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Urban opportunities for migrant students
By Mellisa Blackburn
mblackb4@mscd.edu

Migrant students can receive support from the College Assistance Migrant Program at Metro, which provides scholarships during these students’ freshman year.

“The program is not just to get them by, but to impact their future,” said Richard Paiz, CAMP coordinator of counseling and tutoring. “It really changes people’s lives.”

But migrant does not equal illegal. People unfamiliar with the program can have a knee-jerk reaction and assume that illegal immigrants are being paid to go to school.

“A lot of people think we are here to help undocumented students,” Paiz said. “But that’s a big misconception. We focus on students who are migrants – those … who come from agricultural backgrounds and … meet the same guidelines as any other student to get into college.”

CAMP, the only federally funded program to assist migrant students through college, was awarded more than $2.1 million in 2005 and currently aids 100 undergraduates, including 40 freshmen.

During their first year, students receive a full-ride scholarship that supplies a $150 monthly stipend and health insurance, among other benefits.

“This program provides … weekly, if not daily support, to get them through the first year successfully,” said CAMP co-director Arthur Campa. “Once they make it through the freshman year, their chance of success is magnified.”

CAMP’s rigorous qualifications include official proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency and a GED or high school diploma.

Students, recruited throughout Colorado, must have had family employed in agricultural labor for a minimum of 75 days within the last two years.

“The majority of our students come from Ft. Lupton, but really all over,” said CAMP recruiter Lynn Cordova. “If they’re willing to relocate, we’ll take them.”

During the weekly meetings, students learn about scholarships and different student services and tour the campus; the staff provides counseling, tutoring and advising.

CAMP students participate in various team-building activities, such as rock-climbing, hiking and leadership development conferences.

They broaden their cultural horizons through plays and field trips. And at the end of the semester, the staff throws a party.

“We always tell the students there’s no way you should fail if you are in the CAMP program,” Paiz said. “We try to help them grow as a person as much as possible.”

Many of the students are following in their sibling’s footsteps, including Metro freshman Adrian Rodriquez, who knew about CAMP because of his older brother.

“I saw everything my brother got,” Rodriquez said. “I saw a better future instead of dropping out.”

Metro freshman Alejandra Coria said she is thankful for CAMP because of the tutoring, numerous activities and moral support.

“I was scared,” Coria said. “I didn’t know how life was in college — different hours, different classes, different people. I don’t have to worry about money and … they help me when I need it.”

With high retention rates and GPA averages among its participants, CAMP’s success comes from the professional and personal commitment of the staff.

“Seeing the students get ahead, that’s what makes this worthwhile,” Campa said.

Most of the staff can relate to the students because they have been through similar circumstances. Both Paiz and Cordova came from farm labor backgrounds and were the first generation in their families to attend college.

“My way of giving back to the community is to help these students, because I remember what it was like when I was a student,” Cordova said. “It was such a struggle to get information from my high school counselor about college and financial aid.”

The students, often the first generation to attend college, are learning skills that will last them a lifetime. And they find a refuge in the CAMP community – along with good friends.

“They are so grateful. You feel overwhelmed,” Cordova said. “This is my job. I’m doing it because I want to do it. I mean, I get paid for it, but I would do it for free.”