ALAMOSA (April 6) – The Adams State University College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) sent students to Chicago and Santa Fe for student leadership conferences. Miguel Chaparro, CAMP recruitment and retention, said: “Our students have a broader view now and many are now seeing that they can attend other conferences, and pursue graduate degrees at some of the institutions that were presented in the conference.”
CAMP students who traveled to the National Conference for the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute Conference, in Chicago, included Maya Martinez, Maria Guzman, Miranda Sandoval, Jessica Crowther, Abigail Moreno, Jayme Malouff, Chance Padilla, Gustavo Nungaray, Carlo Martinez, and Jesus Carrillo.
Crowther, a freshman from Monte Vista, said she appreciated meeting others from similar backgrounds, “who strive for excellence and achieve great things when provided with the resources and counseling to help them.” She has done seasonal work with Grimway Farms and currently works at Maurice’s in Alamosa as well. “I want to thank CAMP for providing the opportunity to attend the conference and visit Chicago.”
The students attended workshops and heard from keynote speakers such as actor Wilmer Valderrama, best known for his character Fez from That 70s Show. “To hear from celebrities who have conquered the odds was inspiring,” Crowther added.
Padilla said attending the conference was one of the most valuable experiences he has received in the CAMP program. It was different from any other leadership conference he has attended. “The diversity alone was something that opened my eyes.” Throughout the conference he learned about struggles Latinos have overcome. “Being able to talk and network with others from this conference are some of the most memorable and valuable experiences I have received.”
Students who attended the Southwest HEP/CAMP Student Leadership Conference included Miranda Sandoval, Karen Ortiz, Ta Meh, Malachei Wah, Gustavo Nungaray, Carlo Martinez, Alberto Rodriguez, and Andrew Rascon. Chapparro said students from Migrant Education Programs and CAMP Grants from Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado learned about student and professional leadership in Santa Fe.
Rascon, a graphic arts major from Fort Garland, said he connected with students his age and similar background. “We have a chance to make our lives better, especially when we receive encouragement.”
Chaparro said there were other benefits in attending the national conferences: “Our students are now looking at going to other conferences, National Student Exchange and internship possibilities.”
The College Assistance Migrant Program is funded under Title IV of the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
The program’s goal is to provide academic, social, and financial support services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers or their dependents, to assist them in the successful completion of their first year of college and persistence toward degree attainment.
Pete Gomez, CAMP director, said: “We at CAMP are working in a collaborative effort with Adams State University professors and faculty to provide a well-rounded and sound education for CAMP Students during their first year, coupled with support in areas of personal, financial and academic support.”
Our students are now looking at going to other conferences, National Student Exchange possibilities and internship possibilities.
The conference in Santa Fe was at the Drury Plaza hotel from February 26-28. It was the Southwest HEP/CAMP Student Leadership Conference, where students from Migrant Education Programs and CAMP Grants from Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado got together to learn about student and professional leadership. Attached is a copy of the schedule.
In Chicago, we had Maya Martinez, Maria Guzman, Miranda Sandoval, Jessica Crowther, Abigail Moreno, Jayme Malouff, Chance Padilla, Gustavo Nungaray, Carlo Martinez, and Jesus Carrillo. For Santa Fe we had Miranda Sandoval, Karen Ortiz, Ta Meh, Malachei Wah, Gustavo Nungaray, Carlo Martinez, Alberto Rodriguez, and Andrew Rascon. Only 3 students went to both of the events Miranda Sandoval, Carlo Martinez, and Gustavo Nungaray.
Jessica Crowther, MV, dad been in agriculture for 25 years, she did seasonal work for carrot farmers; major is undecided; CAMP and other scholarships why came to ASU; Chicago for 5 days conference how came from poverty background right resources and counseling strive for excellence and achieve great things – celebrities conquer odds who came from same background Fez, That 70s Show – Wilmer Valderrama
Spend time in workshops, coolest 4 boys come from an AZ high school undocumented immigrants who build a robot and enter a contest competing with schools like MIT and win – 3 out of the 4 came to the conference and talked –
Never been to Chicago – CAMP Program paid for tickets to the Chicago Institute of Art Museum – day there and to the Willis Tower Sky Deck
Thank you CAMP for allowing college and trip – learned remain ASU other scholarships – 10 students altogether to Chicago – relate those not as privileged back – came back and inspire ready to conquer college and do something productive with my life –
believe students grew different open horizons know they can actually be there – live elsewhere and do well – Crowther – Chicago only one really good friend – by end all really good friends see how change grow closer
Chance Padilla, for pics padillacc@grizzlies.adams.edu; Miranda Sandoval (both) sandovalmj1@grizzlies.adams.edu;
Crowther work seasonally with Grimway Farms – carrots – between MV and Center – farms all the way to Saguache – calculated percentage yield have for year – keep doing it – two jobs, apply for workstudy this summer – Maurices 17 hours/week – 21 credit hours – have to do it to get through it T&R: classes 930 until 215 work 230 until 830 – hard
Santa Fe – 6 or 7 attend – 2 weeks after Chicago – Santa Fe CAMP HEP Conference – Andrew Rascon graphic arts major, from FT. Garland – been seasonal farm workers in family since great grandparents – connect with students my age background dealt stress struggle hard work and low income – our families been through to support – seasonal work not as a salary – In place with people acknowledge fell talk about in common – disadvantage because who we are and hard work not alone – have chances make lives better give encouragement – 4 days – watched McFarland USA – related to conference program – felt open just not us in Colorado that have experience – others around country in same position – wide selection of states in our own country – closer to the ones I knew from beginning – Great program jump start students have better chance continue education – without now know how to pay for first year – FA and scholarships – ideas experience get help you get better career when finish college – 15 credit hours
Maria Guzman guzmanmg@grizzlies.adams.edu nontraditional mother of 2 or 3 17 years before earn GED – Chicago met women from Alaska who invited her to an Alaskan conference to speak
Chance Padilla: Attending the conference was one of the most valuable experiences that I have received while being in the CAMP program. I have been to many different leadership conference in my life and I can say that this one was like no other that I have attended. They diversity alone was something that opened my eyes and made me realize that amount of diversity that not everywhere has. Throughout the conference i learned about many different struggles that Latinos have to overcome and just how to do it. Being able to talk and network with others from this conference are some of the most memorable and valuable experiences that you could have received.
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