A Right Start at TAMU-CC, 25 Summers Strong

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Twenty-five summers, thousands of young lives, and one unwavering mission — to give kids a right start. At Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Right Start Program is more than a camp; it’s a transformative experience that blends fitness, education, and mentorship to spark college dreams in middle schoolers who might not otherwise get the chance to step foot on a college campus.

Thanks to the partnership with TAMU-CC’s Kinesiology Department, this summer’s lineup of activities ranges from kayaking, windsurfing, and horseback riding to ropes courses and even scuba diving in the university pool. In addition to recreation, participants are introduced to academic themes across campus: biology through swimming and pool games, nursing through nature hikes, and teamwork through music-fueled team-building exercises.

“The partnership with the TAMU-CC Kinesiology Department helps to align the goals of the program with our commitment to promoting health, fitness, and academic success in our community,” said Dr. Misty Kesterson ’08, Senior Clinical Professor of Kinesiology.

Lauren Ochoa ’25, a seventh-grade English teacher, went from cleaning up her neighborhood as a kid to leading groups of students through the same program that once shaped her own future.

“This program changed my life,” Ochoa said. “That’s why I’ll always be a part of it.”

For Ochoa, her “right start” came after an act of civic responsibility at age 9.

“I cleaned up the lawn at Robstown City Hall when I was in elementary school,” Ochoa said. “My mom posted it on Facebook, someone sent it to the news, and Mr. Muñoz saw it. That’s how I got invited.”

Mr. Muñoz is Raul Muñoz ’98, Director of the Right Start Program. A physical education teacher with the Corpus Christi ISD, Muñoz has been with the program since its inception in 2000.

“By the third year, I was asked to take over as director,” Muñoz said.

In 2003, the program was named one of the top 25 Right Start programs in the country. The following year, it was number one.

From 2000 to 2007, TAMU-CC’s program was governed by the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) and was one of 17 participating schools in Texas, and more than 200 nationwide. But in 2007, federal funding was cut.

“We went from 300 kids to 70,” Muñoz said.

Today, TAMU-CC Right Start is the only program in Texas and one of four nationwide. Since 2007, the program has survived through generous donations. This year, 133 children have spent four weeks of their summer break on campus. Their days are filled with activity and learning.

“They get about 200 minutes of physical activity every day — not in a week,” Muñoz said. “But what’s beautiful is they also ask, ‘Coach, are we going to reading class today?’”

Participating children are selected from area schools with a significantly low-income population. Kids are bussed in from their school districts and supervised by coaches, like Ochoa.

“Lauren’s story is what it’s all about,” Muñoz said. “Participant, turned educator, turned camp leader.”

Ochoa, who recently graduated from the Island University with a Bachelor of Science in University Studies, spent eight years as a Right Start participant.

“It’s been eye-opening to come back and work with the kids, to help change their lives the way this program changed mine,” Ochoa said. “There are so many opportunities these students get that they wouldn’t have otherwise. Exposure to the university, nursing and teaching programs, and field trips that open their world.”

Dr. Frank Spaniol, Professor of Kinesiology, and Dr. Corinne Valadez ’93, Professor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Science, are currently leading a research project with this program, called “The Impact of Health and Wellness Literacy on the Fitness Assessment and Physical Activity Enjoyment in Children Attending a Summer Program.”

The study examines how health and wellness knowledge influences positive physical and academic outcomes for children participating in structured summer programs, focusing on the role of health literacy in fostering long-term healthy behaviors and enhancing academic performance. Supported by findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the research underscores consistent associations between increased physical activity — such as physical education, classroom movement breaks, sports participation, and active transportation — and improved academic achievement and cognitive development in children.