Edinburg, TX -- 5 OCT 09
USRP Supports the HESTEC 2009 Outreach to Increase the Nations
STEM Workforce at UTPA
The Undergraduate Student Research Project supported the Hispanic Science Engineering and Technology Conference at the University of Texas Pan-American on October 1-3, 2009. USRP is making significant efforts to recruit a diverse pool of candidates for the USRP applicant pool. The HESTEC Career Expo was one major outlet for USRP to recruit students from UTPA.
The Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology (HESTEC) Program is organized by the University of Texas-Pan American, one of the country's top Hispanic serving institutions, in conjunction with the Office of Congressman Rubén Hinojosa. The innovative program was created seven years ago to address the critical shortage of scientists and engineers in the United States. Since its inception, HESTEC has become a national model for promoting science, technology, and engineering and math careers among South Texas students who are predominantly Hispanic.
The NASA Exhibit Hall was comprised of hands-on activities from personnel from the Teaching from Space office and the Human Research Program Education and Outreach (HRPEO) Office. The Exhibit Hall also included a display of two moon rocks, a 1/3 scale model of the Lunar Lander, a photo kiosk, several panel displays and the chalkboard display designed by Bob Rogers. Astronaut Jose Hernandez attended Community Day and signed autographs in the NASA Exhibit Hall as well as delivered a presentation at the HESTEC Main Stage. The JPL 8-wheel rover was fully operational, and volunteers drove it over rows of students who were lying down to demonstrate how it operates over rough terrain. The Community Day NASA Exhibit received 11,000 visitors from 50,000 total visitors on that day of the HESTEC event.
NASA USRP plays a lead role when working to support schools and motivate students. The HESTEC 2009 event saw a Total 50,000 during the community day outreach event and 11,000 people came to the NASA Exhibit from the surrounding community.
Source: Anthony Zippay of the Universities Space Research Association
