Colton Pickrell, of Zanesville, Ohio, is the first Coastal Carolina University graduate to be awarded the recently established Trustee Award, which gives $5,000 to every student who completes a bachelor's degree in three years. Pickrell graduated in December 2015 with a bachelor's degree in economics.

CCU's board of trustees established the $5,000 Trustee Award to encourage students to accelerate their academic experience, completing what would normally be a four-year degree in three years. The award is available to all first-time freshmen entering Coastal Carolina University.

"I wanted to graduate early because I wanted to get a jump-start on my career so I could start gaining valuable experience before I continue on to graduate school," said Pickrell. "The Trustee Award was a good incentive to graduate early. The award will help me pay off my student loans."

Pickrell is working temporarily at Quality Residential Alternatives in Ohio. He is interviewing for a financial analyst position with three different banks in Columbus, Ohio.