NEW HORIZON
An official publication of College Assistance Migrant Program
St Edward's University - Austin, Texas
50 Years of Excellence
WRITTEN BY STAFFCAMP was established by the federal government in 1972 as part of President Lyndon B Johnson’s Great Society agenda That same year, St Edward’s welcomed its first class of CAMP scholars under the leadership of President Brother Stephen Walsh, CSC, ’62 Since then, nearly 3,000 students from migrant farmworker backgrounds have participated in CAMP at St Edward’s
CAMP at St. Edward’s turned 50 in 2022 and is recognized as the longest continuous program in the nation Esther Q Yacono directed the program for 23 of those 50 years (1994–2017) In 1995, the Clinton Administration proposed budget cuts that eliminated federal funding for CAMP, sparking outrage among migrant education advocates who rallied to save the program During the 2014–2015 academic year, St Edward’s did not receive any federal funding from the Department of Education Alumni and donors raised more than $460,000 to help the program continue
Many St Edward’s CAMP scholars are in the first generation of their families to attend college and the program has been a springboard for careers from politics to public health The university’s CAMP graduates have blazed trails on the hilltop, too In 2020, Sonia Briseño ’98 became the first CAMP alumna to direct the program at St Edward’s Anabel Rodriguez ’14, and Geronimo Rodriguez ’90 recently became the first CAMP graduates to serve on the university’s Board of Trustees.
CAMP BY THE NUMBERS
35 95
St. Edwards CAMP scholars are selected each year
percent of St. Edwards CAMP scholars are Hispanic, come from Texas and are firstgeneration college students
Through the decades CAMP scholars have formed strong family-like bonds that supported the launch of the CAMP Alumni Association at St Edward’s Despite the specter of federal budget cuts and a global pandemic that threatened the program ’ s sense of community, the CAMP experience remains transformative Often that transformation begins as soon as CAMP scholars arrive at Main Building’s iconic red doors
As she looks to the future, Briseño says financial sustainability is among her top priorities to ensure the legacy of CAMP at the university endures for decades to come Continued funding from the U S Department of Education and the university is essential to the program ’ s future.
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Migrant Program
St Edward's University
3001 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78704
512.448.8625
Adrian Valdez, CAMP ’22, was selected to partcipate in Campus Ministry’s Service Project during the spring of 2023 Below he reflects on his experience
My service break trip was a transformative journey for me in a number of ways It deepened my understanding of compassion and empathy, and taught me the importance of extending simple kindness to people facing adversity Being a part of the alternative break program sponsored by Campus Ministry at St Edwards University, allowed me to experience what service truly can be
Our group was assigned to Andre House of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona Andre House is a ministry for the homeless and poor populations of the Phoenix area They provide a significant number of basic and transitional services in the local community
St Edwards Campus Ministry has been collaborating with Andre House for a number of years as part of the Alternative spring break experience Andre House allows students to engage in a range of tasks aimed at helping those experiencing homelessness Students were able to assist with portering, meal distribution, and providing blankets and sleeping bags
Portering, for instance, is when someone is stationed in the parking lot, often by the door to greet guests, volunteers, and donors dropping off clothing, toiletries, blankets, or other essential items I most enjoyed helping with meal distribution because it provided an opportunity for me to connect directly with people and learn about their stories and experiences
It is through Andre House that I met Jayquan, a 20year-old homeless man Jayquan's presence had a profound impact on me. His resilience and determination to survive inspired me to consider my outlook on life Jayquan's challenging life experiences shed light on the systemic issues that contribute to homelessness and the need for empathy and understanding Interacting with Jayquan challenged my preconceived notions of what it means to be homeless in this country His revelations fostered a deep sense of compassion and empathy within me. His presence was a constant reminder of the power of human connection and the resilience of the human spirit
Homelessness may afflict anybody, regardless of age, gender, or origin, and it is not solely a result of personal decisions or failure That helped me appreciate the complexities of social and economic reasons that contribute to homelessness, as well as the structural barriers that people experience in acquiring essentials Volunteering at Andre House taught me that compassion and empathy are more than simply feelings of sympathy; they are also about taking action and fighting for change
I am forever grateful for the opportunities I had and the valuable lessons I learned during my service break trip, and I am committed to continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of those in need
AuroraMiranda,CAMP'19
ReceivedaBSinBiochemistryandMinorinSpanish ONTHEHILLTOP
Recognized for academic excellence as a researcher, she conducted graduate-level research on the pathogenic behavior of acireductone dioxygenase (ARD) and manganese catalase through biomimetric modeling to understand the enzymes structure and presented her research at serveral national conferences
She served as a General Chemistry II Supplemental Instructor and mentored CAMP freshmen through the Peer Academic Program
ALIFELESSON
“Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart”
