DeKALB – Shondell Coleman was determined to become the first person in his family to go to college.

But as a first-generation minority student from Chicago with a low ACT score, his path was not going to be easy. He focused on academics his first year of college after being admitted to Northern Illinois University through a special program that relaxes admission requirements, but he racked up student debt.

Now, two jobs later, and a junior who has earned more than 10 scholarships, Coleman is down to $9,000 in student loan debt and hopes to pay it off before graduation. While proud of his accomplishments, Coleman knows financial challenges keep some other students from pursuing a college degree.