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Women’s College World Series staying in Oklahoma

By WTOP Staff

MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NCAA will keep its Division I softball championship tournament in Oklahoma City through 2020 and likely will extend the deal through 2035, the NCAA said Thursday.

The deal, announced by officials from the NCAA, USA Softball and Oklahoma City on the opening day of this year’s Women’s College World Series, is the third long-term hosting agreement for the NCAA, following similar deals for baseball in Omaha, Nebraska, and outdoor track and field in Eugene, Oregon.

The WCWS has been held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium every year but one since 1990 (1996, Columbus, Georgia). Attendance for the eight-team event has been more than 100,000 each of the past seven years and more than 150,000 the past two years.

“I think Oklahoma City is the mecca of softball,” said Mark Lewis, the NCAA’s executive vice president for championships and alliances. “When you look at the nature of the event, baseball and softball lend themselves to this kind of environment . Having some permanency to the site makes it that much better, because this is quite a production.

“We’re extending this deal not because of the improvement to the stadium. That’s important, but this event has been a success here for a long time. That’s why we’re making a long-term commitment to Oklahoma City. . We’re very grateful that the city values the championship.”

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said about $20 million – some of that public money from bond issues, some from private philanthropic sources and some from naming-rights fees – either has already been or will be spent on stadium improvements.

Cornett said the value of the tournament to Oklahoma City can’t be overstated.

“The direct impact you would measure through typical tourism standards,” he said. “But the indirect aspects of it are what excite me the most. Every year during the College World Series, I hear from people that I might have met in previous aspects of my life, who are sitting off in some far-off corner of the world watching television and they see Oklahoma City on the screen.”

ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, which had permanent seating of about 2,000 when it was built in 1987, was expanded to about 5,000 seats in 2002. For the WCWS, temporary bleacher seating outside the outfield has increased the capacity to about 8,000.

Plans eventually call for a triple-deck seating structure that will add as many as 6,000 permanent seats. A new press box also will be built. The host-site extension to 2035 is based on the assumption that those stadium improvements will be completed, Lewis said.

Significant work already has been done on expanding the team dugouts, said Craig Cress, the executive director of the Amateur Softball Association/USA Softball. Meeting rooms, restrooms and tunnels underneath the stands for team use have been added and locker rooms have been enlarged.

Artificial turf also has been installed on the infield portion foul territory on the field.

The stadium also will host the Division II championship tournament in 2015 and the Division III championship tournaments in 2017 and 2018, but there aren’t any plans to make Oklahoma City the long-term home for those events, Lewis said.

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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