Colorado State Event Encourages Hispanic Students To Pursue Careers In Science, Math And Technology
Tuesday, March 18, 1997
FORT COLLINS--More than 300 sixth- and ninth-grade Hispanic
students will learn about career opportunities in math, science,
and other related fields at Colorado State University's seventh
annual Math, Science and Technology Day.
El Centro Student Services is sponsoring the event with a
series of presentations on March 26 and April 2 in the Lory
Student Center Main Ballroom. Because the program is so popular,
the event is split into two days: one for sixth-graders March 26
and one for ninth-graders April 2.
"The focus of this program is to encourage students to
consider careers in math, science and technology," said Guadalupe
Salazar, El Centro's director. "The feedback we get from the
students is always positive. By involving sixth- and ninth-
graders, we are reaching students who are just beginning to
consider future careers."
Students will visit the Little Shop of Physics, take part in
hands-on math and science activities and listen to a motivational
speech delivered by Judi Diaz, an engineer and Colorado State
alumna. As a college student, Diaz was involved in a number of
efforts to assist Hispanic students and remains involved in
similar activities. Diaz will speak about the importance of
education and the many career opportunities in science and
technology fields.
"The whole purpose of this event is for the students to have
fun and increase the number of Hispanics in the fields of math
and science," said Salazar. "This program fits well with our goal
of illustrating the opportunities that exist in professional
fields where Hispanics are under-represented."
Increasing the number of minority students in science-
related fields is a high priority for Colorado State and other
higher-education institutions statewide. Recently, the Colorado
Alliance for Minority Participation and the National Science
Foundation teamed up to provide a $5 million grant that will
double the number of minority students earning bachelor's degrees
in mathematics, science, engineering and technology in Colorado
within five years. The grant is being administered by Colorado
State.
"The opportunities exist but we need to show students that
their goals are attainable and that we support their efforts,"
Salazar said.
Math, Science and Technology Day programs also are sponsored
by Colorado State's innovative Center for Science, Math and
Technology Education, the university's office of admissions and
alumni relations and the Society for Hispanic Professional
Engineers.
The schedule of events for both days run 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. A
schedule of the day's activities is available from El Centro at
(970) 491-5722.
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