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Soccer-mad Portland readies for All-Star spotlight

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN DUBOIS
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Even on balmy summer nights, a green Portland Timbers scarf is a ubiquitous accessory in a place known as Soccer City USA.

But fans aren’t just in it for the fashion. It’s common to see them sleeping outside Providence Park the night before a match. After kickoff, the atmosphere in the always-sold out stadium is loud and intense as fans sing and chant for the full 90 minutes.

Visitors and television viewers in 150 countries will get a look at Portland’s enthusiasm for the sport at Wednesday’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game. The contest pits the American professional league’s best players against German powerhouse Bayern Munich, which includes six players who played for the World Cup-winning country.

“People throughout the U.S. and Canada have certainly witnessed the incredible passion and atmosphere that exists in Providence Park for a Timbers game. It does not go unnoticed,” said Dan Courtemanche, the MLS’ executive vice president of communications. “Our television partners, they love to have games on their networks from Portland because when people turn on the television and see that crowd, see (lumberjack mascot) Timber Joey cutting that log, it’s compelling television,”

Though the all-star game is the major draw, the league has turned the entire week into a celebration of soccer. Portland’s downtown square has added a mini-soccer field. The square is serving as the hub for many activities, including a free viewing party for those who couldn’t get tickets.

Tenzin Samkhar, 21, wore a Bayern Munich jersey while checking out the square Friday. He has a ticket for Wednesday’s match.

“I’m like super excited,” he said. “It’s a big team in Europe; they just recently won almost everything. It’s crazy that they’re coming here.”

Portland wouldn’t be Portland without bicycles, indie rock and food carts, and those are also being tied in with all-star week. The Flaming Lips and Cold War Kids are playing free concerts, two bicycling events are on tap for Sunday and several food-cart operators will compete at the MLS Grilled Cheese Throwdown.

“What’s more Portland than that, right?” Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said of the sandwich contest.

Paulson bought the Timbers when they played at a level below Major League Soccer. The crowds were enthusiastic at the time, but the excitement jumped exponentially when the club joined MLS for the 2011 season.

Within Portland, there’s a perception that the city embraces soccer because its residents like to be different or long to be European.

“I think there’s a little counterculture element here. You know, the whole ‘Keep Portland Weird’ thing,” Paulson said. “But look, soccer’s flourishing in Kansas City, and nobody’s going to accuse Kansas City of being European or counterculture. The fact is the sport’s taking off.”

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Follow Steven DuBois at twitter.com/pdxdub

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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