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Olympic champion Douglas now training in Ohio

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

Gabby Douglas has a new coach and a new game plan in her comeback.

The defending Olympic women’s gymnastics champion told The Associated Press on Friday she remains intent on defending her all-around title in Rio in 2016 but will spend the rest of this year focusing on developing new routines with coach Kittia Carpenter.

The 18-year-old Douglas joined Carpenter’s elite program at Buckeye Gymnastics in Columbus, Ohio, last week. Douglas and longtime coach Liang Chow parted ways in July.

“I wasn’t looking to leave Iowa, but I was placed in a position where I had to make a decision to find another coach,” Douglas said. “Even though I have had to make that change, I’m committed to working hard to be a part of the 2016 Rio Olympic Team.”

Douglas returned to training at Chow’s gym in West Des Moines in April and impressed U.S women’s team coordinator Martha Karolyi, who thought Douglas could be ready to compete in the world championships in China this year. Douglas said in June she hoped to participate in the all-around at the U.S. championships in Pittsburgh later this month but instead will focus on building her relationship with Carpenter and regaining the form that helped her become the first American gymnast to win the all-around and team gold in the same Olympics.

“Martha and I discussed the need for me to focus on my current training plans and to continue the consistent momentum I have been building,” she said. “I am looking forward to competing again soon for Team USA.”

Carpenter’s program includes rising junior Nia Dennis, who is competing at the Secret Classic in Chicago on Saturday.

“They have a strong elite competitive program and I am very honored to pursue my journey to Rio with them,” Douglas said.

Douglas added she is “overwhelmed” by the response since she started working in Ohio and is confident she and Carpenter “can accomplish great things together.”

No woman has repeated as all-around Olympic champion since 1968.

Douglas took a lengthy sabbatical from training following her rapid rise to Olympic champion. She moved to California last fall to be closer to her family and capitalize on the commercial opportunities that arose after her stirring triumph at the O2 Arena.

She headed back to Iowa in the spring and made significant progress. Douglas said in June she’s “80 percent” of where she was at in London and joked her banged up wrists were proof of how hard she’s working.

Douglas said she’s training “harder than ever” with Carpenter as they try to return to a stacked U.S. team that includes defending world and national champion Simone Biles.

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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