Dusty Camps Start August 23 at TAMIU

One of the biggest changes in a student's life becomes easier with the offering of Texas A&M International University's "Dusty Camps" Aug. 23 - Friday, Aug. 25.

The Camps are designed to help students transition into University life by meeting with  University faculty who teach first year courses, TAMIU staff and  fellow students.  Campers also learn about student services, and see what TAMIU is all about.

For 2006, two special guests, Peter Bielagus and Troy Stende, will share their experiences with students and motivate them to do their best.

Bielagus, a licensed financial advisor, decided to write a personal finance guide, Getting Loaded: A Complete Personal Finance Guide For Students and Young Professionals. Mixing humor and emotion with real life examples, he empowers audiences to make the best of themselves by making the right choices today. According to the American Council on Education, freshmen had average credit card balances of $790. Peter Bielagus had a balance of $5,000 his freshman year, but was debt free when he graduated.       

Winner of the "Best Campus Speaker" award from the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities in 2002, 2004 and 2005, Stende's passion and enthusiasm for life are contagious. He empowers students to discover their full potential and turn that potential into reality. He was featured in USA Today for living his dream job as a professional keynote speaker and high-impact trainer.

The Dusty Camps schedule for enrolled TAMIU students is as follows:

Wednesday, Aug. 23: Transfer orientation from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 24: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Peter Bielegas, keynote speaker, at the Student Center Ballroom from 10 - 11:30 a.m., freshman Convocation at the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall from 12 - 12:30 p.m., Dusty Pride Walk and lunch with faculty in the SC Ballroom from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 25: Troy Stende in the SC Ballroom from 9:15 - 11:15 a.m.

For more information, please contact Betty Momayezi, associate vice president of student affairs at bmomayezi@tamiu.edu, call 326.2280 or visit offices in the Student Center, room 226A.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu