St. Edward's University: CAMP

CAMP Infomation

CAMP Alumni

Jeremias M. Alvarez
Eliseo Elizondo
Jacob Fraire
Maria Barrientos Ramirez
Arnoldo Rodriguez
Geronimo Rodriguez, Jr.
Rosa E. Valencia

Jeremias M. Alvarez, CAMP 1997

A graduate of St. Edward’s University’s (SEU) Honors Program and a CAMP Scholar, Jeremías Alvarez obtained degrees in Spanish/International Business summa cum laude in May 2001.

Jeremías believes that the strong CAMP support system (mentoring, counseling, tutoring, etc.) consistently prepared him well to meet the intellectual and personal challenges of being a first generation college student. “From the day I arrived early for CAMP enrichment week to my last semester when I was searching out graduate programs, the CAMP staff provided me and other CAMPers their unconditional personalized support and guidance at every point when I faced critical decisions.” While at SEU, Jeremías also studied abroad in Beijing, China, through the National Security Education Program.

Currently, he is a second-year graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin graduating in May 2003. His interests include social policy, education policy, and national security policy, and his master’s thesis report is on strengthening asset-based policy for the poor through individual development accounts. Jeremías has interned at various federal and state agencies including the Texas Department of Transportation, the USDA-Forest Service, and the Farm Credit Administration. He has also worked with Cuban refugees at Caritas of Austin and currently works as a Policy Analyst Intern with Foundation Communities, an affordable housing non-profit in Austin, Texas.

His future plans after graduation includes a career with the federal civil service and plans to return to law school.

Eliseo Elizondo, CAMP 1983

Eliseo Elizondo entered St. Edward's University as a CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) scholar in the Fall of 1982. He was so active in campus life that he was honored by Dr. Patricia Hayes with the prestigious Presidential Award. This award is bestowed to only a few students who distinguished themselves through academics as well as through volunteer activities.

Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1987, Eliseo began his employment with Radian Corporation. His career did not diminish his commitment to the College Assistance Migrant Program. He continued his active involvement as a member of the Mentor Council. His contributions included helping to organize activities to orient incoming freshmen; organizing special events to facilitate interaction between students and mentors; organizing recognition receptions; and serving as presenter and guest speaker at St. Edward's University.

Eliseo promoted careers for minorities in the natural sciences by setting up tours of Radian's facilities as well as by making formal and informal presentations,

such as Explorations in Math and Science seminar. He also became the self-appointed recruiter for Radian at St. Edward's University.

Through his efforts, Radian has employed students who have graduated with Science degrees from St. Edward's University. In the Fall of 1995, Mr. Elizondo returned to St. Edward's University as a student. He received his Master's Degree in Business Administration in 1999.

He states: "Being a part of the St. Edward's University CAMP program was a perfect bridge between my childhood home life and university life. It provided a solid foundation for my future in the ways. First, it made me proud to be part of this group which has allowed me to truly integrate my background and culture into my professional career. Secondly, the program provided an extended family and network of friends with similar backgrounds which has grown into a system of lifelong friends and professional contacts."

Jacob Fraire, CAMP 1983

Jacob Fraire is Assistant Vice President for Educational Alliances at the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TG) in Austin. He joined the corporation in May, making his return to his home state of Texas after working as a lobbyist in Washington, DC for the past eleven years. A native of Canitillo near El Paso, Jacob received a bachelors of Science degree from St. Edward's University in 1987. Jacob came to St. Edward's as a member of the 1983 class of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

While in Washington, he provided government relations consulting services for numerous secondary and higher education institutions and associations, including the National HEP-CAMP Association, the California Migrant Education Directors Council, and the National Association of Migrant Educators. He also served as Director of Legislation and Policy Analysis for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), -whose membership includes many of the institutions that sponsor HEP and CAMP programs.

The son of Alicia and Eulogio Fraire, Jacob is the seventh of ten children in his family. Not long after moving to El Paso from Juarez, Mexico, where Jacob was born, his entire family began to migrate from Canutillo (just outside of El Paso) to California every spring and return in late summer or early fall. He often quips, "I went to more schools in California than I have fingers on my hands."

