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Tuesday’s Sports Transactions

By The Associated Press
BASEBALL
American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Released OF Michael Bourn and 3B Chris Johnson.

BOSTON RED SOX — Reassigned RHP Kyle Kendrick to minor league camp.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Traded OF Peter Bourjos to Tampa Bay for a player to be named or cash. Reassigned LHPs Cory Luebke and Matt Purke to minor league camp.

CLEVELAND INDIANS — Selected the contract of OF Austin Jackson from Columbus (IL). Agreed to terms with INF Jose Ramirez on a five-year contract. Optioned LHP Kyle Crockett and RHPs Carlos Frias and Nick Goody to Columbus (IL).

HOUSTON ASTROS — Optioned OF Preston Tucker to minor league camp.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Reassigned OFs Eric Young Jr. and Shane Robinson, RHPs Jose Valdez and Deolis Guerra, INF Rey Navarro and C Tony Sanchez to minor league camp.

MINNESOTA TWINS — Optioned LHP Buddy Boshers to Rochester (IL). Reassigned INF Tommy Field to minor league camp. Released RHP Ryan Vogelsong.

NEW YORK YANKEES — Reacquired LHP Caleb Smith from the Chicago Cubs as a Rule 5 draft return and assigned him to their minor league camp.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Released RHP Gavin Floyd.

National League

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Released OF Gregor Blanco and RHP Kevin Jepsen. Claimed 1B Christian Walker off waivers from Cincinnati.

ATLANTA BRAVES — Released RHPs Blaine Boyer and Kris Medlen.

CHICAGO CUBS — Released INF Muneno Kawasaki.

CINCINNATI REDS — Reassigned C Rob Brantly, LHP Lucas Luetge, RHP Louis Coleman and INFs Tony Renda and Hernan Iribarren to minor league camp. Optioned INFs Sal Romano and Tim Adleman to the minor leagues. Claimed INF Scooter Gennett off waivers from Milwaukee.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Optioned RHP Josh Fields and LHP Adam Liberatore to Oklahoma City (PCL).

MIAMI MARLINS — Optioned LHPs Hunter Cervenka and Justin Nicolino, RHP Brian Ellington and C Tomas Telis to New Orleans (PCL).

NEW YORK METS — Reassigned RHP Paul Sewald to minor league camp. Optioned C Kevin Plawecki to their minor league camp.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Optioned OF Roman Quinn to Lehigh Valley (IL). Released LHP Sean Burnett, OF Chris Coghlan and C Ryan Hanigan. Traded RHP Alec Asher to Baltimore for a player to be named or cash.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Optioned LHP Steven Brault and INF Gift Ngoepe to Indianapolis (IL). Reassigned RHPs Josh Lindblom and INF Jason Rogers to minor league camp.

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Selected the contract of INF Erick Aybar.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Released INF Gordon Beckham and RHP David Hernandez.

American Association

CLEBURNE RAILROADERS — Signed OF Nick Van Stratten and RHP Patrick Mincey.

GARY SOUTHSHOER RAILCATS — Signed OF Jackson Glines.

KANSAS CITY T-BONES — Signed INF/OF Kevin Keyes.

LAREDO LEMURS — Signed INF Taylor Lindsey and RHP Max Duval.

TEXAS AIRHOGS — Signed RHP Devin Malone.

Atlantic League

LONG ISLAND DUCKS — Signed LHP Rafael Perez, OF Angelo Songco and INF Elmer Reyes.

Can-Am League

SUSSEX COUNTY MINERS — Signed RHP Bryton Trepagnier. Traded RHP Kaohi Downing to Lancaster (Atlantic) for a player to be named.

TROIS-RIVIERES AIGLES — Signed RHP Nick Neumann.

BASKETBALL
National Basketball Association

CHICAGO BULLS — Assigned G Cameron Payne to Windy City (NBADL).

FOOTBALL
National Football League

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Signed DL Jamie Meder.

DALLAS COWBOYS — Signed TE Jason Witten to a four-year contract extension through 2021.

NEW YORK JETS — Signed OL Jonotthan Harrison.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Agreed to terms with DE Chris Long on a two-year contract.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Re-signed RB DuJuan Harris to a one-year contract.

HOCKEY
National Hockey League

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Agreed to terms with F Matheson Iacopelli on a two-year contract and assigned him to Rockford (AHL).

DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled C Ben Street from Grand Rapids (AHL) under emergency conditions. Assigned D Dan Renouf to Grand Rapids.

MINNESOTA WILD — Recalled F Joel Eriksson Ek from Farjestad BK (Swedish Elite League) for the remainder of the season.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Signed D Michael Kapla to a two-year, entry-level contract.

NEW YORK RANGERS — Agreed to terms with D Vince Pedrie.

ST. LOUIS BLUES — Signed D Jake Walman to a three-year, entry level contract.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING — Reassigned F Joel Vermin to Syracuse (AHL).

American Hockey League

BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS — Signed Fs Matt Gaudreau and John Stevens to amateur tryout agreements.

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS — Signed D Patrick McCarron to an amateur tryout agreement for the remainder of the season and a standard contract for next season.

ECHL

ECHL — Suspended Allen F Josh Brittain one game and Utah RW Ralph Cuddemi three additional games.

SOCCER

FIFA — Banned Lionel Messi from Argentina’s next four World Cup qualifying games for insulting a match official.

Major League Soccer

MLS — Fined Real Salt Lake M Sunday Stephen an undisclosed amount for his actions in a March 25 game against the New York Red Bulls.

NEW YORK RED BULLS — Named Bradley Carnell assistant coach.

OLYMPIC SPORTS

USADA — Announced an arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association determined weightlifting athlete Mary Hall should receive a four-year sanction after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

COLLEGE

HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE — Named Amy Bonner supervisor of women’s basketball officials.

CONNECTICUT — Named Ralph Chillious men’s assistant basketball coach. Announced freshman G-F Vance Jackson will transfer.

DUKE — Freshman F Harry Giles will enter the NBA draft. Announced men’s basketball F Sean Obi will transfer.

DUQUESNE — Named Keith Dambrot men’s basketball coach.

LA SALLE — Named William Bradshaw director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation.

MICHIGAN STATE — Announced junior CB Drake Martinez will transfer.

N.C. STATE — Freshman G Dennis Smith Jr. will enter the NBA draft.

OKLAHOMA SCIENCE & ARTS — Named Richard Barker volleyball coach.

QUINNIPIAC — Named Baker Dunleavy men’s basketball coach.

RADFORD — Named Bryheem Hancock men’s soccer coach.

RUTGERS — Named Anna Khrystenko assistant women’s volleyball coach.

WINTHROP — Promoted interim women’s basketball coach Lynette Woodard to permanent head coach.

XAVIER — Sophomore G Edmond Sumner will enter the NBA draft.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE — Named Jerrod Calhoun men’s basketball coach.

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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