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Even in loss, Chicago celebrates Little Leaguers

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL TARM
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago cheered on the hottest sports team in town on Sunday and, for the day at least, it wasn’t a team called the Bears, White Sox, Cubs, Bulls or Blackhawks.

The buzz in the nation’s third-largest city was for a group of 11- and 12-year-old boys from Chicago’s South Side who took on South Korea in the Little League World Series championship game.

And it didn’t matter all that much to supporters that the Jackie Robinson West All Stars ended up losing 8-4.

Far from falling quiet with the final out, several hundred supporters who gathered for a TV watch party in a South Side community center gym jumped to their feet, roared and clapped — as if the team had won.

“They showed what heart they have. The city could not be prouder of them,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who attended the party, said of the young players who sought to mount a comeback rally in the last inning.

Watch parties were held across Chicago to support the team, which is based on the city’s far South Side, including one on State Street outside the iconic Chicago Theatre.

Neighborhoods from in and around Chicago embraced the Little Leaguers, who defeated a Las Vegas team 7-5 Saturday to become U.S. champions, as their own.

“I have never seen the community come together like this,” said Eldridge Dockery, 44, who lives in the South Side’s Morgan Park neighborhood. “We’re usually behind our walls or gates — but this team brought us out, talking and celebrating together.”

The Jackie Robinson West All Stars, made up of all black players, made their first appearance in 31 years in the Little League World Series. The team’s journey has been an inspiration for many in a part of Chicago that has grappled with poverty and gang violence.

Asked about the good feeling that infused the area as the Little Leaguers went on to the international championship game, Dockery said, “I hope it lasts.”

The sense of unity fostered by the team even applied, in part, to political rivals.

Both Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican gubernatorial challenger Bruce Rauner showed up at the community center gym to watch the Jackie Robinson West All Stars.

“It’s all about bringing the city together,” Rauner told a reporter.

Rauner sat in a front row, bobbing his head at one point as a green alligator mascot led the crowd in a chant to thumping music. At separate times during breaks in the action, both he and Quinn — who are locked in a tight race — got up and danced.

Emanuel, who is a Democrat, stood with his arms folded at the same event, rocking in apparent nervousness as the game went on. After the loss, he said a celebratory parade would be held anyway on Wednesday for the Little League team.

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Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mtarm .

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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