Senior year is perhaps the most exciting time for many college students. With graduation just around the corner, seniors start to take the necessary steps to culminate the fruits of their four years of hard work into one final product. Gabriel Noble was among the many seniors who returned to Elon University this fall with the same goal in mind. Instead of preparing for his final classes, however, he was sitting in an office being notified that he would not be able to graduate because of outstanding financial dues and federal loans.

Noble’s financial struggles began well before his senior year but culminated last spring when his family faced an unexpected hardship.

“After getting a foreclosure on our home, my family had to move from North Carolina to Virginia, so I was no longer eligible for in-state tuition,” Noble said. “This also meant that I lost a lot of the financial support necessary to pay for my tuition.”

Despite having to juggle several jobs, classes and an ongoing search for scholarship and education grants to pay off his outstanding dues at Elon, Noble successfully finished his spring term with only eight more credits required for graduation.

“I planned on simply coming back here in the fall of 2013, earning those eight credits and graduating in December,” he said. “But when I came back, I was told that I couldn’t take those two classes because I still owed a balance to the school.”

With only eight credits standing between him and graduation, he was not willing to give up that easily. Noble worked closely with professors throughout November trying to come up with proposals for donor-based funding.

“I was really grateful for those professors because I felt like nobody really had my back at that time, and they really helped me see that I was not alone,” he said.

But as weeks progressed and donors continued rejecting proposals, Noble began to lose hope.

“It was pretty frustrating because it took a while for donors to respond, and when they did, nothing was really resolved,” he said. “At one point, I was essentially planning on taking a chance and moving to California to live as a college dropout because I just felt so hopeless about the situation.”

Despite the obstacles, he continued to fight for his education with the support of his close friends and professors.

Campaign begins

On Jan. 22, in the midst of a casual conversation over dinner, seniors Kristel Tedesco and Andrew Riley discussed how unfair it was that Noble would not be able to graduate because he fell short a mere eight credits. Rather than confining their beliefs to that conversation, they decided to take immediate action.

“Gabe is the kind of person that puts the needs of others above his own and is also a fun-loving, creative free-spirit. Two classes shouldn’t stand between him and a degree because he has been working hard for it,” Tedesco said. “We decided to get the student body involved, and we realized that the Internet would be the fastest way to do it.”

Tedesco wrote the content of the petition, and Riley posted what she wrote on Change.org. The two then shared the petition with their friends on Facebook.

Within an hour of sharing the petition, more than 100 people had already signed, and the numbers kept increasing.

“I remember Kristel calling me and asking about the things I’ve done and letting me know that they were starting a petition,” Noble said. “At the time, I was still feeling pretty skeptical because of all the things that I had gone through. I was scared it was going to receive a backlash and that people wouldn’t understand my story. I had no idea it was going to make such a huge impact.”

Friends and strangers alike were soon united under the cause. Inspired by his many acts of selflessness, students, alumni and professors bombarded the petition with heart-warming reasons as to why they were signing.

“I was completely overwhelmed and brought to tears,” Noble said. “Sometimes you do things that you consider are good, you try to act friendly to people and you keep a positive attitude, but you never think people realize it or care. To my surprise, I somehow created an impression on these people. I’m so grateful that they cared.”

Noble immediately sent the link to his parents who began following the site.

Maria, Noble’s mother, says she knew her son had a lot of friends but didn’t realize they would be ready to defend him so fully.

“All those people made us realize that Gabriel had been right all along in wanting to fight for his education,” Maria Noble said. “At one point, we had suggested that he put it aside. We are so glad now that he did not listen to us.”

In addition to Noble’s affable nature and the impressions he left on people, Tedesco also credits the infectious response to social media and the impact of student voices.

“Facebook and Twitter are vehicles for change, and I think that’s one of the most important things I am taking away from this experience,” Tedesco said. “Students need to know that they have a powerful voice and that they should use social media for more than posting cute animal pictures. If they know how to use it, change is always certain.”

3,544 supporters later, change was definitely certain for Noble. About a week after the petition was posted, Elon granted Noble permission to take his final two classes with the funding he needed to graduate.

“When Gabriel called to let us know about Elon’s decision, we simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.  More for Gabriel than for us because we knew that a burden had finally been lifted off his shoulders,” Maria said.

On reflecting on the campaign for his education, Noble said he believes universities across the United States should provide more funding for students facing financial hardship.

“There are a lot of people like me who have the skills to graduate and who are very hardworking but don’t receive it because of certain policies or financial reasons,” he said.

What now?

Noble said he is excited to work hard during his final few months at Elon. He encourages his peers to make sure they don’t take their education for granted.

“All the small aspects of my Elon experiences matter so much more now. I’m excited for the simple act of going to class or getting long readings for homework and staying up all night to write papers. It’s weird, but I can’t wait to ride my bike to my two classes,” Noble said. “Don’t take those things for granted, because there are so many people who are losing it.”

Noble and Tesdesco said they are grateful to the community members who raised their voices and signed the petition. The unified voice of the community helped permanently alter an individual’s future.

“Saying thank you really isn’t enough. It means so much more to me, and I will always be grateful,” Noble said.

With graduation just around the corner for Noble, he is excited to finally leave with a complete Elon education.

“When I walk across that stage on graduation day, I’ll be telling myself that it’s a long time coming,” he said. “I think I’ll run across the stage and give whoever hands me that diploma the biggest and most meaningful hug.”

After graduation, he said hopes to help educate underprivileged children around the world.

“It shouldn’t be a privilege to get an education; it should be a right that everyone deserves if they work hard enough.”