Save the Date!

Migrant Student Services

Another year... New Memories Michigan State University CAMP and HEP students begin their journey in advancing their education. Migrant Student Services (MSS) works hard to helpstudents settle as they addressed many of theiracademic demands and to get a first hand feel of life at a Big Ten University. We hope you will enjoy reading ahead about our many achievements and memories by both, studentsand staff at MSS.

New Semester [January 6]

Spring semester starts!

No Class [January 20]

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Contents

Letter from the Director 2 MSS Highlights 3 CAMP 4 HEP 6 ID&R 8 La Siembra 9 Alumni 10

MSS staff, interns and graduate assistants came together to enjoy the annual staff holiday gathering to end the Fall Semester.

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

Letter from the Director I am proud to say that Michigan State University, Migrant Student Services continues to develop ways to support migrant and seasonal farms worker students and their families. MSS is in the business of helping students successfully reach their educational pursuits and mission in life therefore, empowering them to bring about positive changes in their lives, their communities and the world. Year after year, we commit and challenge our HEP/CAMP students to take on what might seem to be impossible dreams. The fall semster is a time when they begin to realize how many opportunities are available and to experience a world class academic institution. This semester again, has been a fruitful semester for our migrant and seasonal farmworker students. Both HEP and CAMP students harvested national scholarships, internships and study abroad projects amongst many other accomplishments. We are committed to continuing to facilitate these students’ goals and providing them the blueprint for success. We appreciate all the support from our partners, and look forward to another dynamic semester ahead.

Happy holidays! - Luis Alonzo Garcia, Director

On behalf of Consul Vicente Sanchez Ventura, MSS Staff presented President Lou Anna K. Simon the book “Mexico 200 Years- the Making of the Nation”. From left, Rudy Ramos, Aleida Martinez, President Lou Anna K. Simon, and Luis Alonzo Garcia.

Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch and MSS Staff visit some of our partnering farmers. In this picture at Rasch Apple Orchard, in Grand Rapids, MI. From left, Miguel Torres, Antonio, Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, farm owner Don Rasch, Haida Lopez, and Elias Lopez.

MSS Staff attended the 2013 National HEP/CAMP Director’s Meeting in Washington, DC. From left, Elias Lopez, Rudy Ramos, Luis Alonzo Garcia, & MSU CAMP scholar Michael Suarez during his HACU summer internship.

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

MSS Highlights

MSS staff and students partook in various activities through out the semester. This included the 1st Annual Greater Lansing Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GLHCC) Charity Golf Scramble. The event turned out to be a huge success with proceeds to benefit MSU CAMP Scholars. The Charity Golf Scramble took place at MSU Forest Akers Golf Course, East Lansing. MSU CAMP freshman, continuing scholars, and MSU HEP students attended the annual Homies Thanksgiving Dinner. This event, in partnership with several departments/units on campus, provides a free Thanksgiving meal to students who remain on campus during the Thanksgiving break. Migrant Student Services in conjunction with Michigan Education Association and MSU Administrative Professional Association (APA) held its annual coat drive to help students through the cold winter weather. We are honored by AT&T Services, Inc. to support the CAMP and HEP students as they explore career opportunities and prepare for college and the workforce.

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

MSU College Assistance Migrant Scholars Program

Semester Abroad Former CAMP scholar, Deyrah Perez

traveled abroad to the Philippines. While studying in a diverse country, Perez gained knowledge and friendships. In the end she values the culture of “how people lived on

the other side of the world”.

Congratulations to continuing CAMP scholar, Melissa Chavez, for receiving the 2013 National HEP/CAMP scholarship award. Melissa plans to use the scholarship to continue pursuing her higher education.

The MSU CAMP Welcome Reception greeted the new 2013 CAMP cohort to MSU; time to build a future together, connect, network and solidify friendship to last a lifetime.

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

CAMP freshman and continuing scholars traveled to Chicago for a Rising Farmworkers Dream Fund Conference. For many scholars it was their first time in the windy city and they received a glimpse of the financial world. Continuing CAMP scholar Juana Lopez aspires towards a business career after this engaging experience.

MSU continuing CAMP scholar Sara Bermudez partook in an internship opportunity at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom where she served

as an animal caretaker.

A Magical Internship

MSU CAMP Scholars and staff came together for a presentation and workshop led by renowned charismatic and influential speaker Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch. This motivated event led scholars to be connected and involved with their education. This uniqueopportunity influenced scholars to stay active, focused, and build skills towards leadership activities and community service.

Continuing CAMP scholars, Mario Gutierrez, Jose Carmona, Eleazar and Eliseo Gutierrez Jr. hosted, with huge success, the first Noche De Ciencias (Night of Science) geared towards student exposure to STEM careers through the MSU Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). The workshop benefited both area middle school parents and students regarding college resources/funding, engagement through circuit building activities, and presentations geared towards physics and solar power.

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

MSU High School Equivalency Program

The MSU High School Equivalency Program (HEP) celebrated another year of students successfully earning their GED diploma. MSU HEP is a federally funded program through the Office of Migrant Education (OME), providing GED instruction to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their children. The program offers a great opportunity for academic preparation toward completion of the General Educational Development (GED) diploma as well as the development of academic, vocational, and personal skills necessary for placement in higher education, careers, or military. Today, the GED certificate accounts for one out of every seven high school credentials issued in the United States.

