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The Key to Resiliency

Dr. Blanca Campa

Proceeds from Dr. Blanca Campa’s book benefit student scholarships, and the content shares tips on how to cultivate effective teaching strategies for the growing Hispanic population in the community college landscape.

Inside the sleeping mind of a child, you may find dreams of superheroes, candy lands or monsters. Yet, as early as she can remember, Dr. Blanca Campa dreamt of finding money.

Blanca, an instructor at El Paso Community College and ’08 alumna of New Mexico State University, understood by age six that her family needed help. Days would go by without any food to eat, and the soles in her shoes bared holes too big to hide. Blanca’s life changed for the better, though, the day she started public school in El Paso.

“I remember my very first day of school and how much I loved it,” she says. “We had a free breakfast and lunch every day, and my teachers helped me understand the importance of an education. I knew this was my only way out—the only way to help my family.”

She rarely groaned about taking tests or writing papers like some students. Blanca knew every test, every paper, every assignment put her one step closer to earning a degree that would change the course of her life and the lives of her family.

Eventually, her drive to earn a high school diploma led her to an associate degree from EPCC, both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from UTEP and a doctorate from NMSU. She credits teachers and professors along the way for inspiring her to continue investing in herself.

“I just kept taking classes here and there,” she says, laughing. “I didn’t intend to get a doctorate, but when faculty at NMSU noticed how many credits I had, they suggested I go ahead and take a few more to earn it. I had a fabulous experience at NMSU. The classrooms were small, teachers knew our names and they brought their personal and professional lives into the classroom.”

While pursuing her degrees, Blanca worked at EPCC where she remains today after 18 years. Now, she teaches what she calls a “resiliency course” in the educational psychology department, helping students to develop critical life skills, set goals for the future and manage their finances.

“I feel like this course was created just for me to teach,” she says. “It combines my desire to counsel students and share my life experiences to inspire them. Community college students, like I was, are still trying to figure out their lives. Their time at EPCC or any community college is critical, and it’s my job to empower them onto the next part of their academic careers.”

Her love for education and community colleges motivated her latest book, The Mexican American Community College Experience: Fostering Resilience, Achieving Success. Proceeds from the book sales benefit student scholarships, and the content shares tips on how to cultivate effective teaching strategies for the growing Hispanic population in the community college landscape.

Yet, Blanca’s philanthropy and drive to help students didn’t stop with her book. As a new member of The 1888 Society, she pledged in her estate plan to continue funding an NMSU endowed scholarship she started this fall that rewards minority students transferring from any community college in the United States to NMSU-Las Cruces.

“I empathize with my students all the time,” she says. “Many balance jobs with school and family. All the time, I’m tempted to write my students a check to help with this and that, but they never accept it. Teaching, mentoring and philanthropy are my way of helping students in a different way and proving to them that you, alone, can make a difference in the world.”

You can make a difference for the NMSU Foundation students with a gift for the future. To learn more, contact Steven Covington at (575) 646-3190 or (800) 342-6678 or plannedgiving@nmsufoundation.org.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to the New Mexico State University Foundation a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to the New Mexico State University Foundation, a nonprofit corporation currently located at P.O. Box 3590, Las Cruces, NM 88003, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the NMSU Foundation or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support NMSU's mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the NMSU Foundation as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the NMSU Foundation as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the NMSU Foundation where you agree to make a gift to the NMSU Foundation and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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