Ludwing Campos is the first to admit he made some bad decisions in his 20s and was incarcerated for two years, but while in jail he came to realize family is everything. When he was released, he decided to make a change and last Friday, Campos was recognized for his hard work as he was named the Davis Technical College 2025 Student of the Year.

“My family has always been there for me,” said Campos. “It was my turn to give back. I disciplined myself and held myself accountable for all of my actions and moved that same formula into school.”

Campos was one of six students chosen as Student of the Year for their individual schools and then selected as the overall winner. He represented the School of Transportation. Halle Williams, School of Health Professions was the runner up.

Runner up, Halle Williams practices cutting off a cast in her Medical Assisting program. Courtesy photo.

“These awards spotlight the very best among our students,” said Kelly Simerick, Vice President of Instruction and Student Success. “Individuals who exemplify excellence, perseverance and passion.”

 Simerick shared a quote from the legendary soccer star Pelé. “It reflects the spirit of those who we are honoring today,” she said. “Pele said, ‘success is no accident. It’s hard work. Perseverance, learning, study, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.’”

There are more than 7,000 students who attend Davis Tech this year, said Davis Tech President Darin Brush. “This makes us one of the largest technical colleges in the nation. More than 40 students applied for Student of the Year and six were chosen as Student of the Year of their school.”

With that designation, with that recognition, there are responsibilities that come along with it, he said. “I don’t know If we talked about that with you before – but now you are committed. So Halle and I are already scheming on some work with lawmakers in the next couple of weeks because of her health profession background. But there’s a role for all of you to play as our advocates in the community to help us spread that message.”

There will be a lot of fun things in store this year, said Brush. “We have confidence in each one of you as a spokesperson for the value of technical education and to represent Davis Technical College. So thank you for your willingness to do so.”

“I decided to go into CNC machining because I had never heard of it and also never heard of any women in the industry either,” said School of Manufacturing finalist, Sadie Bell. “I knew nothing about manufacturing, I started from the ground up. I didn’t know what a drill was.”

Bell said her favorite thing about the program is the amount of hands-on work. “I love making all the parts from predesign, transferring it to the machine and machining it and then being able to inspect it.”

It’s really rewarding to look at the final part and know that it’s going toward something that’s going to help people, she said. “Technical education has helped me to provide for myself financially and independently and is going to help me with many life skills.”

“I want to be a physician's assistant for an OBGYN,” said runner up Halle Williams, School of Health Professions. “I got into the Medical Assisting Program and have just been trucking through that ever since.”

The goal is to end up working in a clinic, she said. “Getting my clinical hours and then using those when I apply to PA school.”

“I never would have imagined in a million years being recognized for this,” said Campos. “I worked so hard just to prove to myself to my little girl and my family that change is possible. I just love motivating other people to let them know that there is a future. You don’t have to stay stuck in a dark hole. There’s help out there for anybody.” λ