Oct. 2, 2017

Five College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) students from St. Edward’s University were selected to participate in the Monsanto Scholars Program.

Each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship for the 2017-2018 school year. Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, has continuously provided scholarships for
St. Edward’s CAMP students since 1997.

The 2017-2018 Monsanto Fund Scholarship Recipients are:

  • Robert Alaniz (Mission, Texas), Senior majoring in Bioinformatics
  • Dayanna Garcia (Penitas, Texas), Senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology
  • Ayesha Gonzales (Round Rock, Texas), Junior majoring in Mathematics
  • Itzel Limas (Edinburg, Texas), Senior majoring in Accounting
  • Kenya Salinas (Edinburg, Texas), Junior majoring in Biology

Robert Alaniz, Dayanna Garcia and Kenya Salinas were also Monsanto Scholars last year. 

“St. Edward’s CAMP program has helped generations of students gain a high-quality education that otherwise might have been out of reach,” said Michelle Insco, program officer for Monsanto Fund. “Monsanto Fund is committed to improving educational opportunities for students, and we’re proud to extend support for a program that’s had such a meaningful impact in the lives of migrant students and families.”  

Now entering its 45th year, the St. Edward’s CAMP is the longest continuously running program of its kind in the country. St. Edward’s CAMP recruits and enrolls 35 freshman migrant students annually. To qualify, high school students must meet St. Edward’s admission requirements, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and demonstrate that migrant or seasonal farm work is their family’s primary or critical source of income.

“The ability to have the required resources to successfully complete their degree allows CAMP students the opportunity to achieve their dreams of being the first in their family to receive a college education. Scholarships are a critical piece to removing economic barriers that affect our students. Our students benefit from the generosity of organizations, such as Monsanto Fund, that donate their resources to helping migrant students pursue higher education,” says Perla Delgado, PhD., CAMP director.

 St. Edward’s provides full tuition through graduation for CAMP students who make satisfactory academic progress—whereas other national CAMPs typically limit support services to the freshman year. St. Edward’s could not fulfill this commitment without support from generous donors like Monsanto Fund. Without such support, CAMP students would likely have to leave school or delay graduation, depriving St. Edward’s and the larger community of their talents. After graduation, many of the university’s Monsanto Scholars have pursued doctoral degrees and careers in research, teaching and medicine.

About Monsanto Fund

Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.

About St. Edward’s University

St. Edward’s University is a private, liberal arts college in the Catholic Holy Cross Tradition with approximately 4,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in Texas and offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including MBA programs and a master’s degree in counseling. With a network of partner universities around the world, St. Edward’s is a diverse community with programs designed to inspire students with a global perspective. St. Edward's University has been recognized for 15 consecutive years as one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report and ranks in the top 15 Best Regional Universities in the Western Region. For more information on St. Edward’s University, visit stedwards.edu/about.