship on TV.”

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TAYLOR LEWAN, picked 11th by Tennessee: “She’s always been a person, like myself, who goes to the beat of their own drum and is not really focused on money, just kind of enjoying yourself and being yourself. And she really taught me that.”

KELLY RILEY: “He’s kind of Mr. Tough Guy but then he does this little soft, sweet ‘I love you mom’ thing. He has a very tender heart. He always had that really loving heart.”

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MIKE EVANS, who has a 2-year-old daughter and was picked seventh by Tampa Bay: “She’s a strong woman. I watched her struggle a little bit when we were growing up, making sure we had everything we needed, just doing the best she could for us. I want to give her the world.”

HEATHER KILGORE: “He never gave up. There were plenty of times he’d be upset and mad: ‘I quit, I quit.’ The next day he’d get back up.”

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Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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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