Hermelinda Morales, a parent of three Jamaica Elementary students, was honored as the Student of the Year at the annual Colorado Adult Educators Professional Association conference on April 23.

Morales enrolled in the Jamaica Toyota Families in School Family Literacy Program four years ago knowing no English. She is now in the pre-GED class. The Toyota program is a partnership with The Learning Source.

Morales is a devoted advocate for family literacy programs. She traveled to Washington, D.C. in March 2003 to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness. Morales strongly believes in the value of participating in the family literacy program while her children are in school so that the whole family learns together.