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Demonstrators seek better treatment of border kids

By Michelle Basch

WASHINGTON — A coalition of local groups is holding weekly demonstrations in front of the White House to demand better treatment of kids who are crossing illegally into the U.S. from Mexico and other countries.

The demonstrations began in July and will continue indefinitely. Between 75 and 100 people turned out for Monday’s event by the DC-MD-VA Coalition in Support of Children Fleeing Violence.

It started with a gathering outside St. John’s Church, on H Street, where oversized paper butterflies were handed out.

Participants, many of them young people, were asked to write the name of someone they knew who is trying to cross the border, or has already come across, on each butterfly, meant to symbolize migration.

They also carried signs with slogans including “Legal Aid For Every Child,” “We Work Hard to be in This Country,” and “Imagine It Was Your Child.”

The coalition’s demands include the quick release of children from detention centers, legal representation for every child and a fast reunification of families.

“They’re not coming here because of misinterpreted immigration policies; it’s really a humanitarian issue. They’re fleeing violence in their countries,” says Rachel Gittinger, with the Central American Resource Center in Columbia Heights.

She says that young people have no escape from gangs in many Central American countries.

“We’ve seen in Honduras, in El Salvador, 7-year-olds have been killed by the gangs for not joining.”

Among those speaking at the demonstration was Feliciano Hernandez, who was born in Mexico.

He says one day in 2005 when he was 9 years old, his parents announced that he was going to go to the United States.

Hernandez’ brother, who had left Mexico for the U.S. years earlier and who Feliciano didn’t even know, showed up to drive the boy to America.

Today, Hernandez is an 18-year-old graduate of Cesar Chavez Public Charter School in D.C. “All of those people who told me … you can’t do it, you can’t make it, you won’t even make it to high school, I proved them wrong,” he says.

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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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