RETS Technical Center presents Luis F. Taborda as this year’s outstanding student. Luis came to the U.S. from Columbia for a better life. His parents mortgaged their home to provide Luis with enough money to get here. He had to overcome many challenges including swimming the Rio Grande River and walking across the desert. He found his way to Texas where a sympathetic Mexican/American provided transportation that brought Luis to Massachusetts. Luis found a job to support himself and pay back the debt on his parent’s home. In 1987, Luis learned about an amnesty program that allowed him to get a work permit. Luis worked two jobs for over 15 years to pay off his debt and help his family in Columbia, and in 1997, became a U.S. citizen. Luis has been interested in electronics and science since he was a boy. In 1999, he began training in Electronic Technology full-time and is graduating in May 2001. With perfect attendance, Luis has shown everyone at school how dedicated a student he is. He has done exemplary classroom and laboratory work and is well on his way to a bright and rewarding career in Electronics. With a lovely new family, a home in the U.S., his past debts long paid off and a new rewarding career, Luis' dreams are coming true.