El Paso middle-schooler hopes to raise funds for Harvard leadership camp

An El Paso middle-schooler is hoping to get a chance to attend Harvard University — for a leadership conference at least. And she’s getting help from some talented friends.

Helena Rincon is a sixth-grader at the El Paso Leadership Academy, a public charter school. She’s trying to raise money to get to a leadership camp at a prestigious location.

“It was like a dream come true because I’ve always wanted to go there,” Rincon said.

Rincon was invited to attend the Ambassador Leaders Camp at Harvard, but it will cost about $4,000 for the full program and travel.

“It’s very important for me because it’s going to take place in Harvard, and I’ve always wanted to go to that university,” Rincon said. “In the camp it’ll teach you to be a leader, how to be a better person, and how to help out your community.”

She has raised some money online and more in person by selling candy in school and now bookmarks and bracelets. She’s made enough for the down payment and first installments but is still short of her goal.

That’s where Amalia Mondragon and her band The Chamanas come in.

“We want to get involved not just with the arts, but with our future,” Mondragon said.

The group will be holding a fundraiser Sunday for Rincon. Mondragon had her as a student in the Tocando program with the El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra.

“Helena is part of our future, and she’s a very strong one,” Mondragon said. “So we want to encourage people like Helena and children like Helena to start pursuing bigger things, you know? So I think that’s why we want to get involved.”

It’s help that Rincon knows to appreciate.

“It is a lot of hard work,” Rincon said.

The fundraiser will start at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Coco.Bar at 1515 Lee Trevino Dr. You can visit the bar’s Facebook page for more info, or learn more about the overall fundraising efforts on Rincon’s GoFundMe page.