Welcome to the Family MSU HEP welcomes Haida Lopez as the new Associate Director. Haida, a former MSU CAMP alumni graduated from MSU in 2005. Before joining HEP, Haida served as a leader in the workforce development division of Michigan Works! Berrien-Cass-Van Buren. Haida has a strong passion for working with students and serving as a role model. She brings hard work and dedication to her new position. Haida enjoys learning new things and spending time with her family.

MSU HEP students at the1st Annual Charity Golf scramble at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing, MI

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

Congratulations to former HEP student, Maria Concepcion

Zaldivar for receiving the 2013 National HEP/CAMP

scholarship award.

MSU HEP proudly welcomed numerous service learners to work closely with the fall semester HEP students, dedicating their time towards building communication skills, mentoring, tutoring and to estabilish best academic practices for success. MSU HEP students and staff engaged in various skill building activities and team based eventsincluding a motivational workshop led by Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch.

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

MSU Identification and Recruitment Center

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up with food, brings educational materials that she accumulates from other programs, and takes families to key appointments when they are in need. Her level of dedication to helping others is truly admirable, and a key factor in her success in the ID&R project. The key to achieving continued success would be the relationships, new and old, that truly make a difference in the lives of our migrant children.

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The MSU Identification and Recruitment Center is at the end of its 3rd grant period. Over the last 3 years, the program has enrolled 280 students in 53 counties. The ID&R Center has created many opportunities for families to receive educational and supportive services through a wide variety of outside agencies. A large part of this success can be attributed to the excellent work of community partners and agencies that provide services and referrals. Additionally, ID&R center staff has worked closely with the Michigan Department of Education to improve recruitment statewide. The ID&R Center assisted in providing training to other recruiters, bridged connections to migrant families, and strives to improve the level of service provided to all migrant workers who work in Michigan. Maria Vetere a key staff member, from Alma, has been notably successful. Through many years of service with the migrant community, Maria has developed a strong relationship with the families, workers and employers in her region. Affectionately known as “la maestra,” Maria can be found going above and beyond what is required by her position by taking the time to truly care for her community. She collects blankets and household items, often shows

For more information, please contact Bruce Lack, Associate Director of MSU ID&R with information or questions related to Michigan’s Migrant Educational Program at 517-432-9900 or email lackb@msu.edu

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

MSU, MSS in partnership with MSU Dept. of Entomology has been awarded a grant titled La Siembra: Enhancing participation of Socially Disadvantaged Latino Farmers in USDA programs and Adoption of Best Agricultural Practices by the United States Department of Agriculture. MSU La Siembra aims at helping disadvantaged Latino farmers, who are a community with strong ethnic background. This population is changing the face of fruit production by replacing some of the older generation of Caucasian farm owners. These farmers are facing serious challenges including lack of agriculture experience, stricter regulations in Good Agricultural practices (GAPs) and destructive pests that can wipe out their crop production. In addition, cultural isolation, language barriers, and lack of business and marketing skills put their longevity at risk and can affect their food security. This initiative aims to provide farmers with the necessary training to overcome adverse conditions as they prepare for a successful crop production, learn the business and market their produce.

David Mota- Sanchez Assistant Professor 206 Center for Integrated Plant Systems (517) 432-2668 motasanc@msu.edu

MSU La Siembra

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MIGRANT STUDENT SERVICES FALL 2013

Alumni Spotlight

MSU CAMP Alumni Eduardo Gomez currently works for SRG Global Inc. His internship during the summer of his junior year at Michigan State University helped him land his current position. The company is a Tier 1 Automotive supplier based out of Warren, Michigan. Eduardo currently holds the position as an Account Manager, which consists of sales with International OEM’s companies like Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi. In any given year, Gomez oversees about $70 million in sales to international clients. The current project is teaming up with businesses and manufacturing facilities in Mexico. Eduardo travels frequently to develop relationships with many top-level executives in the Automotive Industry.

Andie Lee Gonzalez, CAMP alumni has an interest in research which stems from her own personal family experiences and from the heartfelt injustices that she feels exist among all farmworker families. This journey of research began in the year 2006 when Andie was accepted to be a Project Puente Intern in Northwest Michigan Health Services, the Migrant Clinic in Traverse City, Michigan. Through this experience, supervisor and mentor Ann Avery gave her the opportunity to provide Nutrition Education in the campus and helped her be part of an enumeration study where Andie was able to complete health needs assessments to over 300 farmerworkers in Northern Michigan. Andie would return to be their project coordinator and oversee logistics and continue with the program. She was given the opportunity to work closely with MSU faculty Dr. Rosenbaum and Dr. Wong Song who developed research opportunities with the support and funding of the Research in Education Program to Increase Diversity in Health Researchers led by Dr. Elahe Crockett. Andie now works as a Clinical Dietitian and manager at a health café, NOURISH at AL!VE, in Charlotte, Michigan. Although, currently she does not work directly with the migrant farmworker population, she hopes to expand student success by mentoring CAMP students in the health science fields, as she continues to grow as a professional and leader.

Andie Lee Gonzalez, MPHMPH, RD

Eduardo Gomez

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Wishing you Happy Holidays, from MSU

Migrant Student Services!

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MSU Migrant Student Services newsletter is published Spring and Fall semester as a service to our community.

Michigan State University Migrant Student Services

234 Wilson Rd, Room C-249 East Lansing, MI 48825

Phone: (517) 432-9900

Fax: (517) 432-9901 Toll Free: (866) 432-9900

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