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Durant signs another deal, this time Orange Leaf

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder forward Kevin Durant said Thursday that he has signed a partnership deal with Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt.

Durant will own an undisclosed percentage of the company, his first such partnership since he joined the Roc Nation agency founded by Jay-Z last year. Orange Leaf, based in Oklahoma City, has 321 stores in 40 states, four in Australia and 69 under construction.

Reese Travis, CEO of Orange Leaf, thought he was on the right track when he chose to pursue Durant as the company’s first brand ambassador.

Because of his negotiations with the Oklahoma City star, Travis was invited to attend the MVP award ceremony and once he heard Durant’s acceptance speech, he knew he was doing the right thing.

“It was moving,” Travis said. “It was a speech that Kevin Durant delivered in the way that only Kevin Durant can deliver. It was heartfelt, it was authentic, it was unique to Kevin. As I’m sitting there thinking of everyone that’s special in my life, every MVP I had in my life — my wife, family, my kids — something like that — when I walked out of that room, there was a sense of pride that we were in the process of creating a partnership with Kevin Durant.”

Durant has been in demand like never before since delivering his tearful 25-minute speech in May during which he thanked his teammates, support staff, coaches and his mother, Wanda Pratt. Since winning the MVP award, he has re-signed with Nike, Sprint and BBVA Compass, added deals with Orange Leaf and Sparkling Ice and was named the cover athlete for NBA 2K15.

Michael Yormark, Roc Nation’s president and chief of branding and strategy, said more partnerships are in the works, and his goal is to get Durant more deals than any NBA player. He said much of the extra attention has been a direct result of the way he handled being named MVP.

“I think the speech created a sense of urgency with many of the brands that we were talking to, to move forward in a meaningful way and develop a relationship with Kevin,” Yormark told The Associated Press. “Obviously, the speech was beyond magnificent, and we were talking with many brands during that period of time. I think that speech created that sense of urgency, and in many cases, truly convinced those people we were talking to that this was the right guy, the right athlete, the right brand to build a relationship with.”

The Nike deal was Durant’s biggest catch. He had a lucrative offer from Under Armour, but Nike surpassed it, and Durant remained with the company that has made his popular KD shoes.

“We think consistency is important,” Yormark said. “It’s the place he wanted to be, and it’s the place he will be most likely for the rest of his career.”

Orange Leaf has grown quickly since its founding in 2008, and Durant and Roc Nation introduced the possibility of ownership.

“The equity component creates a unique dynamic for him,” Yormark said. “As we continue to build his portfolio off the court, these are the types of opportunities we want to explore. These brands he’s working with are brands we want him to have relationships with for the next 10 years, the next 20 years.”

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .

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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