ISU HEP Student Receives National Student Champion Award

Each year the association puts out a call for nominations from approximately 50 HEP programs across the country. The Student Champion Award is the most prestigious student award conferred by The National HEPCAMP Association. Each year at the Annual Conference one student from a HEP receives this award for demonstrating outstanding dedication and performance.

Joel Pelayo was born in Jalisco and came to the U.S. in 1983, at the age of 15.  Since then, his first job was moving irrigation pipe. He is in his fifties now and still works in agricultural jobs. Joel has been married twice and is a beloved father. He finished his GED in March 2023 and proudly walked in the HEP graduation in June, with his family in attendance. It took him three years to graduate. Although the process was often difficult, he persisted with HEP because he wanted to accomplish what he was unable to do in Mexico and prove to himself that he could do it. When he is not working, Joel enjoys fishing, camping, and traveling to new places. He hopes to transition to electrical work in the future.

Joel was recognized in front of 200 plus HEP and CAMP staff conference attendees. He received a $1000 dollar prize and a plaque recognizing his accomplishments. Joel’s advice to those seeking to earn their GED “is to not feel discouraged and keep going forward…It’s never too late.”

The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) provides GED preparation and post-GED placement services to migrant seasonal farmworkers and their families. Services include classes in Spanish and English, community-based and residential options, computer lending and training, access to books and distance learning platforms, payment of testing fees, and help with job searches and college applications. We serve participants throughout southeastern Idaho.

For more information about ISU HEP please visit our website at isu.edu/hep.