Star Grad – Western High School

The youngest son of immigrant parents from a small, rural community in El Salvador, Joel Lemus is rising above all expectations.

Through growing up watching his parents’ struggles to provide the American Dream to his family, Joel has come to value hard work and education. Once a C student in middle school, Joel is currently on track to be Salutatorian with a 4.861 GPA. He has taken 13 honors classes, three AP classes, and three Dual Enrollment classes in his time as a Warrior.

Further, Joel is a Cadet Colonel in Western’s Air Force Military Science Program. Due to his excellence in the ROTC program and the classroom, he has been awarded the J-100 AFJROTC Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. This prestigious honor, granted through the Air Force to only 100 students nationally, includes a full ride scholarship (tuition, books, housing, and a $10k/year stipend for incidentals).

Joel plans to attend UNLV in the fall and will be majoring in Civil Engineering. Joel will participate in the UNLV ROTC program and will enter the Air Force upon graduation as a commissioned Officer.

To learn more about this year’s Star Grads, please visit stargrads.ccsd.net.