TJ is Project Manager, Gene Eadys’ stepson. He is pursuing a Sports & Entertainment Management degree at University of South Carolina (UOSC). He did everything right to increase his chances of getting into college. He took challenging courses throughout high school to show he was comfortable handling a college workload, earned excellent grades, and began his college search early.
He volunteered for the local Police Athletic League, collected holiday gifts for children and families in need, and served at food banks and nursing homes in one of the poorest cities in the Unites States.
TJ is enrolled in Academic Common Market (ACM) to help offset the cost of attending UOSC. This program greatly reduces his cost and was a major factor in TJ’s decision to attend UOSC. ACM combined with a merit scholarship, and the Ed and Fern Hamel Scholarship provides him with the opportunity to earn a degree from one of the top universities in the nation.
To help close the financial gap, TJ only borrowed what he needed and accepted one Federal Unsubsidized Loan. Even though he technically does not have to think about student loan payments until after graduation, he uses the extra money he earns working during the summer months to pay off the loan balance. There is no downside to making payments on loans while still in school.
TJ is demonstrating that it is possible to complete college debt free – it just takes creative thinking and bit of extra work.
