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Former Georgia runner dies in car accident

By WTOP Staff

CORDELE, Ga. (AP) — Former University of Georgia 400-meter standout Torrin Lawrence died Monday morning in a car accident as he made his way home to Jacksonville, Florida. He was 25.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said Lawrence was traveling along Interstate 75 about 1:40 a.m. when a tire blew out. Lawrence got out of the car to make a phone call when a tractor-trailer came over the crest and struck the car, knocking the vehicle into Lawrence.

Hancock said Lawrence was on his way to Jacksonville after training in Athens, where he won an NCAA indoor title for the Bulldogs in 2010. The accident happened about 90 miles from the Georgia-Florida state line.

Lawrence graduated from Georgia with a degree in sociology in May 2013 after a record-setting college career.

“In speaking for the UGA track and field community, I am shocked and pained with news of Torrin’s death,” Bulldogs head track coach Wayne Norton said on the school’s website. “First, my prayers for comfort are for Torrin’s mother and family. Second, this makes me reflect on Torrin and remember him as one of the greatest talents I have ever seen.”

Lawrence ran for the United States in the opening round of the 4×400 relay at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, two months ago. The team went on to capture the gold medal.

Earlier this month, Lawrence turned in a personal-best outdoor time of 45.32 seconds at a meet in Belgium.

“We were devastated to learn of Torrin’s passing early this morning,” USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel said. “Torrin represented USATF with pride and passion, and had an incredible future ahead of him. We join those who will miss him deeply.”

Several Olympic track athletes took to Twitter to express their condolences:

— Sprinter Allyson Felix: “Sad to hear about the passing of Torrin Lawrence. My prayers go out to his family & friends. We lost a talented member of our track family.”

— Hurdler David Oliver: “Thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family of 400m runner Torrin Lawrence. R.I.P.”

— Sprinter Wallace Spearmon: “R.I.P Torrin Lawrence prayers up for him and his family. Definitely tragic, cherish life.”

Lawrence was represented by Claude Bryan, whose company had a post on its website that read: “Torrin exuded the type of dignity, deportment and care for others not readily seen in today’s youths. Extending our condolences to the family … A person that departs from this earth never truly leaves, for they are still alive in our hearts and minds; through us, they live on. Torrin will not be forgotten. R.I.P. Torrin Lawrence!”

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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