Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
Letter from the Director It is remarkable how fast the semester goes by and the new cohort of students enters our programs. I extend my congratulations to all HEP/ CAMP scholars for their successful completion of their time here at MSU Migrant Student Services and best wishes to our continuing scholars and graduates. Our programs at Migrant Student Services have continued to evolve to meet the needs of our students and to serve our fabulous partners who have contributed towards our phenomenal success. Over the course of the semester our HEP/CAMP scholars were involved in numerous activities and events fostering their personal and professional growth, from student leadership retreats to working their way to becoming interns in Washington D.C. It is our strong belief that scholars benefit from various activities and roles of leadership; assisting in their transitions to college and beyond. Additionally, many of our continuing CAMP Scholars were recipients of prestigious scholarships. MSU HEP continues to help students accomplish their educational goal of obtaining their GED’s and providing students the opportunity for lifelong success. Our goal is to provide the best services that can be offered! Our programs will become even stronger through our combined efforts. We look forward to another outstanding academic year ahead and wish everyone a great summer! - Luis Alonzo Garcia, Director
MSU School of Social Work in partnership with MSU Migrant Student Services and Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF) in Mexico.
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
Migrant Student Services Highlights
Students and friends at NCG movie theater in support of the Cesar Chavez Movie.
Congratulations to Patty Joly in obtaining her new position as Project/ Event Coordinator.
Congratulations to Miguel Torres in his accomplishments in obtaining his Masters Degree in Public Health Administration in Non Profit Leadership and Administration. Miguel plans consist of earning a PhD and establishing a foundation to assist migrant farm worker students with education and community development.
Continuing CAMP scholars: Yuri Gonzalez, Mario Gutierrez, and Ali Sanchez receiving an achievement by ___________ at __________.
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
MSU College Assistance Migrant Scholars Program The Michigan State University College Assistance Migrant Program Scholars Initiative (MSU CAMP) is an educational program that offers individuals with migrant or seasonal farm work backgrounds, a unique opportunity to begin an undergraduate program in MSU. This program offers the best conditions in order to help our students. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Michigan State University’s College Assistance Migrant Program was initiated in 2000 and is a unique program designed to service incoming migrant and seasonal farm worker students at Michigan State University.
The CAMP scholar IEP’s for the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters. These master program students help CAMP scholars their first year transitioning from high school to college.
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
C.A.M.P. Scholars Academic Honors Dean’s List Janet Bautista Cierah Meagan Dedmon Alejandra Abigail Bonilla Jose Hernandez Kevin Calderon Ainsley Doralynne Jasso Selena Michelle Martines Kassandra Najera Uriel Quijano Irma Ramirez Anthonas Thermidor Natalie Maxine Valdez The 2014 MSU CAMP recognition banquet recognizes first year CAMP scholars for all of their accomplishments and recognitions. Another part of the event is that students that are graduating from Michigan State also get recognized. This includes undergrad and masters degree.
Current CAMP scholar Isaac Anguiano, finance major, was selected to partake in the Michigan State’s program Inside Out. This program highlights the story of the MSU Freshman Seminar Abroad in Japan. Congratulations for this wonderful opportunity. Read More
MSS Staff and MSU CAMP scholars gather for the annual kick-ball game. This friendly event is used to distresses students during their final week
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
MSU High School Equivalency Program The MSU High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at Michigan State University, celebrated yet another year of successful students receiving their GED’s. MSU HEP is a federally funded program through the Office of Migrant Education (OME), providing GED instruction to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their children. The program offers a great opportunity for academic preparation toward completion of the Graduate Educational Development (GED) diploma as well as the development of academic, vocational, and personal skills necessary for placement in higher education, careers, or military.
New HEP Instructor: Alejadro Zevada Valdez I love teaching! I have experience teaching various levels of learners, from elementary school through post-secondary university students, in topics ranging from Sociology, Science, Law, and Political Science to Foreign Language. After completing my law degree and spending a short time practicing law in Mexico, I studied for a Masters of Social and Political Science at the National University of Mexico, where I subsequently worked as a teacher instructor and researcher. After I moved to the United States, I worked as an instructor at the MSU CeLTA Language School and as a Spanish proficiency rater. Each situation has provided me wonderful training and experiences learning from my students, and I am excited to be here at the Migrant Student Service office working with HEP students. I like to enjoy life "Carpe Diem"is an aphorism usually translated "Seize the day" “Aprovecha el dia presente” taken from a poem written in Odes 23 BC by the Latin poet Horace. I usually stay active doing exercise and practicing
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
HEP students posing after doing their mock interviews. These mock interviews help the students learn and get feedback from others about how to apply for jobs, and other opportunities. Students really enjoyed the confidence that brought them wearing professional clothing. After the mock interviews students went to Lansing Community College to learn more about resources and opportunities.
Every two weeks there are special lunches that students and staff participate. Many times these are activities that tend to motivate the students and encourage them to keep going. This particular activity is one that you choose two Homies characters that represents how others see you and the other is the way that you want others to see you. This activity really opened up the eyes for many students because there were able to understand how their other classmates felt about being in a college setting and feeling different and disconnected. In the end the activity is an encouragement to help the HEP students understand that they do not feel alone, they have a great support system and encouragement all around them.
Congratulations to Gloria, as we celebrate her accomplishment in obtaining her GED.
