Freshman year of college is usually a bundle of nerves, uncertainty, and that underlying excitement.

Well, no one had a better start to his college career than Lem Turner from Illinois.

For the past three years, Ball State University has offered a semester of free tuition to any student who can nail a half-court shot at Worthen Arena during their massive pep rally.

As he explained to Ellen DeGeneres during a recent interview, Turner was seated in the front row of the rally, trying not to bring any attention to himself because he was a little shy. Then, he got picked with two other students to take the shot and figured, ‘Why not?’

Unbelievably, his shot was nothin’ but net.

Turner has three brothers, and they’re all close in age, so his family hasn’t had the easiest time balancing college expenses. Needless to say, his parents are both proud and grateful.

That’s not all. 

We know Ellen’s penchant for giving amazing gifts, right?!

Win a free semester of college, get to meet one of the coolest hosts on television, and then have her give you a car…no big deal.

Is this guy having the best year ever or what?