Business & Entrepreneurship - Presented by BBVA Compass
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Yanik Ariste Hometown: Miami, FL College: Vanderbilt University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or at the University of Notre Dame Major: Management Consulting GPA: 4.0 High School: Coral Gables Senior High School Heritage: Cuban |
Yanik Ariste, our National Business & Entrepreneurship Youth Award recipient is Cuban-American and lives in Miami, FL with her family. Yanik was unsure of pursuing a career in business and a presentation on Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Curiously, FBLA has been both her spark and her preparation. She has competed in various categories such as Business Math, Insurance and Risk Management, HealthCare Administration and Parliamentary Procedure. These competitions have allowed her to explore topics of interest, deepening her understanding of business. Due to her hard work and dedication, Yanik has consistently excelled in these competitions and placed Fourth at the 2016 FBLA National Leadership Conference in Insurance and Risk Management.
However, Yanik’s involvement in FBLA is not limited to competitions; her volunteer and community service efforts have been acknowledged as she has continuously receives awards, recognition and honors for her contributions. At the 2017 FBLA National Leadership Conference, she was one of only 20 Floridians awarded the FBLA Community Service Achievement Award which, the highest community service recognition offered by the FBLA in which a minimum of five hundred hours of community service is needed to receive the award.
Her service extends beyond FBLA, Yanik serves as President of the International Baccalaureate Honor Society (IBHS) and Interact, Treasurer of the National Spanish Honor Society (NSHS) and Student Council. As a three-time Board Member of IBHS, Yanik has taken an active role in Bridge for Peace- an annual fundraiser for global causes- for the past three years and is currently leading the effort-with BLUE Missions Group- to improve water quality and ensure access to sanitation in the Dominican Republic. Also, a three-time Board Member and two time District 6990 Officer of Interact, Yanik has earned the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her commitment to service, for staying true to Interact’s motto “Service above Self.”
An IB Bilingual Diploma Candidate with a 4.0 GPA (Weighted: 5.45), Yanik has garnered a variety of awards such as being a National Hispanic Scholar, a National Merit Semifinalist, a National AP Scholar, her school’s 2017 Silver Knight Nominee in the area of Business, a Duke Book Award Recipient, and a three time Gold Scholar indicative of holding the highest GPA in her class. Recently named a Semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship, a scholarship that seeks to advance the education of exceptionally promising students with financial need. Yanik hopes to major in Management Consulting or Economics at Amherst College, Princeton University, or at University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
However, Yanik’s involvement in FBLA is not limited to competitions; her volunteer and community service efforts have been acknowledged as she has continuously receives awards, recognition and honors for her contributions. At the 2017 FBLA National Leadership Conference, she was one of only 20 Floridians awarded the FBLA Community Service Achievement Award which, the highest community service recognition offered by the FBLA in which a minimum of five hundred hours of community service is needed to receive the award.
Her service extends beyond FBLA, Yanik serves as President of the International Baccalaureate Honor Society (IBHS) and Interact, Treasurer of the National Spanish Honor Society (NSHS) and Student Council. As a three-time Board Member of IBHS, Yanik has taken an active role in Bridge for Peace- an annual fundraiser for global causes- for the past three years and is currently leading the effort-with BLUE Missions Group- to improve water quality and ensure access to sanitation in the Dominican Republic. Also, a three-time Board Member and two time District 6990 Officer of Interact, Yanik has earned the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her commitment to service, for staying true to Interact’s motto “Service above Self.”
An IB Bilingual Diploma Candidate with a 4.0 GPA (Weighted: 5.45), Yanik has garnered a variety of awards such as being a National Hispanic Scholar, a National Merit Semifinalist, a National AP Scholar, her school’s 2017 Silver Knight Nominee in the area of Business, a Duke Book Award Recipient, and a three time Gold Scholar indicative of holding the highest GPA in her class. Recently named a Semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship, a scholarship that seeks to advance the education of exceptionally promising students with financial need. Yanik hopes to major in Management Consulting or Economics at Amherst College, Princeton University, or at University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
Community Service - Presented by Colgate-Palmolive
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Ryan James Solis Hometown: El Paso, TX College: Harvard College, Stanford University, Princeton University Major: American Literature GPA: 4.0 High School: Eastwood High School Heritage: Mexican |
Ryan James Solis, our National Community Service Hispanic Heritage recipient, is an active participant in over 20 extracurricular clubs and organizations associated with politics, academics and community service. He holds offices in many of these organizations, including Future Business Leaders of America, where he serves as National Vice-President, the first Mexican-American ever elected to the position. He also serves in STEM Club, High Q, National Honor Society, National Hispanic Honor Society, Mock Trial, U.I.L math and social studies and many more are part of his dedication to his educational engagement.
