Migrant or seasonal farmworkers and their children have additional support available for pursuing higher education through Yakima Valley College’s (YVC) College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

“Through the CAMP program I’ve made so many friendships and keep in touch with my peers,” says YVC student Lucero Liliana Mendez who graduated this June and plans to transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “YVC has brought so much to me that I’d been wishing for myself. It has allowed me to travel to a city I’d never been before and win first place in an art contest. It has also allowed me to make friends through a great program (CAMP).”

CAMP is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.  The YVC CAMP program provides eligible migrant and/or seasonal farm-working students in the south-central Washington region access into higher education and supports their academic, personal and career needs to ensure they successfully complete their first academic year at YVC.

Students receive a stipend of up to $2,000, free tutoring, access to technology, career development support, internship and service-learning opportunities, academic success workshops and other support.

“CAMP is incredibly successful in opening a pathway to higher education for the migrant farmworker community,” said Marivy Vasquez, director of CAMP at YVC. “Typically, as the first in the family to attend college, students experience challenges in navigating the college-going process and learning. The challenge is much more difficult for students with migrant or migrant seasonal farmworking backgrounds.”

YVC is one of 52 institutions of higher education in the nation – and one of eight in Washington State – offering a CAMP program. Collectively, CAMP serves approximately 2,400 students annually with YVC having funding to support 40 students per year.

This article was originally posted here.