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Kenneth Leatherman on the University of Texas at Dallas campus.

Kenneth Leatherman

UT Dallas

Kenneth Leatherman

Graduated, Electrical Engineering Major, at UT Dallas

Financial Sources

Job: United States Marine

Financial Aid & Scholarships: G.I. Bill, loans

Kenneth's Story

After a stint in the U.S. Marines and a push from his wife to take some basic courses at a community college, Kenneth Leatherman figured it was time to enroll in a university to work toward a degree.

But chief among his concerns was whether he would ever be able to afford it. With no scholarship offers, he knew he would have to rely on the GI Bill and loans to help him round out his undergraduate education at UT Dallas. Moreover, he’d have to do it while helping support his wife and with a baby on the way, too.

Turns out, support from the military and two modest, unsubsidized loans were all he needed to complete an undergraduate degree in government/political science. He graduated with a manageable debt load of $21,000.

The higher education experience was so worthwhile (it included a fellowship that took him to Washington, D.C. to study government), Kenneth decided to pursue a law degree and is now a first-year student at SMU’s Dedman School of Law.

Eventually, he hopes to work in government, possibly as a county prosecutor.

“I’m the first member of my family ever to attend college,” said Kenneth, 34. “It took me a little longer than most, but I finally learned that a college education is absolutely necessary if you hope to be successful.”

 

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