August 2013


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


The Hampton Roads Messenger 11 Education 5 Tips for Saving on College BY KELLY JUBIC Let’s face it. College tuition can


be expensive. If you think about it in real terms, the annual cost of attending some colleges can equate to purchasing a new car each year. It seems absurd, right? Like many others, you might be wondering “How am I ever going to pay for college” and “Is there anything that I can do to lower my costs?” As a college graduate, current graduate student, and high school teacher, I’ve learned a few tricks on how to save on college:


Paying for college Consider attending a community


college first and transferring after two years. Some states, such as Virginia and California, offer guaranteed admissions to certain four-year institution of higher education for students who complete two years at a community college. You can get your prerequisite classes out of the way and save yourself quite a lot of money in the process. Additionally, SAT and ACT scores aren’t required to get into community college – another money-saving perk. Taking a path like this is a great way to prevent you from borrowing more money than needed.


Just because you are awarded a


sum of money doesn’t mean that you have to borrow all of it. Look at your finances, your tuition/school costs,


Helen Thomas FROM PAGE 3


of Arab American Organizations (CAAO). After WSU removed the award, members of CAAO met with officials from WSU to discuss its decision.


CAAO cautioned that if the


decision was not properly addressed and corrected, it would negatively impact relations between the university and the Arab American community for many years.


The decisions resulted in a major


backlash from groups and individuals across the country, who called on SPJ and WSU to reinstate both awards, saying the decisions were an attack on free speech and undermined the principals of journalism. Several organizations, including youth groups, held protests to put pressure on the university and SPJ to reverse their decisions.


Jaafar says she spoke to Thomas


after the awards were revoked. “She always said, ‘No one can take anything away from you, as long as you stand on solid ground and maintain your integrity.”’


Still, even after she was forced to


resign, and her awards were removed, the brave and outspoken Thomas would continue fighting for what she believed in. She remained true to herself until the end. During an event at the Palestine Cultural Office in May 2011, where Thomas was presented with the “Relentless Courage Award” for her audacity to speak truth to power, she delivered a speech in support of Palestinian rights, while wearing a bracelet that read “Palestine.”


At the event, when asked by


The Arab American News whether she would take back her remarks about Israel, she said, “Never. I spoke


and borrow only what you need. If you want to accept less than what you were offered, let your school know ASAP because borrowing more than you need will cost you extra in the long run.


There is a lot of free money


out there. That’s right. I said FREE money; so go find it! You can get it in the form of a scholarship – a sum of money awarded to students to help pay for school. Scholarships are different than loans in that they do not need to be paid back; they are completely free. So, look into applying for scholarships before borrowing a loan. There are thousands of scholarships out there. Scholarships come in all forms – large, small, national, local, etc. On top of that, there are scholarships catered for people of certain ethnicities, locations, majors, religions, skills, along with many other classifications. Think of any topic, and there is probably a scholarship for it – the best homemade duct tape prom outfit, a scholarship for being tall, and a candy technology scholarship. So, my advice is: look into applying for scholarships before borrowing money. Check out College Board’s Scholarship Search to find scholarships that fit your individual characteristics.


the truth. I don’t believe in human tyranny, which is what is happening in Palestine.”


When TAAN asked Thomas


whether she was bothered about not being at the annual WSU Spirit of Diversity Awards Ceremony, which was being held on the same day, she said, "I'm not bothered. They should be bothered. They denied Americans freedom of speech, and that is shameful for any university."


In response to some of her awards


being pulled, several new ones were created in her name from groups, such as the Lebanese American Heritage Club and the National Arab American Journalists Association.


Thomas made it known that she was proud of her Arab roots.


“She was somebody who made


you feel proud to be Arab American. She was extremely confident in who she was,” Jaafar said.


“Helen’s life is a remarkable


American success story; a rich fulfillment of the American Dream,” says Devon Akmon, Arab American National Museum Director.


“Her immigrant parents took


the risk, sought the opportunities for themselves and their children, and raised Helen to be the independent, tireless achiever she was – a woman who did not allow her gender, ethnic heritage and later, her age, to limit her goals in any way.”


Thomas was inducted into the


Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 1993.


President Obama also commented


on Thomas’ passing, saying, “What made Thomas the ‘Dean of the White House Press Corps’ was not just the length of her tenure, but her fierce belief that our democracy works best when we ask tough questions and hold our leaders to account.”


In order to reduce the amount


of money that you need to borrow, consider getting a job while you attend school. You might even be able to find a part-time job somewhere – perhaps the school library or IT help desk – that allows you to study while you work. Additionally, there are federal and statewide work study programs that can help you earn money to help pay for college, reducing the amount you need to borrow.


When borrowing loans, choose


federal student loans over private student loans. If you receive a federal


Thomas was married to Douglas


Cornell, who was a White House reporter for the Associated Press and passed away in 1982. She graduated from WSU in 1942 and is among its most distinguished alumni.


Thomas will be greatly missed


by her three surviving sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Thomas’ body will be brought back to Detroit, where she will be buried. Sources say


loan, it will have a fixed interest rate , whereas private loans may fluctuate. Moreover, federal loans offer many options for repayment, forbearance, and deferment. Learn more about the differences between federal and private loans.


It’s always a nice feeling to save


money. So, make sure to explore all of the money-saving options available to you, and you might be able to alleviate some of your college expenses. If you have any other questions or concerns about saving on college, visit StudentAid.gov.


that the service is expected to take place in August, and a memorial service will be held in Washington D.C. this October.


When asked what Thomas’ advice


to young and aspiring journalists would be, Geha responded, “Don’t be afraid. Have courage. You’re not out to win a popularity contest. You are there on the public’s behalf to keep them informed.”


Scholarship Watch Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest


Eligibility: 12th Graders, College Undergraduates, and Graduate Students


Entry Deadline: September 17, 2013


FIRST PRIZE: $10,000 3 SECOND PRIZES: $2,000 5 THIRD PRIZES: $1,000 25 FINALISTS: $100 50 SEMIFINALISTS: $50


Atlas Shrugged Cover Topics


Select ONE of the following three topics:


Atlas Shrugged contains both businessmen who are heroes, such as Hank Rearden and Dag- ny Taggart, and businessmen who are villains, such as Orren Boyle and James Taggart. What are the differences between these types of businessmen? Is the story a celebration of business? How does this issue relate to the wider themes in the novel? Hank Rearden says that the killer


tenet which destroys a man is the soul-body dichotomy—that this wrong idea has been the source of his life’s pain. What do you think this dichotomy is? How has it wreaked havoc in Hank’s life? What is the meaning of money to Francisco? To James Taggart? For more information, or to enter, visit essaycontest.aynrandnovels. com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16