2023-2024 CAMP Peer Mentors
Karen Steisi Ocampo – Lead Peer Mentor
I am a Queer Mexican first-generation college student. I’m from Yakima, Washington. I am a third-year student at the University of Washington, majoring in Education, Communications, and Organizations with minors in Diversity and Business Administration. My future hopes and ambitions include attending law school after receiving my BA and working for the government in the educational policy field. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music (I played the cello for over 8 years~), watching anime, playing video games, and spending time with my loved ones!
Wendy Sanchez Garcia
I am currently a third-year student here at UW, double majoring in Biology and Public Health-Global Health. My academic goals are to attend medical school and become a Pediatrician! I am a first-generation college student from Kennewick, WA and was a part of CAMP Cohort 12. I have loved my time with CAMP and I am excited to meet incoming Scholars! In my free time I like to listen to music, explore Seattle, and find new coffee shops!
Odalys Herrera
I am a first-generation student from Wapato, Washington. I am a junior, majoring in Education, Communities, and Organizations, and minoring in Business Administration. In my free time, I love hanging out with friends, exploring new places around the city, and watching shows and movies. I cannot wait to meet new students and mentees!
Joshua (JJ) Montelongo
My name is Joshua Jaden Montelongo, everybody knows me as J.J. I’m a graduate of Sunnyside High School as the senior class president, athlete of the year, and senior boy. I’m a first-year sophomore at UW intending to study in Journalism Public Interest Communications and Education, Communities, and Organizations with a minor in Leadership. I’m a UW Presidential Scholar, a member of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Incorporated and work for UW Football as an Equipment Manager.
Xitlaly Mendoza
Xitlaly, “Laly,” Mendoza a first generation student originally from Los Angeles, CA, and now, from Connell, WA. She is a second-year student pursuing a double-major in Sociology and Law, Societies, and Justice with a Leadership Minor. Xitlaly is passionate about community service, social issues, and advocacy for marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys watching football (GO 49ERS!), journaling, reading, organizing! Additionally, she enjoys exploring, traveling, and dreams to travel the world! Laly can’t wait to meet Cohort 14 and welcome them to their home away from home!
Marcial Romero Gomez
I am a second-year engineering student from Tieton Washington. I enjoy learning stem-related subjects, especially math. I have many hobbies, but my favorites are weightlifting, reading, and socializing. I am easygoing and understanding which allows me to be able to work with a variety of people effectively. Overall I am an approachable and passionate person. I live to reach the goals that I set for myself, and enjoy helping others reach theirs.
Allysa Valdez
My name is Allysa and I am studying Public Health-Global Health and hope to become a Physician Associate in the future! I love drinking coffee, walking around our beautiful campus (especially after it rains), and adventuring around the city with friends! I am very passionate about women’s health and all things surrounding self-care!
Nataly Campos Castillo
My name is Nataly, a second-year majoring in PHGH. Through the years, I have come to the realization that my greatest fulfillment comes from helping others and embracing adventure. I have a deep passion for continuous learning and genuine enthusiasm for exploring the world around me. I am constantly seeking a new opportunity with an open-minded approach, understanding that there are no limits to the knowledge we can acquire. Assisting others brings me immense joy, and I would describe myself as an ambitious, energetic, caring, and extroverted individual.
Naomi Ramirez Alvarado
Naomi is a first-generation college student from Wenatchee, Washington, and was a member of cohort 11. She is a senior double majoring in Sociology and Education, Communities, & Organizations. Her academic interests focus on inequality perpetuated by social structures that disadvantage minoritized racial and ethnic groups impacting their life chances and social mobility. She is passionate about addressing inequity in education and aspires to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector and possibly attend graduate school. Her goal is to work with community-based organizations to serve, uplift, and empower marginalized communities by providing equitable resources and meaningful connections. Naomi enjoys studying in coffee shops, working out, going to concerts, and exploring the city.
Maria Navarro
My name is María, and I am a junior studying Public Health-Global Health at the University of Washington. I was born and raised in Yakima, WA, to Mexican immigrant parents working in agriculture. I am the youngest of four siblings, an auntie, and I have two cats! I am a strong advocate for farmworker health and hope to attend graduate school to study the effects of environmental exposures on Latine farmworkers
Francisco Morales
Francisco is a rising senior in Bioengineering: Data Science. He is from Yakima Washington and was part of Cohort 11. Outside of school he likes to hang out with friends, explore new places, and is an active member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Incorporated. After finishing his undergraduate degree he would like to work in an industry position for a year and is considering pursuing an MD/PHD program.
Elizabeth Contreras-Demesio
I am a first-generation Mexican-American student from Wapato, WA. I am majoring in Global and Regional Studies concentrating on the Asian region primarily in Technology, Security and Diplomacy. I am part of Cohort 11 and I hope to provide assistance to underrepresented groups just like this mentorship program helped me during freshman year! In my free time I like to cook, read and learn new languages which is why I am currently learning Korean.
