Martin Quintinilla
“I realized camp was more than just about college; the counselors really do care about you.
At Camp Cat, they treat you like family.”
Martin Quintanilla's story mirrors the resilience and determination embodied by many Camp Catanese campers and alumni. We are so proud to share that Martin will be attending Arizona State University this Fall and will be majoring in Computer Science! Martin inspires each and every one of us, and we are honored to be a part of his story! To learn more about Martin's transformative journey and the impact he has made on the Camp Catanese community, we invite you to watch our student spotlight video featuring Martin Quintanilla. We know Martin will continue to inspire hope in his family and community for generations to come!
LUIS AND TANIA
“We are living this great life, married, and enjoying great moments, and we want someone else to know that they can have the same thing.”
Tania (class of 2017) and Luis (class of 2018) are both first-generation college graduates and attribute much of their success to the motivation, support, and guidance they found through Camp Catanese. This year, they raised and contributed $2,500 to Camp Catanese to create a scholarship for the next generation of campers. They want to show immigrant students, like themselves, that they too can dream big and succeed!
“We are living this great life, married, and enjoying great moments, and we want someone else to know that they can have the same thing.”
Tania (class of 2017) and Luis (class of 2018) are both first-generation college graduates and attribute much of their success to the motivation, support, and guidance they found through Camp Catanese. This year, they raised and contributed $2,500 to Camp Catanese to create a scholarship for the next generation of campers. They want to show immigrant students, like themselves, that they too can dream big and succeed!
JOSE BARRERAS VALDEZ
“I was honestly really lost about what I wanted to do. The vibe when you are at camp makes everything feel achievable and like you can do it.”
"Jose was born in Arizona to immigrant parents and grew up in the Maryvale community. His first language is Spanish, and his mom remembers him as early as three-years old pretending to speak English when he played with the other neighborhood children – always wanting to learn new words. In elementary school, as he gained proficiency in reading and writing English, his fondness for reading grew, and he immersed himself in literature, especially the mystery genre, whenever possible. Jose says, all of this is still true today – he loves to read, find new words, and then integrate them into his vocabulary. This fall, Jose is pursuing that childhood passion by majoring in Mass Communications with hopes of becoming a journalist one day. Jose took the time this summer to reflect on how Mr. Catanese and his Camp Catanese mentors have supported him in reaching this point of his academic career."
Eduardo Diaz Lopez
“Ever since camp, my mentality has done a 360. I view life from a different perspective. I’m going through life being present and doing what I can to set myself up for success.”
“I wasn’t going to go to camp this year,” Eduardo said. He had to work to save for a car and his future. But, when Mr. Catanese reached out about coming back, he couldn’t say no, because “for a week it just feels like you are in paradise.” Eduardo used all his sick time at work, so he could some to Camp Catanese this summer, and he’s really glad he did.
At the beginning of camp, he did not have plans to attend a four-year college. However, Eduardo left Camp Catanese Summer 2023 on a different path, and he is now enrolling at Grand Canyon University with plans to major in finance and economics.
Maria Benitez
“Overall, Camp Catanese helped me see the immense potential that exists within me."
One of Maria's goals was to attend Arizona State University regardless of the fact that she was undocumented and faced many challenges. However, thanks to the resources and community of supporters at Camp Catanese, she is in the process of completing her first year at Barret, The Honors College at ASU, fully funded.
One of Maria's goals was to attend Arizona State University regardless of the fact that she was undocumented and faced many challenges. However, thanks to the resources and community of supporters at Camp Catanese, she is in the process of completing her first year at Barret, The Honors College at ASU, fully funded.
Karla Ramos Gonzalez
“The community in Camp Catanese is like no other and that is truly what has helped me and so many of my classmates go to college.”
Karla is the oldest sibling of four. Although she was born in the United States, she grew up living between a small rural town in Jalisco, Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona. Her parents are both from Mexico, where her father only completed middle school and her mother finished high school.
Today, Karla is a sophomore at Yale University, majoring in Architecture with a concentration in design. She also plans to earn a certificate in Computer Science.
Karla is the oldest sibling of four. Although she was born in the United States, she grew up living between a small rural town in Jalisco, Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona. Her parents are both from Mexico, where her father only completed middle school and her mother finished high school.
Today, Karla is a sophomore at Yale University, majoring in Architecture with a concentration in design. She also plans to earn a certificate in Computer Science.
Nathan Martinez Rubio
Mr. Catanese at Nathan's ASU Graduation in May 2022
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“Initially he seemed like a normal teacher, but just more enthusiastic,” Nathan Martinez Rubio says about being in Mr. Catanese’s math class when he was 11 years-old. “Then I found out he had very high, ambitious goals and realized, this guy isn’t just a teacher, he cares about the community.”
Nathan was one of “Mr. Cat’s” first students at Pueblo del Sol Elementary School in 2011, and he continues to be part of a lot of firsts for the Maryvale community, his family, and Camp Catanese. Today, Nathan is a first-generation college graduate who majored in Healthcare Compliance and Regulations at Arizona State University. Nathan was admitted to Teach For America’s 2022 corps, and is currently teaching middle school science a few doors down from Mr. Catanese and his old math classroom at Pueblo del Sol Elementary. Nathan has worked very hard to be where he is today. Through his example, and being part of so many “firsts”, he has paved a path to demonstrate what is possible for his students, his younger cousins who look up to him, and the Maryvale community. |