Skip to main content

Jason Wright, WFT create DMVotes initiatives ahead of general election

By Ryan Homler

Washington FT creates DMVotes initiatives ahead of election originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

With October 13 marking the last day for residents in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. to register to vote for the general election on November 3, the Washington Football Team has unveiled its DMVotes platform as it aims to have all local citizens participate in the upcoming election.

In a press release, the team explained that the DMVotes initiative “brings together various partners to hold voter initiatives with a mission of ensuring everyone across D.C., Maryland and Virginia “Get in the Game” and casts their ballot on or before November 3rd.”

Tuesday is the team’s final “Turnout Tuesday” at FedExField in which the stadium is transformed into a “voter engagement destination” that will allow fans to register, request an absentee ballot and learn more about the upcoming election and the voting procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Given my family’s history in social activism and civil rights, participating in the democratic process is personally important to me. My living and long passed ancestors were locked up, bled, and died for this right,” Washington Football Team president Jason Wright. “This is bigger than football. We are the team that represents the Capitol region, so it is important to our players on the field and everyone in the front office that we lead in voting, equity and justice, and that we have representation across the DMV. I am so proud to be a part of an organization that puts the community first and so very grateful to our partners who are going to help us attain unprecedented election turnout and do so safely.”

“Voter registration is a priority for me and the Washington Football Team because we believe that everyone has a voice and it’s important that everybody votes and has a say in who runs our country, our states, our city, and our communities,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “Just knowing so many people who worked and committed and fought and died to give us the opportunity to vote and impact our world, our country and our community, I think it’s more than our right; it’s our duty to cast our ballots.”

Following the registration deadline, the organization will continue to promote voting leading up to November 3.

During Washington’s October 25 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, the team will use the opportunity to encourage early voting through the “DMVotes Game.” PSA’s featuring players and coaches will be released to explain the importance of voting and what it means to them. All players on Washington’s roster are registered for the election.

Come Election Day, FedExField will serve as a Voting Center for those in Prince George’s County for those looking to vote in person. The Washington Football team will also “create a voter information station outside of the Washington Mystics’ home court at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Southeast D.C. and plans to develop a similar space near the Inova Sports Performance Center in Ashburn, VA.”

In addition to that, the team will work with the Capitals, Wizards, Nationals, NBC Washington and NBC Sports Washington to promote voting. The organization has also partnered with Chef Jose Andres’ nonprofit, “Chefs to the Polls” to hand out meals to workers at election centers and World Central Kitchen. Washington is working with Lyft to provide discounted rides to the polls and voting centers, as well.

For more information on the initiatives, fans can check out the DMVotes section of the team website. 

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Peter Laviolette out as Washington Capitals’ head coach

Former Md. chief of staff McGrath found and killed in Tennessee during arrest

U.Va. running back who survived deadly campus shooting shares his story