SHPE - Fall 2008 - (Page 20)

BROWSER ❚ News of Particular Interest to Society Members Hispanic Astronauts Assigned to Space Mission For the first time in history, two Hispanic astronauts have been assigned as specialists to the same space shuttle mission. NASA astronaut John D. “Danny” Olivas and NASA astronaut and SHPE member Jose M. Hernández are to be crew members on space shuttle mission STS128. Targeted for launch on July 30, 2009, Atlantis will carry a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science and storage racks to the International Space Station, deliver a new station crew member and return another to Earth. The mission will include three spacewalks to remove and replace a materials processing experiment outside the European Space Agency’s Columbus module and to return an empty ammonia tank assembly. This will be the first trip to space for Hernandez, who was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He holds a B.S in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific and an M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Olivas flew as a mission specialist and conducted two spacewalks during STS-117 in 2007. Olivas has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and materials science from Rice University. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998. Enrique Gomez, SHPE’s New CEO President. “Enrique has demonAn Executive on Loan from strated a deep passion for SHPE, IBM, Enrique Gomez comes to the and we are looking forward to his Society of Hispanic Professional leadership during SHPE’s next Engineers with a wealth of profescycle of growth. Obviously no one sional and technical expertise as individual can determine the path well as an extensive history with of an organization; however, given the organization. As CEO, he is his familiarity with our ideological responsible for overseeing all framework as well as his manageaspects of the Society on a national Enrique Gomez, SHPE’s new CEO. ment skills acquired at IBM, we level, including membership, conferences, AHETEMS programs, professional are confident that Enrique will help SHPE development and IPC relations. Within the achieve its potential.” After starting his career as a NASA engiframework of SHPE’s new governance and organizational structure, the CEO position is neer, Gomez began his 28-year tenure at pivotal in transitioning the National Board IBM. He has served in a number of key of Directors from a working board to a pol- leadership roles, including the Global Development Director for IBM’s Point of icy making and strategic one. SHPE sought a high-caliber candidate to Sale Systems as part of IBM’s Retail Store lead the organization with wisdom, expert- Solutions. Most recently, he managed a ise and a strong commitment to its mission. portfolio of solutions valued at $250 mil“In Enrique, we are fortunate to have a CEO lion and was responsible for more than that embodies both the institutional memo- 800 professionals in 11 countries. Gomez’s history with SHPE began in 1987 ry and our hopes for the future of the Society,” said Diana Gomez, SHPE National when he presided over the Texas Bay Area Chapter in Houston, Texas. In 1999, he was appointed an IBM Executive Liaison to SHPE. Since then, has been honored with the SHPE Corporate Achievement Award, a Luminary Award from HENAAC and SHPE’s highest recognition, the Jaime Oaxaca Award. “I am grateful to SHPE and IBM for the unique opportunity to make a difference for our people and for our country,” he said. ■ placing candidates for the internship, and, most recently, celebrated Marathon’s first hire from within the program. To apply for HSF scholarships, students simply log onto www.hsf.net and fill out a universal profile. This allows the applicant, if eligible, to fill out the HSF General Scholarship Application, which links the applicant to the majority of the HSF awards. The HSF system then searches the applicant’s profile to see if the student qualifies for any special programs and prompts him or her to provide supplemental information and/or additional essay questions. By creating this profile, students can save their work and return to update it until it is complete. The application also calls for official transcripts, three essays and a letter of recommendation, so Flores advises students to start as soon as possible. “Students close to a 3.0 should probably wait until the spring to send us transcripts of the fall 2008 semester to see if they meet the requirements,” he said, “but start preparing the application now.” With a mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees, HSF provides the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. ■ SHPE ❘ Fall 2008 Apply Now for HSF Scholarships From now through February 18, 2009, the SHPE member participation in the scholarHispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is accepting ship program, HSF representatives will be applications for its 2009-2010 award year. attending the SHPE Conference in November. Among the over 150 scholarship programs “We know that SHPE has a lot of scholars HSF administers are many designated exclu- who are eligible and great candidates for sively for students in science, technology, many of HSF’s programs,” Flores said. “We engineering and math (STEM). “We are would like to work closely with SHPE to let always looking to increase the number of students know about opportunities, help STEM applicants at the undergraduate and them with the application and make sure they graduate levels and to increase the number of have good access to scholarships. Hopefully scholarship dollars we can offer them,” said before they come to the conference, they are familiar with HSF and have started preparing Paco Flores, HSF program coordinator. Typically, HSF awards scholarships rang- their applications. We’ll be there to answer ing between $1,000 and $5,000, with the aver- their questions and help them with their age award being $2,500. During the 2007-2008 applications.” Among the most notable of HSF’s STEM academic year, HSF awarded nearly 4,200 scholarships exceeding $26.5 million. Of that scholarship programs is the Marathon Oil number, 1,169 scholarships went to students Corporation Scholarship program, the application period for which in engineering, science and HSF Eligibility runs from September 1, 2008, computer related majors. Requirements through November 2008. Additionally, over 500 scholar• Be a U.S. Citizen or legal Along with a two-year scholships were awarded to gradupermanent resident arship of up to $10,000 each ate students. In its 33-year his• Maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA year, students are eligible for a tory, HSF has awarded more • Must apply for federal paid summer internship at a than 86,000 scholarships financial aid using the FASFA Marathon site. In only its secworth more than $247 million • Have plans to enroll full-time in a degree-seeking program ond year of partnership with to Latinos attending nearly at a U.S. accredited institution Marathon, HSF has been 2,000 colleges and universities. in the upcoming academic year successful in attracting and In an effort to increase 20 http://www.hsf.net

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Fall 2008

SHPE - Fall 2008 Contents President's Letter From the Vice President Calendar of Events National Board of Directors The Great '08: Chapter Leaders Learn to Spread 'SHPE Fever' Browser National Retreat Provides a Redefinition An Engineer and a Politician Capitalizing on Engineering Talent Grupos de Afinidad A Focused Approach to Getting the Job You Really Want SHPE Conference 2008 IPC Update Programs & Services Keeping Warm with 'Yuper' Familia Spirit Promise of Spring Recruit, Engage and Retain Regional Student Representatives Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Fall 2008

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