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US chef Billapando survived theater shooting

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SAO PAULO (AP) — These days, Bryson Billapando hears about threats of violence in Brazil and beyond and flashes back to a gruesome night two years ago in Colorado.

He has done his best to move on since the deadly theater shooting he witnessed at a midnight Batman movie in Aurora, and is now cooking up fresh and healthy meals for the U.S. World Cup team in a gig he couldn’t have imagined even just a year ago.

“I just happened to be on the left side of the theater,” Billapando recalled Wednesday, taking a quick break a few minutes after preparing the Americans’ post-practice lunch. “Then all craziness broke loose.”

Being part of the U.S. support operation has provided Billapando with a support system of his own, and at a perfect time in his life when he needed a new direction.

Billapando, who celebrates his 31st birthday Thursday, can’t provide specifics of the chaos. The trial for James Holmes, who pleaded not guilty because of insanity, is scheduled for later this year.

Billapando’s then-wife Toni was pregnant with their second child at the time, and she was sitting to his left and got struck by fragments. They also have an older daughter.

The two-year anniversary next month will bring mixed feelings, Billapando expects, following such highs of the World Cup experience.

Since the attack, he has jumped into his work, saying the timing of the World Cup “couldn’t have been any better.”

“It’s not as bad as it once was for me,” he said. “I know for some people the healing process is a lot different. It was a huge struggle to get through everything on that end and try and find help. After the shooting, everything was so dark, nothing was positive. … I was just tired of feeling that way.”

Billapando underwent counseling to deal with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, which still can be triggered from time to time. A rash of shootings in recent weeks brought back memories of terror.

“Any type of domestic-type attack, it always hits close to home, like the Boston Marathon bombing, school shootings, the mall shooting, everything,” he said.

Billapando insists he loves the challenge of adapting recipes for all dietary needs, whether that’s specific preferences or players who prefer a gluten-free diet.

“We’re in a different culture. I embrace it,” Billapando said. “I know it’s an honor for them to be on a national team, and it’s a huge honor for me to represent the United States culinary-wise.”

Billapando is mixing in some traditional ingredients from Brazil, eating his own share of mangoes along the way. The team appreciates having someone they know available to cook some of their favorites, even when far from home.

“Good food. I think that’s a good thing, absolutely,” forward Jozy Altidore said, grinning. “It’s good to know we’ll have someone to cook stuff we’re familiar with.”

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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