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Still spends Bengals’ bye caring for daughter

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Large, gray shipping envelopes were stacked in Devon Still’s locker on Monday, gifts from fans who are following his daughter’s fight with cancer.

The Bengals defensive lineman spent most of his bye week with his 4-year-old daughter Leah, who had surgery to remove a tumor from her abdomen. She has more chemotherapy ahead to attack the cancer in her bone marrow.

Leah’s story has gotten international attention and prompted thousands of people to buy Still’s jersey as part of a program to raise money for pediatric cancer care and research. Gifts arrive as well, like those stacked in his locker from the bye week.

“I’m pretty sure it has something to do with my daughter,” Still said. “People have been sending her a lot of different toys, blankets, dolls and everything.”

Nearly 10,000 people have spent $100 apiece to buy his No. 75 jersey as part of a team-sponsored campaign to raise money for Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati. The Bengals have a link on their website for those who want to donate without buying a jersey.

The team has gotten orders from all 50 states as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The program has raised more than $1 million and will continue through Oct. 20.

Fans have been getting their jerseys and sending photos to Still as a way of supporting him and his daughter.

“I’ve been getting a whole bunch of pictures,” Still said. “Ever since the jerseys started going out, people have been tagging me in their pictures and stuff. It’s good that people are willing to support, people are willing to put up $100 to help other families.”

Leah was diagnosed with cancer four months ago. The surgery last Thursday was a significant step in her recovery. Still said doctors were able to remove all of the cancerous tumor from her abdomen.

To calm her fears before surgery, Still showed her his scars from operations on his knee, ankle and back. A video of his pep talk went viral.

“It all came about because the whole night before she was talking about how nervous she was and I was trying to explain to her about what surgery was,” Still said. “I showed her the different scars that I have on my body from my surgeries to make her more comfortable with the one she’s going to have on her stomach.

“On the way to the hospital she was looking sad. And you see in the beginning of the video I said, ‘I’m going to say it again.’ The first time I asked her, she was really down. She didn’t really say anything. That’s when I asked her again and that’s when she started getting happy. So it was just to try to put a smile on her face and not to make her so nervous.”

Still expects his daughter to leave the hospital early this week.

“She had a successful surgery and she’s been getting better and better day by day that she’s been in the hospital,” Still said. “She’s been able to walk for the first time (since surgery) and did pretty good with that. She’s been able to sit up on her own. She’s a fighter.”

Notes: Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict didn’t practice with the team on Monday. Burfict sat out a 33-7 win over Tennessee before the bye because he’d gotten his second concussion of the season. Asked if Burfict will be cleared to resume practice this week for a game in New England on Sunday night, coach Marvin Lewis said, “I would imagine.” … RG Kevin Zeitler also missed practice. He hurt his right calf in the second game of the season and also was inactive against the Titans.

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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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