Join us in recognizing some of the top Kennedy Center students of the class of 2025. We'll be highlighting some of our valedictorians to hear about their experiences at BYU.
Alexa Camargo of Eagle Mountain, Utah, is our 2025 valedictorian for the Latin American Studies program. She graduated with a second major in Spanish Studies. This fall, she'll be starting the Spanish MA program with an emphasis in Hispanic Literature at BYU. After that, sje hopes to start a career that allows her to speak Spanish and share her love of Latin American culture, music, and history in an educational setting.
What drew you to your program?
I started college undeclared at the University of Utah, but after two years of school, I decided to serve a mission. I was called to serve in the Washington, DC South mission speaking Spanish, where I had the opportunity to interact with Spanish speakers from all over Latin America. I loved my experience learning about the cultures and Spanish from different Spanish-speaking countries and it was so fulfilling getting to serve the people that I met. When I got home from my mission and transferred to BYU, I knew that I wanted to keep improving my Spanish and serving the Latin American community that I loved. When I looked into Latin American Studies, it was the perfect fit! Latin American Studies has enabled me not only to maintain and improve my language skills, but also to learn more about the region and its people.
What were your favorite classes?
There were so many classes from my program that I loved. Some of my favorites were World Populations (SOC 345), History of Modern Latin America (HIST 252), and my Latin American Studies Capstone course (LT AM 495). I loved World Populations and Modern Latin America because I learned so much context about current and long-standing issues in Latin America. Especially in World Populations, I learned about issues in the region that helped me see how I could apply what I was learning in the classroom out in the real world. My capstone course was also one of my favorites because it felt like a culmination of everything that I had learned up to that point. I was able to conduct my own research on a topic of my choice in Latin America, which led me to researching and writing about the band Queen’s 1981 tour through Argentina during the country’s military dictatorship. It was so rewarding working on the project, and it helped me realize that I wanted to apply to grad school.
Were there any professors that made an impact on you?
There were two professors that stand out in my undergraduate experience: Dr. Jeffrey Shumway and Dr. Brian Price. Dr. Shumway was always a great resource for me and always gave me opportunities to be involved with the program. Because of him, I participated in the Model Organization of American States and was able to receive funding for other experiential learning opportunities. Similarly, Dr. Price made an impact on me by encouraging me to apply to the Spanish MA program. He believed in my writing, research, and Spanish language skills and helped foster my love of rock music in Latin America.
Did you participate in any study abroad programs?
During my time at BYU, I was able to do an internship abroad in Santiago, Chile during the summer of 2024 for the Church’s Self-Reliance Services. I also participated in the Model Organization of American States for 2 years, traveling to conferences in Washington, DC, where BYU represented Argentina in 2024 and Mexico in 2025. Finally, I served as a volunteer English teacher in Irapuato, Mexico during the summer of 2023 through the International Language Program. These experiences were incredibly fulfilling for me, as I got to apply my knowledge of Latin America and the Spanish language outside of the classroom through service, diplomacy, and education. These different activities and opportunities were some of the highlights of my undergrad!
To those who are considering your program, what would you say?
If you are interested in Latin America, I would highly encourage Latin American Studies as a major or minor! I love the interdisciplinary nature of the program because it enables you to explore different fields and allows you more opportunities for growth. To get the most out of the program, I would encourage students to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way, whether it be a study abroad, an internship, mentored research, volunteering, clubs, etc. These experiences help you see your coursework come to life, and it is so much fun! I have absolutely loved my time as a Latin American Studies major.