While he exemplifies leadership in his commitment to his extracurricular activities, Ryan’s involvement in the El Paso Chamber of Commerce has truly warranted notice. He is now serving his second term on the Governing Board of the Chamber, lobbying to promote major advocacies for the city as the youngest person voted to this position in the city. Because he is highly respected in the community, the McDonald’s organization of El Paso has fashioned a new award to showcase his leadership potential and recognized Ryan with the 18th Annual McDonald’s Hispanos Triunfadores Award in the new category of Emerging Leader. Ryan is the first honoree of this prestigious accolade. Through working at the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Ryan became involved in politics and its complicated strategies by working for Texas House Democratic Whip César Blanco and U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke. Through countless hours of volunteering and his involvement in various internships, Ryan has learned so much about the inner workings of government and business.
Ryan has accumulated over 470 hours dedicated to volunteer services and has been awarded with accolades honoring his commitment to community. In his senior year in High School, Ryan won the 11th Annual Disney Dreamer Award, the ACTE National Outstanding Business Student Award and has been recognized as an All-American debater and Academic All-American debater. As a National Advance Placement Scholar and a NASA Aerospace Scholar, Ryan has come to value his education pursuits in high school and hopes to elevate his knowledge by being a first-generation college student.
The son of a single mother, Ryan credits his success to the positive influence of his mother, grandmother, uncles and compassionate teachers. As a semi-finalist for the Gates, Coca-Cola, and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, Ryan hopes to represent the Hispanic community , following his true passions, including public policy, business and legal ethics. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, ranked 3rd in his class, Ryan plans to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, the John Kennedy School of Policy at Harvard University, or the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs at Princeton University.
While he exemplifies leadership in his commitment to his extracurricular activities, Ryan’s involvement in the El Paso Chamber of Commerce has truly warranted notice. He is now serving his second term on the Governing Board of the Chamber, lobbying to promote major advocacies for the city as the youngest person voted to this position in the city. Because he is highly respected in the community, the McDonald’s organization of El Paso has fashioned a new award to showcase his leadership potential and recognized Ryan with the 18th Annual McDonald’s Hispanos Triunfadores Award in the new category of Emerging Leader. Ryan is the first honoree of this prestigious accolade. Through working at the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Ryan became involved in politics and its complicated strategies by working for Texas House Democratic Whip César Blanco and U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke. Through countless hours of volunteering and his involvement in various internships, Ryan has learned so much about the inner workings of government and business.
Ryan has accumulated over 470 hours dedicated to volunteer services and has been awarded with accolades honoring his commitment to community. In his senior year in High School, Ryan won the 11th Annual Disney Dreamer Award, the ACTE National Outstanding Business Student Award and has been recognized as an All-American debater and Academic All-American debater. As a National Advance Placement Scholar and a NASA Aerospace Scholar, Ryan has come to value his education pursuits in high school and hopes to elevate his knowledge by being a first-generation college student.
The son of a single mother, Ryan credits his success to the positive influence of his mother, grandmother, uncles and compassionate teachers. As a semi-finalist for the Gates, Coca-Cola, and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, Ryan hopes to represent the Hispanic community , following his true passions, including public policy, business and legal ethics. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, ranked 3rd in his class, Ryan plans to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, the John Kennedy School of Policy at Harvard University, or the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs at Princeton University.
