ALAMOSA (February 10) – The Adams State University College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) hosted a celebration on February 6 to congratulate the 30 Adams State students currently enrolled in the program and to expose over 50 visiting high school students to the supportive atmosphere at Adams State.
The high school students were visiting campus as part of the Colorado State Migrant Youth Leadership Program and were from the San Luis Valley, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Lamar, Grand Junction, Delta, and Montrose. Along with the banquet, the high schoolers were treated to a tour of campus departments and received information about attending Adams State.
According to Pete Gomez, CAMP Director, the CAMP Celebration will be an annual event. “We are committed to working with students, student families, campus staff, faculty, student services, and the community to improve educational opportunities for CAMP students at Adams State.”
CAMP@ASU, a federally funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, provides 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.
The banquet celebration included special guests Arnold Salazar, ASU Board of Trustees Chair; Dr. Michael Mumper, executive vice president of enrollment management; Tawney Becker, grant specialist; Dr. Barbara Medina, former Teacher Education chair and current educational consultant; Esmeralda Martinez, San Luis Valley BOCES migrant education director; Eric Carpio, the principal investigator for the CAMP grant and assistant vice president of Enrollment Management; and Tomas Mejia, Migrant Education Program Colorado State Director.
Adams State alumnus Salazar ‘76 participated in CAMP back while a student. He received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. “I competed with students from across the country and world. They didn’t know any more than me and I knew how to work harder.”
Medina and Mejia welcomed all in attendance and encouraged them to apply their knowledge of hard-work and tenacity to their academic goals. “All the adults in this room are here to assist you,” Medina said. “Reach out to them. They are here to help you.”
Mejia said: “Your dream is in your hands. You can kill it or follow it.”
Gomez said President David Svaldi welcomed the visiting high school students and Alamosa Mayor Josef Lucero attended the banquet. “We want these potential students and our current CAMP students to know it is an honor to serve them. Together we will enhance their potential as future leaders.”
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