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
MSU Identification and Recruitment Center The MSU Identification and Recruitment Center has just been reauthorized for another grant period. In addition, we have expanded our program to cover 55 counties including the great Lansing area. The ID&R Center has created many opportunities for families to receive educational and supportive services through local schools and a wide variety of outside agencies. A large part of this success can be attributed to the excellent work of community partners and agencies that provide services and referrals. Additionally, IDR center staff have worked closely with the Michigan Department of Education to improve recruitment statewide. They have assisted in providing training to other recruiters, bridged connections to migrant families, and strived to improve the level of service provided to all migrant workers who work in Michigan.
As the traditional migrant streams become more of a thing of the past, Michigan is seeing a shift in where our workers are coming from. Historically Texas was the by far the largest sending state. Today just as many families come from Florida as they do from Texas. This shift is important as each state has different criteria for K-12 credit accrual. While there are systems in place to assist migrant students, many students continue to be negatively affected by their high mobility. This factor, in combination with the more challenging GED exam, may result in a future increase of OSY in the coming years. For this reason we must all work together to identify all migrant children and assist them with navigating our educational system.
As the 2014 growing season moves into high gear, our staff will be working diligently to identify all potential migrant in Michigan. Our staff offers access to resources and educational guidance to fieldworkers. Additionally, the MSU ID&R center receives calls for the National Migrant Education Hotline, allowing students interested in educational opportunities a way of getting more information.
For more information, please contact Bruce Lack, Associate Director of MSU ID&R with information or questions related to Michigan’s Migrant Educational Program at 517-432-9900 or email lackb@msu.edu
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
Alumni Spotlight Felipe Lopez Sustaita Ferris State University: Doctorate in Education Specializing in Community College Leadership
Felipe Lopez Sustaita is the youngest of eight siblings, he was born in Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He immigrated to the US when he was very young and worked as a migrant farm worker until he started college. He is part of the 2001 CAMP class. He earned a BA in Criminal Justice in 2005 and a Master of Social Work in 2007 both degrees from Michigan State . In May of 2014 he will complete his Doctorate fin Educatin with a s pecialization in Community College Learship from Ferris State University. Felipe will be graduating with the highest honors. He is currently the LUCERO Coordinator and Academic Advisor at Lansing Community College.
CAMP Alumni ‘13 Paul Garza graduated from MSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences. Paul is familiar with subjects pertinent to Biomedical Research, Hematology, Transfuse & Transplant Medicine, Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry and Principles of Drug Action (Metabolism). After graduating, Paul took part in biomedical metabolic research funded by the National Institutes of Health - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and MSU’s REPID Program to help shed light on the relationship between mitochondrial metabolism and diabetes. Currently he works as a College Adviser collaborating with numerous host agencies across the State of Michigan to educate 1st Generation students, and families, on the processes pertinent to applying for and financing college He provides these services to the federally recognized Potawatomi tribe of Hannahville Indian Community in Michigan’s rural Upper Peninsula. Moving forward, Paul has been admitted into the Master’s in Public Health Administration & Policy program at the University of Minnesota. He hopes to refine his skills in the studies of Public Health Analysis, Management and Policy. Paul has endeavors of advocating for early childhood preventative healthcare programs to target at-risk communi9 ties. He wants to help others to make “living healthier” the easier choice."
Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
MSU International Engagement in Mexico The 2013 study abroad 2 credit course in International Engagement in Mexico (IEM), offers MSU CAMP scholars the opportunity to become exposed to selected MSU global competencies through international engagement and academic study. CAMP scholars along with other undergraduate Spartans, provided a variety of social services in Campeche, MĂŠrida, Puebla and Oaxaca, MĂŠxico. Through this engagement, students were required to work closely with social service agencies to assist with maintenance projects and contribute towards resident program activities. Scholars gained knowledge of effective citizenship, community development, leadership skills and civic engagement as an expression of leisure. This experience provided scholars valuable leadership opportunities to develop their interpersonal skills.
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
International Engagement Volunteers International Engagement Volunteers (IEV) Officers along with International Engagement in Mexico (IEM) site leaders and students raised closed to $10,000 dollars for the annual IEM trip to Mexico. The money was used to help communities in Mexico as part of the weeklong community engagement and civic learning experience. MSS Director, Luis A. Garcia, and MSS program coordinator, Titun R. Maiti, serve as IEM guidance advisors to the group.
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
In Memory and Tribute Daniel G. Soza 1948-2014
MSS is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Mr. Daniel G. Soza who was instrumental in the success of many students at Michigan State University, especially our Latino and College Assistance Migrant Program students. His passion to help others is documented in his many years of service as the first Latino city councilman in Saginaw, Michigan, Delta Community College counselor, and Michigan State University academic advisor. Migrant Student Services – MSU CAMP extends their sincere regrets and remains grateful for Mr. Soza’s many years of dedication to our migrant students. We will remember his kind and gentle ways as he offered his skills and service to our youth. “A loss to the world and a blessing to heaven”
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
Have a great summer!
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Migrant Student Services
Spring 2014
Connect with Us! MSS CAMP Facebook MSS HEP Facebook MSS Twitter mss.msu.edu
MSU Migrant Student Services newsletter is published Spring and Fall semester as a service to our community. Michigan State University Migrant Student Services 234 Wilson Rd, Room C-249 East Lansing, MI 48825 Phone: (517) 432-9900 Fax: (517) 432-9901 Toll Free: (866) 432-9900
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