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Healthy again, Roland ready to lead Oklahoma State

By WTOP Staff

JOHN TRANCHINA
Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — After missing the spring practice with a shoulder injury, Oklahoma State running back Desmond Roland is back on the field and ready to step up as an offensive leader.

The senior began last season as a backup to the departed Jeremy Smith, but seized the starting job in the seventh game and finished the year strong.

Now, one week into practices for his final college season, Roland is healthy and looking forward to providing a very young team with some much-needed leadership.

“It was a blessing just to step back on the field,” said Roland, who rushed for 664 yards and seven touchdowns as the starter to help the Cowboys go 5-2 in their last seven games. “Last spring I was watching my teammates practice and it really hurt me. I felt like I couldn’t be a leader like I should, like I couldn’t say some stuff I wanted to say because I wasn’t out there with them. But now that I’m back on the field, I can be that leader and I can step up when I want to.”

Running backs coach Jemal Singleton saw Roland show flashes of leadership last season as he assumed a bigger role on the field. He expects big things from Roland this year as the go-to guy in the backfield.

“I think that started last year when he got a chance to kind of be the guy and carry the load a little bit,” Singleton said. “He showed he was more than capable of doing that. He also showed off the field that he could do the things required of him so that he could continue to be good, so I am looking forward to seeing what he does his final year.”

Roland embraces the responsibility of being a player that the younger guys can look up to, especially off the field in how he carries himself.

“I just have to come ready to practice every day, I can’t come with a bad attitude,” Roland said. “I have to stay positive, because I signed up for this. And that’s what I’m telling the freshmen, ‘You got to come ready to practice every day. Treat it like a game. It’s not too long before we’ll be playing in big-time games, and this hard work will pay off.'”

Singleton has noticed the impact that Roland’s off-field efforts have had on his younger teammates and is proud of him.

“He has definitely shown leadership by example,” Singleton acknowledged. “He’s working hard, he pushes himself for practice and he has a great attitude during meetings. He’s the oldest guy in the room, and he’s the only guy who has played a significant amount, or even started a football game. He’s an example of the tailbacks here at Oklahoma State, and I think his work off the field has really started to pay off.”

With Roland leading the backfield, Oklahoma State’s offense looks pretty potent, especially junior college transfer Tyreek Hill, and perhaps also sophomore Rennie Childs, slotting in behind him, or next to him, depending on how head coach Mike Gundy and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich opt to utilize them. Either way, there will be some dangerous weapons back there waiting to run the ball or catch a screen pass.

It also speaks to Roland’s maturity and commitment that he doesn’t see the highly-touted Hill’s presence as a threat to his playing time; rather, he’s excited at what kind of offensive damage the two of them can do together.

“I love the idea of me and him being in the backfield,” said Roland, who also returned seven kickoffs for 155 yards (22.1-yard average) last year. “Or me, him and Rennie, at times. The defense never knows who’s going to get the ball. We both can make big plays and I just can’t wait to see us in game time.”

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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