Larissa Salmon originally enrolled in a four-year university, but when she received her first tuition bill, she decided to look into other options. She researched programs at Fox Valley Technical College and found the associate degree in Printing and Publishing. Larissa graduated in 2009 and says, “It was the right career choice for me. My degree landed me a job that makes me feel accomplished; and I didn’t have to get over my head in debt to get there.”

Larissa’s family was not in a position to financially support her education. She commented, “I worked all through school, but it is tough to manage both. Scholarships helped alleviate some of the financial burden I faced. As a result, I have significantly smaller student loans to pay back, which makes life after college a lot less stressful.” Larissa currently works for Bemis Graphics in New London as a graphic technician III.