Education - Presented by Southwest Airlines
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Adrianna Marie Rosario Hometown: Dacula, GA College: Mercer University, University of Georgia, and The College of William and Mary Major: Major in History GPA: 4.0 High School: Mill Creek High School Heritage: Puerto Rican |
Arianna Marie Rosario, our National Hispanic Heritage Education Recipient has had many important influences in her life, including her father who first came to the United States from Puerto Rico with only $250 in his pocket. Her father worked hard and managed to bring the rest of his family from the island to the United States for a better life. For Adrianna, being Hispanic has always represented strength and resilience.
Adrianna has dreamed of being a teacher since she was in 6th grade, first inspired by her Language Arts teacher who really focused on her students’ strengths and talents. Since then, Adrianna has realized the basic foundation for pursuing a career in teaching consists of innovative instruction and a whole lot of love. She is currently a teaching aid to two teachers, one in high school and one in middle school, where she is able to really experience the behind-the-scenes of being a teacher. Along with working in the classroom, Adrianna has created educational videos for her AP US History class, which will help aid supplement instructions for the writing section of the AP exam. Adrianna has also tutored Spanish on a one- on-one level, giving her the opportunity to create her own teaching style. She is also a winner of the Teens Dream video contest and is now a Teen Ambassador for the organization. With Teens Dream, she plans to connect more teens who are passionate about education on a global scale.
In Adrianna’s own words, “Knowledge is the most powerful took we have against discrimination and it is crucial in combating ignorance. Beyond the fight for basic equality, Latinos have and will have continued to make important contributions to society, from the science field and beyond.”
At her school, Adrianna has taken the challenging gifted and AP-level courses, becoming an AP Scholar with Distinction this past year. She has also participated in many extra- curricular activities while taking an active role in a few organizations, including the National English Honor Society, where she currently serves as Co-president. Recently, Adrianna has worked with Contigo Puerto Rico, an organization working to move supplies and donations from Georgia to the island. With a 4.0 GPA, this talented Puerto Rican leader will major in History at Mercer University, the University of Georgia, or the College of William and Mary.
Adrianna has dreamed of being a teacher since she was in 6th grade, first inspired by her Language Arts teacher who really focused on her students’ strengths and talents. Since then, Adrianna has realized the basic foundation for pursuing a career in teaching consists of innovative instruction and a whole lot of love. She is currently a teaching aid to two teachers, one in high school and one in middle school, where she is able to really experience the behind-the-scenes of being a teacher. Along with working in the classroom, Adrianna has created educational videos for her AP US History class, which will help aid supplement instructions for the writing section of the AP exam. Adrianna has also tutored Spanish on a one- on-one level, giving her the opportunity to create her own teaching style. She is also a winner of the Teens Dream video contest and is now a Teen Ambassador for the organization. With Teens Dream, she plans to connect more teens who are passionate about education on a global scale.
In Adrianna’s own words, “Knowledge is the most powerful took we have against discrimination and it is crucial in combating ignorance. Beyond the fight for basic equality, Latinos have and will have continued to make important contributions to society, from the science field and beyond.”
At her school, Adrianna has taken the challenging gifted and AP-level courses, becoming an AP Scholar with Distinction this past year. She has also participated in many extra- curricular activities while taking an active role in a few organizations, including the National English Honor Society, where she currently serves as Co-president. Recently, Adrianna has worked with Contigo Puerto Rico, an organization working to move supplies and donations from Georgia to the island. With a 4.0 GPA, this talented Puerto Rican leader will major in History at Mercer University, the University of Georgia, or the College of William and Mary.
Engineering & Math - Presented by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
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Luis Jose Gonzalez Hometown: Pharr, TX Colleges: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Major: Chemical Engineering with a minor in Physics GPA: 4.0 High School: PSJA Thomas Jefferson T-STEM ECHS Heritage: Mexican |
Luis Jose Gonzalez was born in a small border town in Texas: Rio Grande City. He grew up in the Mexican town that bordered it (Camargo, Tamaulipas), and had to cross the border every morning to attend school. The long road ahead did not deter Luis from success as he excelled in sports and academics. It was when he started high school that his mother and father separated and had to leave his home in Mexico because his mother did not have a VISA. Luis moved in with his aunt for the first two years of high school and encouraged his mother to obtain her residency. Both Luis and his mother worked extremely hard to succeed in the United States. It was moving to a new city that filled his life with new opportunities and a newfound confidence.
