Navigating higher education felt intimidating at times for Serrano, a first-generation college student. She worried that she didn’t belong, and often suffered from imposter syndrome. 

“There have been moments where I didn’t think I could continue being in college,” said Serrano, a double major in economics and global studies. “My family has been very understanding, and they always encourage me. If I ever needed help, they were there for me. I think that one of the comforting parts about it is knowing that I did have a solid support system and they just really wanted me to graduate.”

Serrano’s parents have always encouraged her to follow her interests, and they understood how important it was for her to attend college. 

“As long as my mom saw a book in my hands as a child, she thought I was going to end up OK,” Serrano said. “My mom's highest level of education was middle school and my dad’s was elementary school. My parents told me to just graduate high school, and once you get your high school degree, you’ll have something. But they always wanted me to keep learning and pursue higher ed as well.”

Serrano’s efforts continue to pay off, and she was recognized as Cal State San Marcos’ 2023-24 recipient of the President’s Student Champion Award for Inclusive Excellence at the annual All Peoples Luncheon on Oct. 19.

“It still hasn't even hit me that I won,” said Serrano, who was lauded for being an advocate for undocumented and mixed-status students. “I just do what I do because I love it and I want to help.”

In high school, Serrano was in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which helped her with her sense of belonging and feelings of imposter syndrome. Serrano became a peer mentor for CAMP at CSUSM in 2020 because she wanted to give back and help students feel like they can succeed on a college campus. 

“I made some really meaningful friends in CAMP,” Serrano said. “It was a great community for me to be in on campus, especially because I find it difficult to open up sometimes.” 

Serrano was presented with an opportunity to help undocumented and mixed-status students as an ambassador in the Dreamer Resource Office (DRO) in 2021. 

“I connect with the DRO because I do come from an immigrant mixed-status background,” Serrano said. “For the longest time, I didn't feel like I had a place where I could belong. I didn't know we had a center like this on campus. The atmosphere in the office made me feel so safe. It was so welcoming. There is no judgment whatsoever. I think for me, the hardest part is finding a place where people can understand you and acknowledge your experience.” 

Serrano has worked in the DRO for over two years. She currently serves as a DRO representative for the President’s Inclusive Excellence Advisory Council, where she advocates for the undocumented community. 

Serrano’s impact goes beyond campus. She was also a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and had the opportunity in 2021 to study abroad in South Korea and help English professors in a language and cultural exchange. 

After graduating next spring, Serrano plans to take a gap year before continuing to fulfill her love of learning by pursuing a Ph.D. 

“I’m finding my way as I go,” Serrano said. “I’m just really grateful to have been nominated and to have been able to participate in the organizations that I have. It feels very unreal because I just had a lot of fun doing what I'm passionate about. I'm just really grateful more than anything.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Nearly 40 high school students who identify as Latinx and first generation attended the residential experience at CSUSM. The program allowed students to immerse themselves in a college environment by living on campus and interacting with CSUSM CAMP members and staff. MSSI exposed students to resources to help prepare them for higher education and foster their personal and professional skills. 

The experience featured bonding activities, including developmental workshops, trips to Balboa Park and rock climbing. Students were also required to participate in a minimum of 20 hours of instruction in English language arts and mathematics. 

“It has been such a privilege to witness the incredible growth of each student as they embarked on a journey of self-discovery and academic excellence through the MSSI,” said María Venegas Escobedo, CAMP’s project director and the interim director of the Latinx Center. “Through intentional curriculum and a commitment to representation, we nurtured their awareness of new knowledge and fostered a transformative experience that affirmed the power of their unique identities.”

Venegas Escobedo was approached about MSSI by Mirna Miranda-Welsh, the director of migrant education in Los Angeles County. Venegas Escobedo worked with CAMP directors nationwide who have engaged in similar partnerships and resources on campus to bring the partnership to CSUSM. 

The goal is to hold MSSI annually, with the long-term vision of expanding its reach to other regions. To honor the achievements of the students in the MSSI pilot program, the closing event on July 14 in the USU Ballroom featured a celebration ceremony. 

“It was amazing to witness that when we meet students' needs and expose them to new ideas and opportunities that will continue to prepare them for the leaders they will become tomorrow, they get transformed and believe in themselves as people that belong in spaces, places and positions not originally created for them,” Venegas Escobedo said. “The look on their faces of, ‘I belong here’ or ‘I can do that’ is priceless.” 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

What:

Why: The CAMP Statewide Conference is a collaborative effort by the California CAMP Directors Consortium. Each year over 100 students from across California attend to participate in workshops and activities with the objective of building and enhancing their leadership skills.

CAMP’s mission at CSUSM is to provide entering first-year students with an array of support services and opportunities for cultural affirmation that lead to personal and educational success as measured by exceptional levels of community involvement and academic persistence to graduation.

Who: José M. Hernández, the first migrant farm worker to become a NASA astronaut, will be the keynote speaker.

Hernández was the first migrant farmworker to become a NASA astronaut. Born into a migrant farm working family from Mexico, Hernández—who didn’t learn English until he was 12 years old— spent much of his childhood on what he calls the “California circuit,” traveling with his family from Mexico to California’s southern San Joaquin Valley each March, then working northward to the Stockton area by summer, picking strawberries, cucumbers, cherries and tomatoes along the way. In late November, Hernández and his family would return to Mexico for Christmas, waiting for March to start the cycle all over again.

Hernández eventually obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering. After a successful career as an engineer and scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he was selected as part of the 19th class of U.S. Astronauts in 2004.

When: The three-day conference starts Friday, March 20 and runs through Sunday, March 22. Hernández will speak at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.

Where: The keynote will take place at CSUSM in the University Student Union ballroom – 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos