Skip to main content

Ursuline Grads Go On Search For Members Of The Class of ’64

By WTOP Staff

The Ursuline Academy Class of 1964, via Mary Ellen Schattman

About half of the Ursuline Academy Class of 1964 will be back in Bethesda next weekend, taking a yellow school bus up Old Georgetown Road as part of a three-day long 50th reunion celebration.

Over the past year, organizers have researched maiden names, written letters and tried to track down each of the roughly 60 members of the class.

The all-girls Catholic high school closed in 1975. It is now home to the Lycee Rochambeau French International School at 9600 Forest Road.

On Saturday, April 26, the Class of ’64 will hop on a bus at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Bethesda and head to the school for a tour that’s likely to evoke memories of a very different time.

“When we moved to Bethesda in 1957, it was about as close to Mayberry as you could possibly hope for,” said Mary Ellen Schattman, a Class of ’64 grad and one of the main organizers of the reunion. “It was a small town.”

Prom for the Ursuline Academy Class of '64, via Mary Ellen SchattmanSchattman’s family lived on Rosedale Avenue. She rode her bike to the Bethesda Farm Women’s Market on Saturday mornings to buy sausage to cook for breakfast. She took sewing at Singer Sewing, ate at the Hot Shoppes at Wisconsin Avenue and East-West Highway and remembers a change machine behind the police station kids used to play like a slot machine, hoping for leftover nickels.

It was also a “very difficult time,” Schattman said. Resistance to integration caused strife. Bethesda’s Hiser Theatre closed rather than allow black customers.

In November of the Class of ’64′s senior year, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

The school was one of many Catholic high schools that dotted the landscape. The six children in Schattman’s family went to five different Catholic high schools, normal back then.

Ursuline was more academic-oriented than others, Schattman said. She won her school’s Betty Crocker Homemakers of Tomorrow scholarship — despite the fact the school didn’t have a Home Economics class. Latin, French and the sciences were the focus.

Boys weren’t allowed to pick up Ursuline students at the school. Many of the students worked at Camp Shriver — the summer camp Eunice Shriver started in 1962 to match up special needs students with students from area high schools.

The Ursuline Academy Class of 1964, via Mary Ellen SchattmanSome members of the class of ’64 have died. Others live as far away as Europe. About 25 have made reservations for the Hyatt next weekend and Schattman expected more who remained local to show.

The group is still looking for three members of the class: Barbara Peg Hence, Mary Patricia Flan and Carol Jeanne Aldrich.

The reunion will last the length of the weekend, with a dinner on Friday, lunch on Saturday, tour of the old Academy grounds and a brunch on Sunday.

“We expect to have more fun than anyone who has ever had a high school reunion has had,” Schattman said. “My husband’s jealous.”

Photos via Mary Ellen Schattman

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote