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Iyanla, Sharpton, others recognized by McDonald’s

By WTOP Staff

CHEVEL JOHNSON
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — From inspirational motivators and community activists to business owners and a former athlete, this year’s recipients of the McDonald’s 365 Black Awards cover the spectrum of altruism.

The 11th annual star-studded show, hosted by actors Terrence “J” Jenkins and Tika Sumpter airs at 10 p.m. EDT Sunday on the cable channel Black Entertainment Television. A rebroadcast will occur Sunday, Aug. 17, at 11 p.m. EDT on the cable channel CENTRIC.

This year’s honorees include inspirational leader Iyanla Vanzant, whose television show “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” returns in October for a fourth season on the OWN Network.

“I’m a longtime McDonald’s customer,” Vanzant recalled recently in an interview with The Associated Press. “When I left New York to practice law in Philadelphia, I was a young whippersnapper and I was struggling a lot. My daughter got a job at McDonald’s and every night, she would bring home whatever left over food there was. I was always so grateful to have it. And to receive this award just warms my heart.”

She notes the award was given by the McDonald’s franchise owners and operators in every community. “I’m a grassroots person and that means the world to me. I stay connected to community, which keeps me motivated.”

Vanzant’s reality-television self-help show, “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” returns for a fourth season in October on the OWN Network. “My prayer was to reach the largest amount of people with the least amount of effort and that prayer was answered,” she said. “The television show is an extension of what I do in my workshops and classes. Most of what I teach can’t be taught online. Getting to do it one-on-one with a viewing audience gives them greater access to my work, the concepts and the processes.”

Others being honored include civil rights activist, the Rev. Al Sharpton; film producer Will Packer; music executive Kevin Liles; former NFL linebacker Dhani Jones and McDonald’s owner/operator and civic leader Henry L. Coaxum Jr., of New Orleans.

The company is also honoring 14-year-old artist Skyler Grey and entrepreneur Gabrielle Jordan Williams with its first McDonald’s 365Black Community Choice Youth Award.

Grey, a high school sophomore whose been drawing since the age of 2, said the recognition feels really good.

“It was amazing seeing all the positive reaction,” Grey said. “I was really surprised to see so many people in tears. Seeing how my dad reacted was great too. No street artist or pop artist has gotten an award like I did. A lot of people thought I was a joke because I was so small, well I’m not a joke anymore.”

Grey’s works encompass the mixed media fields, and uses a variety of elements including acrylics, Indian ink, silk screens, permanent markers and spray paint. His work has been displayed in galleries worldwide including Graffik Gallery in London and Trace Gallery in Switzerland.

“I just want to tell the kids, ‘You have to be persistent, but you’re born to win and destined for greatness. Activate your destiny,'” he said.

The show, which features performances by recording artists Kim Burrell, Tan, Leela James, Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi, Mali Music and Kierra Sheard, was held during the 20th anniversary of the Essence festival in New Orleans.

A rebroadcast will air Sunday, Aug. 17, at 11 p.m. EDT on the cable channel CENTRIC.

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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