HEP/CAMP

ANNUAL SHOWCASE EVENT

HEP/CAMP ANNUAL SHOWCASE EVENT

HEP (High School Equivalency Program) and CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) will be hosting their Annual Showcase Event to introduce students to employers and representatives of community organizations, agencies, and various programs both on-and-off campus.

This is an excellent opportunity to network with diverse students. Participants can share information about possible summer, ongoing employment, and internship positions within their company, community organization, or agency.

Meet the 2021 Featured Students

Agustine Lopez

I was born in Nampa on October 15, 1988, and grew up in Caldwell until I was ten years old. We then moved to Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico, until I was 15 years old. We returned to the states, I moved out and started working full time while also attending school. At the age of 17, I decided to drop out of school and quit my job in landscaping to help my parents move back to Mexico. I stayed for two days before learning that I had gotten a Mississippi job. In 2009, while I was working in Fruitland, my wife was pregnant with our first baby. While I was on my way to pick up my paycheck, I was pulled over and arrested for driving without a license or insurance. After my release, my daughter was born. She eventually was taken to the emergency room because her kidneys had a reflex that gave her an infection, causing her liver to fail. The following years brought many hardships; I hurt my back, and my daughter had three operations. However, the following years also brought my baby boy and my current job with the Caldwell Housing Authority, which allowed me to attend classes at HEP during the day. After 15 years and with the help of HEP, my tutors, and my job, I have my GED.

Brenda Rangel-Arriaga

I was raised in a small rural town in central Washington where most of the people identify as Latinx farmworkers. However, when I arrived at Boise State University, it was me who was now a part of the underrepresented demographic on campus. The lack of a diverse teaching environment has meant that there were not a lot of Latinx role models for me. However, I was fortunate to have dedicated CAMP staff, who have motivated me to push forward regardless of the circumstances. I wanted to pay forward the fighting chance CAMP gave to me, so I decided to become a peer mentor for the program. Being a full-time student, intern, financial officer, and president for on-campus organizations during my senior year was an overwhelming yet rewarding experience. My educational career has been a long and tough road, but nonetheless one that I have enjoyed traveling on. I graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in May 2020, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Social Work. The amount of support and guidance from CAMP staff has been astounding and without them, I would not be where I am today.

Angel Venegas

I was born and raised in the rural town of San Jose De Castellanos, Zacatecas, Mexico. I lived with my grandparents in a low-income household from 2007 to 2012. During this time, I learned to appreciate opportunities and value the important things in life. In 2012, I immigrated to the US along with my mother and brother. Upon my arrival to the US, I attended school in Meridian for one year and then in Kuna for seven years. Challenges regarding language, culture, and societal norms were part of my everyday life. It was through determination and resiliency that I was able to solve problems and overcome obstacles in both my personal and academic life. After graduation, I was accepted by Boise State University and am now the first in my family to pursue a higher education. I have dedicated a big part of my time to volunteering in an attempt to give back to my community. Thanks to CAMP, I have had the opportunity to not only advance my academic career but also be exposed to many new opportunities to further allow me to give back to my community.