Campus & Community

Growing up in a single parent household, Joseph Morel learned early the difficulties of life and the strengths one must have to succeed.

Determined to help his mother pay the bills, he and his older brother sacrificed their weekends to mow grass. Now, he is just as determined to help students at Palm Beach State College as their newly appointed student trustee for the 2017-18 academic year.

Morel, a Palm Beach County native and Coastal High School graduate, replaces former student trustee David Hernandez. He will take his seat at the dais for his first PBSC District Board of Trustees meeting Aug. 8. Morel was selected by a committee through an application process open to all PBSC students. He is the 17th student to serve in the role.

Morel hopes to bring to the role lessons he has learned in childhood, but also in the military. After high school, he attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving for two years in the infantry.

“The military was able to teach me critical thinking and analytical skills while developing a strong willpower to be able to do everything that is asked of me,” said Morel. “It also taught me to have discipline and pride in the work that I do as a man because it is a direct reflection of who I am. This translated rather perfectly when I decided to join the Palm Beach State College family.”

Morel is pursuing an Associate in Arts degree with a business focus and an Associate in Science degree in Electrical Power Technology. He is also a member of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College. This year, he commuted between three campuses. Though it seemed daunting at first, Morel says it helped him feel more connected to the College.

“I was able to generate lasting relationships with faculty and students across all three campuses, which allowed me to understand the concerns of many students and faculty,” said Morel. “It also allowed me to participate in numerous campus activities and raise awareness of Panther Pride.”

In addition to taking on the rigors of the Honors College, he has been active on campus. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and represented PBSC at the National Model United Nations in New York. Morel has also participated in the College’s Model Legislature Program, Student Government Association, and was a Supplemental Instructor for physics. Last summer, he worked on Capitol Hill as an intern for Florida Senator Bill Nelson.

As the student trustee, Morel says he wants to work with students to generate solutions and new ideas to help promote a brighter future for Palm Beach State.