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Gov. Haley urges Atlantic Beach to end Bikefest

By WTOP Staff

BRUCE SMITH
Associated Press

ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Nikki Haley urged the Atlantic Beach Town Council on Tuesday to end the town’s annual biker festival and promised to work to help transform the tiny beachfront community into a family-friendly destination that tourists from across the nation will visit.

“Please help us put an end to what we know as Bikefest,” Haley urged the council in the wake of a rash of violence during this year’s festival on Memorial Day weekend.

But Mayor Jake Evans, who has repeatedly said the event won’t end, told reporters that “there’s nothing on the table for us to get rid of Bikefest.”

“If she wants to help Atlantic Beach in any other kind of way, the citizens of Atlantic Beach and me as the mayor and town council welcome that,” he said, noting that the town is open to efforts to make the event safer.

Bikefest attracts tens of thousands of bikers to the small, predominantly black seaside community of about 350 year-round residents. This year, while there was no trouble in Atlantic Beach, there were eight shootings, with three deaths, in nearby communities along the Grand Strand.

“I see value in Atlantic Beach. I see opportunity in Atlantic Beach,” the governor said. “But instead of talking about the people of Atlantic Beach and the pride that is associated with Atlantic Beach, we’re on the front page of USA Today” with a story about the violence.

Haley proposed that the town and state work together to showcase the history of Atlantic Beach, known as the Black Pearl. During the days of segregation, it was the only place on the Grand Strand where blacks could go to the beach.

She said the town could be redeveloped re-creating the era when the beach community was thriving and “we had Ferris wheels, restaurants and hotels.”

“I would like to work with you along with my director of tourism to find a way to make sure this is a vacation spot that people from all over the country will want to see. In order for me to help you do that, I need your help,” the governor said.

The $60,000 or so the town makes on Bikefest fees is a big chunk of its $500,000 annual budget.

But, Haley said, “I promise you that you will get the same amount of revenue. I promise you that you will have as many people.”

Town council members had no questions after the governor’s brief comments. Evans said the council would consider Haley’s suggestions.

Haley pressed as to when there could be another meeting and Evans said he would get back to her within a month or so.

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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