Growing up in Bluffton, Ind., Zander Huss learned the importance of hard work early in life. Raised by his single mother with two brothers, Zander realized that paying for college would be tough.
He refused to let money limit his future, though, and was determined to get a good education and pursue his athletic interests. He chose Trine University because it provided the quality and opportunities he needed to succeed.
In high school, Zander completed two years of trade school, initially thinking that college wasn’t for him. “I thought college was a scam,” he recalls. However, his precision-machining classes ignited a new interest. While he enjoyed the hands-on work, he found himself more fascinated by designing the projects, imagining, programming and improving mechanical systems. With encouragement from his teacher and cross-country coach, he pursued higher education to study mechanical engineering.
That decision led Zander to seek support from Questa Education Foundation, a northeast Indiana-based nonprofit that helps students access postsecondary education and graduate with less debt.
Through the Questa Scholars Program, Zander received life-changing funding to attend Trine. “Between school aid and Questa, that pretty much put me at a net zero,” he says. “It covered what federal and state aid couldn’t, so I could focus on school instead of working crazy hours.” When he graduates, he can earn up to 75% loan forgiveness on his Questa loan by living and working in Northeast Indiana for five years.
Free from financial worry, Zander thrived. He participated in athletics, joined a fraternity and helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity. “There’s no way I could have done any of that if I was out flipping burgers trying to cover tuition,” he says.
Now nearing graduation, Zander looks forward to starting his career in mechanical engineering, building a home and continuing to give back to the community that helped him. “You get dealt the cards you get, but once you’re on your own, it’s up to you,” he says. “I’ve been really fortunate, and I want to help others find those same opportunities.”