Growing up, Luis Gonzalez, wanted to be a NASA astronaut and now his passion for engineering instills the belief that engineers are the ones that make it all possible. He expresses his love for related subjects through UIL Number Sense, where he has 10 minutes to complete an 80-question mental math exam. His speed and accuracy allowed him to compete at the state level. He takes dual enrollment classes at his local community college, South Texas College which has made him more responsible and independent. He will receive one of the hardest degrees offered at his college: Associates in Chemical Engineering this spring semester from. At South Texas College, Luis was offered a job as a Student Learning Assistant where he helps students in math (College Algebra to Differential Equations), Chemistry, and Physics. He is the youngest person to ever work there as most of his colleagues either have a college degree or are full-time college students!
With the help of his science teachers, Luis began STEM-Awareness at his school, an event that is held annually to introduce younger kids to the power of STEM through experiments. His most pivotal experience was the internship he was offered this summer. The current research has direct applications to fuel cell technology. His research aims to make the fuel cell a viable option for energy conversion devices, and will be published in the American Chemical Society by the end of the year. This internship combined his goals towards decreasing our fossil fuel dependency and mitigating climate change. Now Luis and his research mentor are about to take on another research experiment which deals with graphene and has applications to nanoelectronics. In one of his classes, he had to come up with a solution for an everyday problem. He decided to work to speed up the delivery process of video games, by using drones. He was responsible for bringing to life to a fully functioning product from what was just an idea. To accomplish his goal, he had to learn to program to fix the motors to be spinning at the correct speed per his inputs on the controller.
This project ultimately opened his eyes to his interest in the broader field of engineering. He is currently a semi-finalist for the Gates Scholarship and a Questbridge Scholar. On Thanksgiving, he received a surprise visit from the staff at UT Austin where they gifted Luis a full- tuition scholarship. Although honored to have received this scholarship, he has already accepted an offer to enroll at his dream school this fall. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, Luis has been accepted to and will major in Chemical Engineering with a Physics minor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Growing up, Luis Gonzalez, wanted to be a NASA astronaut and now his passion for engineering instills the belief that engineers are the ones that make it all possible. He expresses his love for related subjects through UIL Number Sense, where he has 10 minutes to complete an 80-question mental math exam. His speed and accuracy allowed him to compete at the state level. He takes dual enrollment classes at his local community college, South Texas College which has made him more responsible and independent. He will receive one of the hardest degrees offered at his college: Associates in Chemical Engineering this spring semester from. At South Texas College, Luis was offered a job as a Student Learning Assistant where he helps students in math (College Algebra to Differential Equations), Chemistry, and Physics. He is the youngest person to ever work there as most of his colleagues either have a college degree or are full-time college students!
With the help of his science teachers, Luis began STEM-Awareness at his school, an event that is held annually to introduce younger kids to the power of STEM through experiments. His most pivotal experience was the internship he was offered this summer. The current research has direct applications to fuel cell technology. His research aims to make the fuel cell a viable option for energy conversion devices, and will be published in the American Chemical Society by the end of the year. This internship combined his goals towards decreasing our fossil fuel dependency and mitigating climate change. Now Luis and his research mentor are about to take on another research experiment which deals with graphene and has applications to nanoelectronics. In one of his classes, he had to come up with a solution for an everyday problem. He decided to work to speed up the delivery process of video games, by using drones. He was responsible for bringing to life to a fully functioning product from what was just an idea. To accomplish his goal, he had to learn to program to fix the motors to be spinning at the correct speed per his inputs on the controller.
