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Ecuador thinking of Benitez at World Cup

By WTOP Staff

STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Felipe Caicedo will not just shoulder the burden of scoring Ecuador’s goals at the World Cup. The barrel-chested striker has also been handed the onerous task of filling the boots, and the No. 11 shirt, of one of the country’s favorite footballing sons.

It’s nearly a year since Ecuador was plunged into grief following the tragic news that Christian Benitez, the national team’s star striker, had died of heart failure, a day after playing for his club side in Qatar. He was 27 and had, according to doctors, a congenital heart ailment that had gone undetected in numerous physical examinations.

Since that day — July 29, 2013 — life in the Ecuador squad has not been the same again.

Benitez’s No. 11 jersey was retired by the national federation. Coach Reinaldo Rueda couldn’t control his tears at the loss of one of his most popular players — “he’s practically irreplaceable,” he said. Close friend and international teammate Antonio Valencia was arguably the most affected, tattooing Benitez’s face on his upper arm in his honor.

“Why now brother?” was one of Valencia’s emotional messages on Twitter. Another read: “This strong pain you’ve caused me will stay forever my brother, but we love you.”

Qualification for the World Cup in Brazil was dedicated to the man affectionately known as “Chucho,” and he’ll be in the thoughts of Ecuador’s players, coaches and fans when the team launches its group-stage campaign against Switzerland on Sunday.

“It is a vacuum that is still very difficult to fill,” Rueda said on Saturday, taking his time to compose his words. “He is always in our minds and our hearts, for all that he meant to the group.

“The group has been able to assimilate that mourning. It’s a reality … we have pay tribute to him. He will be with us, he will be present.”

Ecuador’s No. 11 shirt has had to be reinstated for the World Cup because of FIFA regulations, and it has been given to Caicedo — Rueda’s first-choice striker who finished as the team’s top scorer in South American qualifying.

Benitez is a hard act to follow, not just for his personality and importance to the team. He was also a vital component of Rueda’s lineup because of his pace, versatility and work rate as well as his scoring prowess, netting 24 goals in 58 international appearances.

He had scored four goals in World Cup qualifying before he died.

“We have a huge responsibility for him and his family to have a wonderful participation in this World Cup,” Ecuador defender Fricson Erazo said Saturday through a translator.

“Christian is very much in our minds and our hearts and that has made us stronger. We are always calling each other, following how each of us is doing … It was a life experience — now we have to transmit the camaraderie and brotherhood and take this in our stride.”

Expect Ecuador to pay plenty of tributes to Benitez throughout the World Cup, especially if the team qualifies for the second round.

Rueda made a bold declaration before the tournament, saying: “I want to play seven games. That is what I want at the World Cup.”

That means reaching the semifinals. Now that really would be a tribute to Benitez.

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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