Sep. 8, 2015

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 2015-2016 school year. The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, has continuously provided scholarships for St. Edward’s CAMP students since 1997.

The 2015-16 Monsanto Fund Scholarship Recipients are:

  • Francisco Cantero (Greensboro, Florida), senior majoring in Biology
  • Amanda Ortiz (Greenleaf, Idaho), senior majoring in Biochemistry
  • Kenya Salinas (Edinburg, Texas), junior majoring in Biology
  • Servando Sanchez (San Benito, Texas), senior majoring in Biochemistry
  • Efrain Torres (Shepherd, Texas), junior majoring in Biology

Sanchez also was a Monsanto Fund scholarship recipient last year.

CAMP is dedicated to serving higher education needs of students from migrant and seasonal farmworker families. More than 2,800 migrant students have accessed higher education through CAMP and St. Edward's University. 

Now entering its 43rd 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 approximately 35 freshman migrant students annually. To qualify, high school students must meet the 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 and/or critical source of income.

“Persistence and graduation of CAMP students in college is contingent on their ability to have financial, academic and moral support.  Scholarship awards are a critical resource for these students to meet their educational goals.  It is gratifying to have companies like Monsanto provide this type of support.  Throughout the years, they have shown their commitment to helping migrant students pursue higher education,” says Esther Yacono, CAMP director.

CAMP, unlike others across the nation which typically limit support services to the freshman year, provides full tuition through graduation for students making satisfactory academic progress. St. Edward’s could not fulfill this commitment without support from generous donors like the 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 the Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the 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 4,700 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 12 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.