This project ultimately opened his eyes to his interest in the broader field of engineering. He is currently a semi-finalist for the Gates Scholarship and a Questbridge Scholar. On Thanksgiving, he received a surprise visit from the staff at UT Austin where they gifted Luis a full- tuition scholarship. Although honored to have received this scholarship, he has already accepted an offer to enroll at his dream school this fall. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, Luis has been accepted to and will major in Chemical Engineering with a Physics minor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Healthcare & Science - Presented by CVS Health
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Isabella Lorence Hometown: Bethesda, MD College: Yale University, Brown University or at Princeton University Major: Biology GPA: 4.0 High School: Walt Whitman High School Heritage: Guatemalan |
Isabella Lorence, of Guatemalan heritage was deeply affected by her loved ones suffering through several medical conditions. In Isabella’s own words “As a child, the endless breadth of science captivated; I never ran out of questions, as there was always more to learn. So, science became a puzzle, each piece of knowledge leading to a greater understanding. But as my curiosity bloomed, my love for science was tested, as it also showed me the dark realities of life.” In second grade, her best friend Kayla was diagnosed with a brain tumor, an ependymoma. Watching her best friend fight through this process, she needed to understand what was going on, which pushed her to learn more about medicine. But while science helped her understand what was happening, she was powerless as she watched her best friend lose the fight to cancer and her abuelita, succumb to Parkinsons disease. Then, she watched her dad suffer from a ruptured brain aneurysm, further exposing her helplessness. Rather than inciting scorn for science, these events intensified Isabella’s desire to learn so that I could change others’ lives. So, she pursued this understanding of science, absorbing all that she could from my advanced science classes.
Isabella seeks knowledge in science which fuels her passion to work in the healthcare field. Isabella took part in summer science programs at Harvard and at Johns Hopkins University, where she took classes in neurobiology. This past summer, she completed research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Imaging Sciences, where she analyzed brain MRIs to identify and localize strokes, updating a medical imaging database for future automated models. Isabella is doing a research internship at the National Institutes of Health, where she works in Molecular Pharmacology, performing drug screenings for identifying new cancer drugs. Supporting her community, she volunteered at a citizenship clinic at CASA de Maryland for the past 3 years. This has allowed her to actively shape the lives of many immigrants in the community by helping them fill out the forms that may eventually lead to their citizenship. With a 4.0 GPA, this Latino leader will attend Yale University in the fall, where she will major in Neuroscience. Isabella plans on continuing research and entering into the medical field, so that she can help change lives and give back to her community.
Isabella seeks knowledge in science which fuels her passion to work in the healthcare field. Isabella took part in summer science programs at Harvard and at Johns Hopkins University, where she took classes in neurobiology. This past summer, she completed research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Imaging Sciences, where she analyzed brain MRIs to identify and localize strokes, updating a medical imaging database for future automated models. Isabella is doing a research internship at the National Institutes of Health, where she works in Molecular Pharmacology, performing drug screenings for identifying new cancer drugs. Supporting her community, she volunteered at a citizenship clinic at CASA de Maryland for the past 3 years. This has allowed her to actively shape the lives of many immigrants in the community by helping them fill out the forms that may eventually lead to their citizenship. With a 4.0 GPA, this Latino leader will attend Yale University in the fall, where she will major in Neuroscience. Isabella plans on continuing research and entering into the medical field, so that she can help change lives and give back to her community.
Media & Entertainment - Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal/Telemundo
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Luna Rain Garcia Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Colleges: Barnard College, Yale University, Pitzer College, Vassar College, Sarah Lawrence, NYU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Reed College, Columbia University Major: Film with a minor in Sociology GPA: 4.0 High School: Renaissance Arts Academy Heritage: Mexican |
“Being mixed-race is unique in its displacement,” says Luna, “we are not smothered by a restrictive narrative, we’re silenced by our lack of one.” It’s a powerful statement and all too true when it comes to representation in the media. However, Luna turned it into a challenge and when she grew tired of seeing stories she could not relate to, decided to make her own. Now a student in Ghetto Film School, an intensive and highly competitive two-year fellowship program, she has received hands-on experience working on sets and strengthening her skills as a visual storyteller. She sees the intersection between her interest in film and sociology as a poignant opportunity to explore racial politics and help others better understand the unique perspective she holds. Luna is also a volunteer at nonprofit WriteGirl and has written and directed and shot a short film in Tel Aviv, Israel that was chosen to be produced this year through Ghetto Film School. Programs like Write Girl, Center Theater Group, and Ghetto Film School have all taught her how important diversity is in the arts.
