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Shane Ray starring at defensive end for Missouri

By WTOP Staff

JAKE KREINBERG
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri defensive end Shane Ray turned to football to stay out of trouble.

“My mom felt that I needed some structure,” Ray said. “At the time, I was just trying to find a way to stay in school after high school.”

The national leader in tackles for losses, Ray grew up in a crime-riddled section of Kansas City. He lived with his mother, Sebrina Johnson, who pushed him into the game.

Football demanded responsibility, and Ray quickly adapted, developing a work ethic that led to college scholarship offers once deemed unimaginable. He chose Missouri over Notre Dame to stay close to home.

“My mom is my best friend,” Ray said. “She’s my everything. It’s just been her and me basically my whole life. She’s sacrificed so much to make sure I was successful in school and football. You can’t have a better mom than that.”

Although not as close to his father, Wendell Ray, he has worked on improving their relationship since arriving at Missouri. The elder Ray was a defensive lineman for the Tigers and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1981.

Ray’s determination has stood out in high school and at Missouri.

“He was a train-wrecker kind of player,” defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski said. “You watch him play in high school, it’s like, ‘Man, this guy plays really hard. This guy plays with reckless abandon.’ That’s how he plays. He’s got unshakeable confidence.”

After redshirting in 2011, the junior backed up Kony Ealy and Michael Sam the last two seasons, playing in 26 games and making 11 1-2 tackles for losses, including 4 1-2 sacks. Ray says the turning point for any player occurs when he can utilize what he has learned in practice in games.

“Shane’s always trying to learn,” defensive end Markus Golden said. “I don’t even look at him as a teammate. That’s a brother. When I first moved to defensive end, that’s who taught me a lot as far as all the plays.”

Ray has 7 1-2 tackles for losses, including five sacks, through three games this season. A bit undersized at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he was honored as the SEC defensive player of the week. He recorded four tackles for losses in a 38-10 victory over Central Florida last week.

Golden has 6 1-2 tackles for losses, including four sacks, giving the 18th-ranked Tigers (3-0) one of the country’s top duos at defensive end for the second consecutive season.

“They were dominant players a year ago,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “I had some NFL scouts come in and saying, ‘Those two guys (Ealy and Sam) are pretty good, but the two behind them, shoot, they might be better.’

“Don’t tell Kony and Michael I said that.”

As the awards trickle in and the spotlight grows, it would be understandable for Ray to start envisioning his dream scenario of playing in the NFL. But, he says, he would rather focus on this week’s opponent, Indiana (1-1).

“Anytime someone gets older, they mature,” defensive coordinator Dave Steckel said. “You see a lot of difference in kids. It’s kind of cool. One of the good things about college is you see the kids kind of grow up in front of your eyes.”

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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