Major: Computer Science

Hometown: West Hazleton, PA

Proud Huskies like John often support multiple initiatives throughout the year to help BU students. John has been a loyal supporter to BU since graduating in 1990. In fact, he hasn’t missed making a gift in 29 consecutive years. But, when he learned about the Academic Promise Scholarship, he was compelled to give a little more.

BU and the BU Foundation offer many opportunities like the Academic Promise Scholarship, which was created to help provide support for the more than one third of students who enroll that come from low-income households. These students are very often the first in their families to go to college, and that support can make all the difference in helping them succeed.

As a first-generation student himself, John and his family stretched every dollar to achieve his goal of obtaining his degree. He didn’t receive any scholarships and relied on some support from his parents, income from his job at his hometown grocery store in West Hazleton, PA, and a few student loans.

“My parents helped me a little bit, but I also took out loans,” John says. “I graduated with about $6,000 in debt, and I know most students today face three or four times that amount.”

Now, well established in his career as a successful IT program manager for Freedom Mortgage, John gives when he can to create opportunities for today’s Huskies.