"There is no question whatsoever that CAMP was the single most important factor in my ability to earn a college education. Like most children, I always dreamed of going to college. And like most children of migrant families, I had little opportunities and almost no hope of realizing that dream. To this day, I can vividly remember that afternoon when the CAMP recruiter entered our high school cafeteria, talked about CAMP and forever strengthen our hopes. To CAMP, and to all migrant educators across this great nation, I humbly say, " Thank You."

Maria Barrientos Ramirez, CAMP 1975

Maria Barrientos Ramirez was born in Nyssa, Oregon while her parents were living there and working the fields. She eventually joined her parents annually in their labor - leaving school early and returning late. She envisioned a brighter future beyond the endless rows in the fields. Every year from May to October, her family left what they called home in Texas to work the fields, moving back and forth through Oregon, Montana, Washington and Idaho, weeding beets, picking potatoes and harvesting onions.

Migrating from state to state meant living in labor camps, old rundown houses, sometimes even train cars. It also meant working from sunrise to sunset, and they would even use their headlights to get an early start picking potatoes. They would find refuge from the freezing winds and the scorching sun in old buildings, outhouses, and cars.

Growing up in the fields Maria had few hopes for a brighter future. Through the encouragement of a few teachers who believed in herself, envisioning a brighter future beyond the endless rows in the fields. Education was the key for Maria to change her future. Maria was selected as a recipient of a scholarship at St. Edward's University's College Assistance Migrant Program. In her junior year, she was forced to leave school due to a major illness. During her absence from college she married and had two daughters and went back to work in the fields.

Her desire to break the cycle of poverty for herself and her children motivated her to pursue her BA and MA in bilingual education. She was named the Colorado Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 1996. She was subsequently named National Bilingual Teacher of the Year by President Clinton. Maria lives in Commerce City, Colorado.

Maria states that, "Even though my life as a migrant was very difficult, I am thankful for the experience because it taught me to work hard, appreciate what I have, take nothing or anybody for granted. It also made me proud, yet humble of what I have become. It has given me a sensitive heart for those less fortunate. Most importantly, it has developed in me a fighting spirit that doesn't know how to quit. My spirit is continually hungry for knowledge so that I may better serve the people I come in contact with, especially disadvantaged people." She credits her success to CAMP's influence.

Arnoldo Rodriguez, CAMP 1974

As a child, Arnoldo Rodriguez and his family migrated to Michigan from south Texas every year in an unbroken pattern until he reached his junior year in high school. That year, arriving two months after school had started in Texas, Arnoldo picked up his schedule and began the arduous task of catching up with his school work. After a month and a half he managed to bring his world history average up to an ÑAâ only to be told by a counselor that he had been taking the wrong history class. Instead of world history, he should have been taking American history. As Arnoldo struggled to make up for more lost time in that subject, his other grades began to suffer. He finally gave into the pressure and dropped out of school.

While Arnoldo was working in the fields on day, a friend told him about a cousin who had received the GED certificate through the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) AT THE University of Texas-Pan American. He decided to give it a try. Arnoldo found a positive and encouraging atmosphere at HEP that make him want to succeed in passing his GED tests, which he did on his first attempt. Once graduated he found it easier to locate better-paying jobs. One day a former HEP instructor told him about a scholarship he might be able to obtain that would allow him to attend college. He eventually accepted a scholarship to St. EdwardÇs University in Austin, through the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Four years later, he graduated cum laude.

Arnoldo returned to his hometown in the Rio Grande Valley and became a bilingual elementary education teacher, enthusiastically encouraging his students to develop a hunger for learning. He eventually earned a masterÇs degree and became an elementary school principal, conducting staff development workshops on motivation and sensitivity to studentÇs learning needs. About three years ago Arnoldo became the sales manager for a publishing company that develops bilingual multimedia curriculum materials. He looks forward to some day owning his own company to produce multimedia curricula appropriate for impacting students at risk of dripping out of school.

