For many, the transition to college marks a monumental shift, introducing a first taste of independence, a new environment, and a myriad of responsibilities. Balancing academics, extracurriculars and potentially a job, students encounter a host of challenges. It's precisely these challenges that Joseph Camarata Jr. ’78, Joseph Camarata III ’15 and Camille Camarata ’19 had in mind when they established the Camarata Family “Bounce-Back” Engineering Scholarship.
Joseph Camarata Jr. ’78 dreamed of attending Texas A&M University from a young age. The opportunity to participate in JETT Engineering testing as a high school student was a dream come true, allowing him to attend campus. From the bustling Memorial Student Center to the Albritton Bell Tower's resonating chimes to the Military Walk, he was captivated by the Texas A&M flagship campus and the people who brought it to life.
In 1974 — the same year the Dixie Chicken opened its doors — he returned to campus as an Aggie, majoring in building construction, now known as construction science, in the School of Architecture. Throughout his four years as a student, he was not only supported by his professors but also by generous 4-year scholarship donation that made it financially possible for him to attend Texas A&M.
After graduating, Joseph remained connected with the Aggie Network, notably serving the Bay Area A&M Club as president and muster chairman for over 20 years. He loves staying connected because he firmly believes that “once an Aggie, always an Aggie.” Bonding with other Aggies and supporting one another has enriched his professional career.
“We are all very proud of our university,” Joseph said referring to the impact of the Aggie Ring. “You can put two total stranger Aggies together, and they will part as best friends.”
Joseph’s love for Aggieland extended to his children— Joseph Paul Camarata III and Camille Camarata — who proudly followed in his footsteps, sporting maroon and white.
Carrying out the Maroon Legacy
Joseph Camarata III ’15, known as JP, dreamt of following in his father’s footsteps of attending Texas A&M. When he visited his father's alma mater, he felt that it was unique for its many traditions. Officially joining the Aggie family in 2011, JP became a part of the Corps of Cadets and Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.
However, in his first semester, he faced challenges transitioning to college. He had a poor academic experience and was put on scholastic probation. Seeing his dreams dimmed, JP worked relentlessly when he returned to campus for his second semester.
Although he was determined to bounce back, he lost most of the scholarships for his sophomore year. Seeking additional financial support, JP decided to join the United States Army Reserves. Over the next three years, JP’s hard work and diligence paid off as he was awarded the Doherty Award, Commandant’s Honor Roll, and Distinguished Military Graduate upon graduating with his degree in construction science.
“The reason I graduated with distinction and honors is more of a credit to my peers and professors than it is to my own personal merit,” JP said.
Camille was drawn to Aggieland because of the Aggie culture and the prestigious College of Engineering. Unlike her father and brother, she decided to study petroleum engineering. She was actively involved in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) throughout her four years as a student.
Scholarships allowed her to direct her focus and energy toward excelling in the classroom and balance her heavy class load and involvement in SPE. The relationships she formed with classmates have carried on past her time as a student, so much so that Camille and some of her classmates created a scholarship to honor women in petroleum engineering.
As a family, Camille, JP, and their father established a scholarship to support students who had difficulty transitioning into college, especially those who could not continue their education due to financial burdens.
The Camarata Family “Bounce-Back” Engineering Scholarship embodies the aspirations of Joseph, JP, and Camille, echoing their shared belief in education and resilience. Rooted in their own experiences of overcoming obstacles as students, this scholarship aims to be a beacon of hope for students facing similar challenges.
“We want students to be celebrated for coming back from a tough semester. We want to help lighten the blow of losing scholarships,” said Camille. “We want to motivate students to continue their educational journey and not let one bad semester define their college career.”
By offering financial support and encouragement to students who have faced academic setbacks, the Camarata family hopes to inspire students to persevere, thrive and ultimately reach their academic and professional goals. Through this scholarship, they want students to know that it is possible to bounce back from adversity and emerge stronger.