An El Paso Community College (EPCC) student's dedication and hard work have paved the way to a coveted internship. Denise Dominguez, part of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), has been selected for the Texas A&M AgriLife Conservation Careers internship this winter and spring, according to EPCC News. Dominguez, expected to graduate in 2025 with a psychology major, looks forward to hands-on experience in a field that, until now, was unfamiliar territory.
"Getting the chance to work hands-on, learn about conservation, and develop valuable skills is something I look forward to every Friday," Dominguez said, as per EPCC News, her burgeoning passion for conservation being felt, despite her primary focus on psychology. The CAMP program, backed by the U.S. Department of Education, aims to support students from migrant or seasonal farmworker backgrounds, helping them to complete an Associate's degree or transfer to a university. Dominguez has not only met the minimum GPA requirement but surpassed expectations, earning A's in her courses and impressing her tutors with her determination. Having previously been assigned to the diligent tutoring of Nataly Castañeda in Fall 2024 at EPCC has helped shape her academic success.
"From the beginning, I was impressed by Denise's determination and her ability to achieve success in anything she set her mind to," Castañeda told EPCC News, highlighting the innate potential in Dominguez to excel. The young scholar has also become a testament to the success of CAMP's comprehensive support structure, which includes academic workshops and mandatory tutoring sessions. Besides academic assistance, the program has provided a bedrock of mental and emotional support for Dominguez, something she credits for her positive trajectory.
"My tutor Nataly has been of great help ever since I began here at EPCC," Dominguez added, as obtained by EPCC News, noting that Castañeda's support wasn't limited to academic tutoring, it extended to mental fortitude and personal growth. It is not just in academic realms where Dominguez has illustrated her enthusiasms, the internship affords her involvement in various facets of the agriculture field, nourishing a newfound career path. With her involvement in the Texas A&M AgriLife Conservation Careers internship, Dominguez hopes to leave an indelible mark on the world through her contributions to conservation and preservation.
