Lauren Pesci, of Butler, considers herself lucky to have graduated from Clarion University with minimal student-loan debt in her wake. After her 2013 graduation, it took her seven years to pay off nearly $50,000 of debt.

Though she cannot partake of the student loan forgiveness plan the Biden administration announced last week, she is happy others will have relief.

“I think it’s great. I have tons of friends who are super in debt, and I want to see their lives improved,” she said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, President Joe Biden announced student loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 for the nation’s qualified students past and present. Some county residents who have graduated college will see the relief, while those such as Pesci just missed the cutoff, having paid their dues.

Students who received a federal Pell Grant will have up to $20,000 of debt forgiven, while individuals who earn less than $125,000 a year or less than $250,000 a year as a couple will have $10,000 of debt forgiven.

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