Lucy DeLoera's Father and Mother are very proud of their daughter, a former CAMP student as she fulfills her academic goals.
In the mid 1980's, Ludy DeLoera's parents attempted to get their college education through CAMP, the College Assistance Migrant Program. The DeLoera’s were turned away. CAMP’s mission is to help students from migrant and seasonal farmworking backgrounds succeed in college, but Lucy’s parents were Mexican immigrants and lacked adequate documentation to qualify for the program. The DeLoera’s were able to complete their GEDs through the High School Equivalency Program at Boise State University, butcontinued to work the grueling life of farmworkers in the Boise area while college dreams remained unfulfilled. Unfulfilled, that is, until their first daughter Lucy obtained a scholarship to Lewis-Clark State College through CAMP. The family’s story is not uncommon: many parents’ efforts at higher education are only realized in their children.
About CAMP The College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP, was established in 1972 to help students from migrant and seasonal farmworking backgrounds obtain college education. CAMP accomplishes this mission through diverse services offered to students and their familes: scholarships and help with other financial aid, admissions counseling, pre-college transition and first-year support programs, housing assistance, tutoring aid, registration and coursework planning, career counseling, and other individualized support. Importantly, CAMP strives to maximize each student’s success not only in being accepted to and financing higher education, but throughout college and beyond in finding employment after graduation. Nationally, CAMP grant directors report approximately a 83% college freshman retention rate. Nearly three-quarters of all CAMP students graduate with baccalaureate degrees.
About CAMP Alumni Association The CAMP Alumni Association (CAMPAA) was founded in 2002 and includes the approximately 10,000 undergraduates who have participated in CAMP since 1972. CAMPAA aims to develop a powerful network of students and alumni to nurture incoming youth and foster graduate careers."Once a CAMPer, Always a CAMPer!"
About Migrant Education
In 1960, Edward R. Murrow drew unprecedented attention to the lot of America’s migrant and seasonal farm workers with his nationally televised documentary Harvest of Shame. Responding to outcries across the county, the federal government soon made moves toward broad-scale aid initiatives . These early programs mobilized tax dollars to improve housing, working conditions, vocational training and, finally in 1965, education. That year saw passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act with provisions to support public schools in providing extra help to students from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds. An amendment to the act specifically addressed children from mobile farm working families. Today, the Migrant Education Program serves over 500,000 children in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Instructional and support services help students overcome the disadvantages of disrupted schooling and frequent moves. The Program faces the continual challenge of locating, enrolling, and maintaining contact with eligible students and their families. Innovative use of technology has helped, including pioneering use of distance learning in the early 1990’s and providing some students with laptop computers to stay connected to a “home school” even as their families change location (see www.nasdme.org.)
Timeline
1967 - Educational Systems Corporation, a private educational research company, developed the original CAMP concept for the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), originally created by President Johnson’s War on Poverty.
1972 - The first CAMP grants were awarded to:
Adams State College in Alamos, Colorado;
California State College in San Diego, California;
Pan American University (now University of Texas Pan American) in Edinsburg, Texas; and
Saint Edward's University in Austin, Texas.
1980 - CAMP was transferred to the newly created Department of Education (ED).The number of CAMP projects remained at a virtual standstill through1999.
1995 - President Clinton submitted a budget proposing zero funding for CAMP. Outraged education advocates lobbyed to save the program, motivating Congress to commit to funding CAMP through 1998.
1999 - CAMP was included as part of the Clinton Administration's "Hispanic Education Action Plan." Receiving its first significant funding increase since the early 1980’s allowed awarding of a record 12 new CAMP projects.
2000 - CAMP funding increased to $7 million. 8 new CAMP projects were added.