In Luna’s own words: “As someone who has had a difficult time relating to the title of being solely Hispanic due to my mixed race heritage, I would like to broaden the cultural narrative surrounding the title. To me, being Hispanic means breaking down preconceived notions people have about "being Hispanic". Being Hispanic means fighting for more representation in popular media. Being Hispanic means educating people about your culture and experiences, and making them listen. Being Hispanic is not a single all encapsulating experience, being Hispanic is a badge of honor that Latinos wear as they make their own way in society. I wear this badge as a way to say that I exist."
She maintains an impressive academic record with a 4.0 GPA and hopes to study Film with a minor in Sociology at Barnard College, Reed College or Columbia University.
In Luna’s own words: “As someone who has had a difficult time relating to the title of being solely Hispanic due to my mixed race heritage, I would like to broaden the cultural narrative surrounding the title. To me, being Hispanic means breaking down preconceived notions people have about "being Hispanic". Being Hispanic means fighting for more representation in popular media. Being Hispanic means educating people about your culture and experiences, and making them listen. Being Hispanic is not a single all encapsulating experience, being Hispanic is a badge of honor that Latinos wear as they make their own way in society. I wear this badge as a way to say that I exist."
She maintains an impressive academic record with a 4.0 GPA and hopes to study Film with a minor in Sociology at Barnard College, Reed College or Columbia University.
Technology - Presented by Google
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Catalina Rafaela Sanchez-Maes
Hometown: Las Cruces, NM Colleges: Colorado College, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Tech Major: Computer Science GPA: 3.85 High School: Arrowhead Park Early College High School Heritage: Mexican |
Catalina Rafela Sanchez-Maes, of Mexican descent stumbled into the world of Computer Science at an early age –in 5th grade at a school-sponsored event hosted by Young Women in Computing (YWiC). She participated in GUTSyGirls, a day-long program dedicated to teaching students about STEM and computer science. To prepare for continued education in the field, Catalina has taken every math and science course available to her and expanded into university courses. In 2016, she has worked in conjunction with her US Senator to create a STEM day, and interned for the Air Force Research Lab on Satellite Mission applications for a website hub. In 2017, she founded her own after school program, Future ITGirls. The program was done for 3 months twice a week for 2.5 hours for 3rd-5th grade girls to learn computer science. At school, Catalina participates in robotic clubs, VEX, Boosting Engineering Science and Technology(BEST), FIRST Robotics Competition(FRC). She also is a competitive ballroom dancer with the New Mexico State University Dance Sport Team.
Education is the key to empowering Latinos, especially when Latinas are extremely underrepresented in the field of computer science.
In Catalina’s own words: “75.3% of my school district is Hispanic and 70% is eligible for free/reduced lunch. I saw a need for more activities especially for girls in Computer Science so, I applied for a National Center for Women in Informational Technology (NCWIT) Aspire IT Grant. I wanted to capitalize on the opportunity to help young girls learn Computer Science just as Young Women in Computing (YWiC) had done for me when I was little. I created an after school program for 3rd-5th grade girls. The purpose of the program is to give females opportunities to learn about Computer Science and careers in STEM fields. The program teaches the girls about Computer Science through programming languages and Ballroom Dances (Salsa and Cha-cha). The first day the flier went out 51 girls signed up and I only had room for the first 25.
Catalina’s program has young girls wanting to sign up for next year, already. She maintains a 3.85 unweighted high school GPA and has been accepted to study Computer Science at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Education is the key to empowering Latinos, especially when Latinas are extremely underrepresented in the field of computer science.
In Catalina’s own words: “75.3% of my school district is Hispanic and 70% is eligible for free/reduced lunch. I saw a need for more activities especially for girls in Computer Science so, I applied for a National Center for Women in Informational Technology (NCWIT) Aspire IT Grant. I wanted to capitalize on the opportunity to help young girls learn Computer Science just as Young Women in Computing (YWiC) had done for me when I was little. I created an after school program for 3rd-5th grade girls. The purpose of the program is to give females opportunities to learn about Computer Science and careers in STEM fields. The program teaches the girls about Computer Science through programming languages and Ballroom Dances (Salsa and Cha-cha). The first day the flier went out 51 girls signed up and I only had room for the first 25.
Catalina’s program has young girls wanting to sign up for next year, already. She maintains a 3.85 unweighted high school GPA and has been accepted to study Computer Science at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.