Pelipost Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

The ‘Pelipost Overcoming Adversity Scholarship,’ led by Joe and Becky Calderon, was created to empower and reward (5) high school/undergraduate students seeking a college education while overcoming the challenges of having an incarcerated parent/guardian.

Joe Calderon was a freshman in college when his mother, Becky, was sentenced to three years in prison. His communication and support system were severed the instant she was booked. As Becky walked through the motions of getting settled into her new reality on the inside, Joe was left to pack her belongings, figure out arrangements and make sure all her outstanding needs were taken care of while she was away. He completed all these daunting, emotional tasks while grieving his mother’s support and absence in his life, juggling a loaded schedule of classes and a full-time job. To say, having a parent or guardian incarcerated is one of the hardest scenarios for a child, is an understatement.

The physical, financial, emotional, and educational impact of having your loved one incarcerated is an unbelievably heavy burden to bear, especially for a child. The National Institute of Corrections estimates roughly 2.7 million children have an incarcerated parent or guardian. These staggering statistics reveal that there are more children impacted by incarceration than adults currently in the prison system.

Joe’s ability to overcome the obstacles of having an incarcerated parent was largely due to his deliberate persistence to get a college education at all costs. Because of his grit and endurance to overcome adversity, he was able to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business and began serving families who are fighting the same battle to remain connected in such an isolating season. Through his obstacles to send photos and remain connected with his mother, and keep her updated on the outside world, he created a service (Pelipost) for uploading and delivering photos directly to incarcerated loved ones with ease. Pelipost provides an innovative solution to a time-consuming task, helping families and friends to navigate all the hurdles of life on the outside while remaining connected with those isolated on the inside. Now, with his mother running the business by his side, they are able to connect millions of incarcerated loved ones and their families through seamless photo delivery.

To enter, you must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen.
• Be a high school graduate or undergraduate student pursuing a college degree.
• Submit an Essay (300-750 words) and share: 1) How has your loved one’s incarceration impacted your life, education and future goals? 2) How are you overcoming adversity through this experience?