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Without �������� (��������), Kenneth Dantes doesn�t think he would�ve been able to get on the path to his dream career of becoming a movie director. Now, he�s living in Los Angeles on his way to making his dreams come true.

�I had big ambitions to be a movie director,� Dantes said. �I just couldn't afford film school. At ��������, I knew I could afford it and explore what I wanted to do.�

Dantes started his college education at a four-year institution in Wisconsin, but quickly realized the cost was too much for him to continue to afford. �������� was not only far less expensive, but being able to live at home lowered his expenses even more.

After starting at �������� in 2016, Dantes felt right at home at the smaller college. With smaller classes, he felt like he had the opportunity to get to know his instructors.

�It felt like a community because there were actually those teachers that have had time for you,� he said. �During class, I knew I could have that relationship with them.�

The flexibility to work while going to school was crucial to gaining job experience. Dantes took jobs as a production assistant on different projects filming in the Chicagoland area, gaining experience and building his network.

Dantes studied literature during his time at �������� with the goal of becoming a better writer, and he also had a job on campus in the writing center as a tutor.

Dantes was part of ���������s Honors Scholars program, receiving free tuition. Through this program, he earned a full-tuition scholarship to Elmhurst University. This scholarship also paid for him to study abroad at the University of Oxford in England while attending Elmhurst.

Not only did being a �������� scholar help him financially, but it also helped Dantes feel ready for the next stage of his life.

�I really needed the confidence boost the scholarship program gave me, especially when I was awarded a scholarship to Elmhurst,� Dantes said.

Dantes is living in Los Angeles, something he said is only possible because of the financial benefits of ��������.

�Los Angeles is a really expensive place to live,� he said. �I can only afford it because of ��������. I don�t have any student debt.�

Dantes works as a background production assistant, meaning he directs and handles things for background actors. He�s worked on projects including Fox�s American Horror Story, NBC�s Quantum Leap, HBO�s Barry and more.