Elida Villegas proudly hails from a family of migrant farmworkers. A love of learning brought her to Michigan State University where she is pursuing a degree in the College of Engineering’s computer science program — a field she hopes to see include more Latinx people.
Growing up, education was always a priority for Villegas, whether she was in Florida for the winter months, in Michigan or attending another school as her family traveled north for work.
“Honestly, when I was in high school, I knew I had a passion for school,” said Villegas, who is entering her third year at MSU this fall. “I had a passion for learning. I read a lot of books, and I was always so intrigued to read and read and read. With kids nowadays, it’s more ‘Put your phone down.’ But back then, for me, it was ‘Put the book down.’”
Villegas knew she wanted to continue her educational career at a college or university, but she did not know what she wanted to study. After some persuasion from her sister’s husband, who was studying mechanical engineering at MSU at the time, Villegas decided to attend MSU and study engineering. Michigan was already a familiar place for her, and MSU was an inviting place to study.
Finding a network of support
When she arrived on the East Lansing campus, Villegas immediately connected with the MSU College Assistance Migrant Program Scholars Initiative, or MSU CAMP, a U.S. Department of Education-funded program to help individuals with migrant or seasonal farmworker backgrounds to succeed in university life by providing students with academic, social and financial support to help them complete their first year at MSU.
“The interesting thing that oftentimes we don’t realize as an institution is the impact that a program like this has,” said Luis Alonzo Garcia, MSU’s Migrant Student Services director who oversees MSU CAMP. “This is where they come from. This is their life. Without a program like this, these folks oftentimes would not have an opportunity like this. What they can bring to the academy is phenomenal. They bring a whole new set of experiences that others do not have.”