Honorable Mention Winner
Joel Hughes
Lake-Sumter Community College
Undeclared Sophomore
3.59 GPA

Joel Hughes, 19, of Lake-Sumter Community College puts blood, sweat, and tears into helping his community. Well, the blood part at least.

Hughes first began assisting in the planning and implementation of the school’s blood drives as part of the LSCC Diplomat program. His volunteer work at the Blood Center led to his current position as a member of the Blood Center Advisor Board, which works to increase blood donations.  “Students want to donate blood, they just needed a little encouragement, and I had encouragement to offer,” Hughes says. “The result of getting individuals to start donating blood early in their lives, and hopefully throughout their lives, will provide benefits for untold individuals and hospitals in need of blood for years to come.”

According to LSCC President Charles R. Mojock, Hughes took on the personal challenge of making LSCC one of the most productive blood-drive sites for the area blood bank by making flyers, setting up and manning tables between classes to sign up donors, and even dressing in his now-famous “blood-drop costume.” “Whenever you saw the costume, you knew it was time to sign up, and Joel wouldn’t let you rest until you did,” Mojock says. “I’ve never seen one student make such a difference on his own.”

When Hughes first started helping out with the campus blood drives, there were usually only about 12 donors per drive. Today LSCC’s blood drives average 40 to 50 donors per visit and the blood center now brings two buses per event instead of one. As a result of his hard work, Hughes received a certificate of recognition that was given “for initiative, enthusiasm, and leadership in your organization’s blood drives during 2003.”

But his efforts didn’t stop there—he’s also been a participant in campus food drives. His first food drive brought in a total of 1,400 items—a 30-percent increase from the previous year. Hughes also is active on campus through his many influential positions like vice-president of the Student Government Association and ambassador for the LSCC Foundation Office.

However, Hughes’ involvement stretches beyond LSCC’s campus. He has volunteered at the Young Men’s Christian Association, where he helped supervise children attending the summer camp, maintained the grounds and facilities, and catalogued uniforms and trophies.

Mojock says he can speak of Hughes accomplishments first hand because of the way Joel has distinguished himself in the college community. “Joel is one of our most outstanding leaders and has also demonstrated a dedication, maturity, and commitment that is all too rare in a person of his age,” he says.

Another responsibility close to Hughes’ heart is working part time for his dad, who has his own ministry. “I assist him with various tasks, ranging from writing donation receipts to helping him clean the church where he preaches each week,” he says. And just as Hughes supports his father, he’s been lucky enough to have his parents’ support in all his endeavors. While Hughes receives money from work-related scholarships and jobs outside of school, his dad has always been able to pay for all of his directly college-related fees.—RG

Contact Hughes at joel2college@cs.com.