Head down, eyes on his drawing, Jose Torres hardly speaks above a whisper. Affectionately called Angel by friends, life for Torres has been difficult.

Living the life of a migrant worker and moving at least four times a year, Torres (freshman-art) can do anything from picking tomatoes to putting stakes in the ground to prevent weeding. Although he is receiving no support from home, Torres is on his way to accomplishing his dream of being an artist.

Julian Elliott, a native of Jamaica, is the daughter of migrant workers. Two years ago, Elliott (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) was uprooted from her home in Jamaica and moved to New York. Instead of following in the footsteps of her parents, Elliott decided to go to college. But to do this, she needed assistance and a strong support group.

The federal College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) aids migrant farm workers or their children, like Torres and Elliott, make the transition into college. Health insurance, tuition and money are given to students by CAMP. The program's entire staff provides emotional and academic support, as well as study sessions to improve academics.

CAMP, which began in 1972, did not start at the University until the fall of 1993.

"(There) wasn't a realization that there was a significant number of farm workers in Pennsylvania," said Odette Pineiro, CAMP's director.

Only six colleges in the United States receive federal grants for CAMP. For Penn State to receive CAMP funding, the University of Southwest Texas and the University of Colorado both lost their funding, although they still fund students already involved with the program.

"There is a lot of need, but there hasn't been an increase in appropriations in Washington," said Pineiro.

The University can also lose its program if its five-year proposal, which outlines what the University expects to accomplish, is not successful. After submission to the U.S. Department of Education, it is read and given points for each section of the proposal.

The school with the highest number of points receives the grant. Schools are rated every five years and because receiving funding for CAMP is a competitive process, only the best six proposals receive a grant.

Because the University received the grant, migrant students were able to come to college instead of working in fast food restaurants, factories or as migrant farmers like their parents. If not for the grant, David Solis would be working at a McDonald's in Gettysburg.

Solis (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) used to help pick apples with his parents during the summer. As the son of migrant workers, Solis moved often. He had to make new friends, get accustomed to new schools and ways of life. Often he would argue with his parents when he had to move, not wanting to adjust again.

"It was kinda hard because you don't have everything you want to have," he said quietly, recalling a difficult time in his life.

The program is diverse; students are recruited from 23 states on the East Coast, from Maine to Florida and Puerto Rico. The student migrant population is composed of Vietnamese, Hispanics, African Americans, Haitians and Anglo-Saxons. Most of the students are the first generation to attend college, like Torres and Solis.

Counselors work with high school students to make sure they meet admission requirements and deadlines. They work with the director of the minority program and the admissions office to secure students' courses for their major, career development and placement.

So far, only 17 out of the 50 spots for the program at the University are filled. Beginning this summer, 33 more students will join the program.

Torres was living on the streets of Georgia when he first heard about the program. Having been thrown out of his house, he would still be there today if this opportunity had not been presented to him.

"It's given me a chance to do what it would've been impossible for me to do on my own," he added.