“CAMP gave me the opportunity to dream bigger and work towards a better future.”

These are the words of Adolfo Guerrero, a sophomore CAMP scholar. He speaks with a quiet confidence and a determination not to take the opportunities he’s been given for granted. His brother, Oscar, agrees, explaining that they now feel like they’re now part of a demographic that can help propel society forward. “We’re part of a wider community – not only of CAMP and St. Ed’s, but within higher education and beyond... that is why CAMP has been so important to us.”

Sowing the seeds of success

The brothers hail from Flatonia, Texas, a close-knit town with a population of just 1,800. They describe their lives as fairly typical, balancing high school studies with work in landscaping and construction. While their parents encouraged them to reach their full potential, the brothers lacked specific guidance at school on how to pursue any academic ambitions. That is, until Marlen Gonzalez, migrant counselor with Texas ESC Region 13, visited their school. Ms. Gonzalez not only sparked their aspirations, but nurtured them, offering a new direction and encouraging them to enroll at St. Edward’s. Both brothers made their way to the hilltop in 2023.

Adolfo and Oscar’s parent bless them during CAMP Welcome 2023. This is a very special moment, where parents bless their sons and daughters as they embark upon their new scholarly journey at the Hilltop.

 “We’re here for a reason”

The CAMP program offers a multifaceted approach, providing financial support, academic guidance and robust support services. Early on, the brothers felt the program’s impact. “I thought overcoming the financial burden would be the biggest hurdle,” Oscar explains, “but the real challenge was the transition to university. We’re hard workers, but translating that to the mental load of studying was something I wasn’t prepared for. I was out of my comfort zone... I could have floundered.” But the dedicated team at CAMP understood this, and were with him every step of the way.

Academic support is on hand too. Not only a Success Coach to guide students towards specific academic goals and resources, but Adolfo was paired with a peer academic coach, someone who had been on the same CAMP journey and was able to share valuable advice. This connection was instrumental in his successful first year, and so inspiring that he became a peer academic coach in his second year. "We’re here for a reason," he now tells his mentees. "Now strive to be the best!"

Adolfo Guerrero 

The people behind the program 

What sets CAMP apart though is the dedicated team who are there every step of the way, often anticipating needs they might not even express. This is especially true in addressing the mental and emotional challenges students face during the transition to university.

Adolfo reflects on his experience with imposter syndrome. “I am a first-generation student, so I didn’t feel I could fully relate to my family about my experiences. Plus, all my old friends were back home making money, so I started to doubt whether I was doing the right thing. But CAMP understood what I was going through without me even saying anything! They reassured me: ‘You’re here for a reason, you were destined to do great things… It’s ok to be here’.  That reassurance helped me refocus every time I started to doubt myself.” 

Oscar also credits the intuitive support of the program. For him, his initial struggle was time management. “Between high school and having a job, I didn’t really get a huge amount of free time, but now I was left with too much – the transition was overwhelming, but I didn't quite know how to express this. My Success Coach Gilbert Contreras made me realize that I needed time to explore my new life and to have fun – but to choose wisely. He also helped me more strategically, by setting my schedules and goals.”

Adolfo nods in agreement, sharing how the constant guidance and encouragement from the CAMP team made them feel like a true "segunda casa"– a second home. One of his proudest accomplishments to date was being selected to the prestigious Johnson Turpin Scholars Program, which provides financial support for advanced experiential learning opportunities and a pathway to excellence to become leaders and problem solvers of tomorrow. He attributes this achievement to Sonia Briseño, Director of CAMP, for not only introducing him to the opportunity but also for instilling the confidence to apply and gently urging him to complete the process on time, always with his success in mind.

A fully-rounded program

The program also helps students develop qualities that prepare them for life beyond the hilltop. Oscar discusses his personal growth, newfound confidence and resilience. Some of this growth comes from activities like the CAMP Enrichment Retreat, a weekend trip held during CAMP’s Orientation Week, where students engage in team-building challenges like ziplining. “We were all a bit daunted, but encouraged to join in,” Oscar recalls. “Looking back, I see that the message was that if you can zip down a zipline, you can handle college! That’s the essence of CAMP. It is a challenge, but with a community around you can achieve great things.” 

Oscar continues, "I was the quiet kid in high school, but now I’m comfortable talking to new people. CAMP laid this foundation for me to grow into myself. I’ve also learned about other cultures and might even apply for the Study Abroad program to expand my horizons further.”

Oscar Guerrero

Paying it forward

So what’s next for Adolfo and Oscar? They remain excited about their academic journey, and optimistic about their future. Both acknowledge their debt of gratitude to CAMP, and are committed to giving back. They’re currently mentoring high school students, sharing their experiences of the program and encouraging them to apply. After graduation they plan to return to St. Edward’s to talk to current students and share their own success stories. 

They also strategically chose their degree majors – Adolfo in finance and Oscar in business administration –  to one day expand their landscaping and construction businesses; one of their goals was to become regular donors to CAMP. They understand the responsibility they have to support the program that has supported them—and they know they’re not alone; almost all CAMP alumni stay in touch with the team on the hilltop, much like family.

A message to all CAMP donors

Both Oscar and Adolfo are deeply aware that their journeys might have been very different without the support of generous donors to CAMP. They not only reflect on the academic opportunities they’ve been afforded, but opportunities beyond the classroom, personal growth and development that have prepared them to be self-assured, confident young men ready to contribute to society.

Adolfo shares a message to all CAMP donors: “You help people like us who maybe have a dream but had to be realistic in our expectations. You have changed our lives. CAMP offers so much more than financial aid, it changes the generational path that we might have been limited to. After such generosity, rest assured, we know that it is now up to us to do the rest.”