Nick Zeller-Singh is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Seton Catholic Prep for AzPreps365.com

Senior Josh Camberg runs cross-country at Seton Catholic and out of the country to lend a hand.

Camberg and some Seton Catholic athletes travel to Agua Prieta, Mexico once a year to volunteer building houses, donating gifts to an orphanage, feeding families and more as a part of Rancho Feliz Foundation. When there, he realizes the families on the other side of the border are not as fortunate but grateful for what they receive.

“I think that’s one of the things that puts in perspective most for me is we are trying to help build these houses for them and they’re to the moon super grateful,” said Camberg.

“It makes you realize that the material possessions and all that is not what’s important. It’s just having these people who can help you out and care for you and having that community support you. That’s the most important thing.”

From building houses to building bonds, Camberg has been a marquee figure at Seton Catholic and the Rancho Feliz Foundation. The volunteers play an annual soccer game against the locals.

“They play Mexico versus the U.S.,” said cross-country coach Kerry Camberg, “and here we are with several of our team soccer players and the boys from the orphanage and let’s just say it’s not very pretty on who wins that game.”

Josh’s bond with these children has solidified a friendship built after traveling across the border for three years now. He said that building relationships is important whether you are volunteering or not.

“That’s one of my favorite things not just on this trip, but just in life,” Josh said. “Meeting new people from completely different backgrounds provides you with different insights on life.”

Junior cross-country runner Adam Lucero-Shirley relishes the experience.

“Here in Arizona you don’t really get to see that side of the world as much as you do, but when you go down there you understand the privileges that you do get and the suffering that other people have to suffer through,” said Lucero-Shirley. “When you help those people out, your one little thing goes a lot more for them.”

Kerry likes to call the Rancho Feliz Foundation a hand up instead of a hand out.

The hand up is necessary as border issues are one of the most controversial subjects in the country. Josh jumps in and tackles the issue as much as possible.

“People see it like an us and them where they are on the other side of the border, they speak this language, and they’re from this country, so they are not with us,” said Josh.

“But, when you go there and you talk to them and you help them out and you hang out and volunteer with them, you form a bond. Just because you are on two different sides doesn’t mean you cannot help each other and work together to try and make something better for everybody.”

Josh is nearly halfway done with his senior campaign. His hard work has turned him into a captain on his team and a role model at Seton Catholic.

“He already is a role model,” said assistant cross-country coach Kent Nowak. “There is a reason why we named him team captain and it was because he has exemplified that. Through this volunteer work he has grown a lot personally throughout his high school career and he has grown into a leader on our team.