Geronimo Rodriguez, Jr., CAMP 1986

Geronimo M. Rodriguez Jr. currently serves as Of Counsel with Leonard Hurt Frost Lilly & Levin in Austin, Texas where he focuses on municipal finance, bond and legislative matters.

From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Rodriguez served as the Counsel to the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor. The Solicitor is the chief legal officer responsible for the enforcement of laws under the Department’s jurisdiction through litigation and for providing legal services to the Secretary of Labor. The Office of the Solicitor administers approximately 140 federal laws affecting workers in the United States. These laws include regulating safety and health in the workplace, worker’s compensation, employment discrimination, minimum wage and overtime guarantees, job training, protection of pension and other employee welfare plans and whistleblower protections.

As Counsel to the Solicitor, Mr. Rodriguez advised the Solicitor on legal and policy issues with a focus on Administrative, Employment, Labor and International law. In addition, Mr. Rodriguez represented the Solicitor on the Administration’s Interagency Task Force on the Economic Development of the Southwest Border and the Secretary of Labor’s Immigration team.

Prior to his appointment as Counsel to the Solicitor, Mr. Rodriguez served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, helping oversee congressional and intergovernmental relations for the Secretary of Labor. As Chief of Staff, Mr. Rodriguez served as a member of the Department’s Senate Confirmations team and was the principal liaison to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Mr. Rodriguez also served in the White House Office of Congressional Affairs where he helped in legislative preparations for the Seattle Round of the World Trade Organization. In addition, he served as Deputy Associate Director and later Acting Associate Director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel where he was responsible for recommending a third of the President’s senior level appointments. He was also responsible for advising senior White House staff on appointments affecting the Hispanic community.
Prior to joining the White House, Mr. Rodriguez worked for former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales, serving as a Legislative Liaison in the Intergovernmental Affairs Division and later as an Assistant Attorney General in the Law Enforcement Defense Division.

Mr. Rodriguez served as a Member of the St. Edward’s University Presidential Search Committee, the University of Texas School of Law Admissions Committee, and Student Body President of St. Edward’s University. In 2001, he received the St. Edward’s University Alumni Achievement Award and was appointed to the Austin Independent School District Citizens’ Health and Safety Bond Advisory Committee. Mr. Rodriguez is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin.
As a child, Mr. Rodriguez spent eight months of each year as a migrant farmworker traveling with his parents from South Texas to the Northwest United States following the harvest seasons. His parents are currently working in Oregon harvesting seasonal crops.
Mr. Rodriguez, a native of Alamo, Texas, graduated from St. Edward’s University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, where he received a four year academic scholarship and a College Assistance Migrant Program Scholarship. Mr. Rodriguez also attended the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1996.

Rosa E. Valencia, CAMP 1980

Rosa was born in 1959 in Reynosa, Mexico, a short distance south of McAllen, Texas. As a teenager, Rosa did her part to help support her family working as a bookkeeper for a Reynosa Ford dealer. When her mother announced one day that they were moving to McAllen, Rosa did not want to go at first. " I don't even know English," she protested. "Why would I want to go live in Texas?" But the family had always stuck together and Rosa resigned herself to the move.

Once settled in McAllen, Rosa set out to find a place to learn English. She enrolled in the Hidalgo College of English, where she immersed herself in the English language for one year. While her parents were out working in the fields, Rosa studied nouns, verbs, and sentence structure. She soon realized that she could be successful in the United States only if she continued her education. When she heard about a High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, she headed for the campus. The HEP staff was quickly impressed with her determination to get her GED and improve her English skills. She qualified for the program and began her studies.

Rosa's stay in the UT-Pan American HEP program lasted just eight weeks. Later that year, at the HEP graduation president and part owner of the company. In October 1992, Rosa became corporate president and owner of Homes of America, her own mobile home company. Within two years, the company grossed $5.4 million in sales. Rosa now pays in taxes an amount equivalent to the annual budget of a HEP program. She provides affordable housing for people and good jobs for her employees. Her business also supports various community education initiatives. She believes strongly in the opportunities this country has to offer. And she remembers where her opportunities originated. She says, "I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for HEP and CAMP."

St. Edward's University
3001 South Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78704
512-448-8400