[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 117 (Friday, September 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1695-E1696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HISPANIC ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2004

  Mr. HINOJOSA. I rise today to commend the University of Texas Pan 
American on organizing the 3rd annual Hispanic Engineering Science and 
Technology Week (HESTEC), a national celebration, emphasizing the 
importance of math and science literacy by highlighting rewarding 
career paths in engineering, science, and technology.
  The University of Texas Pan American is one of the premier Hispanic-
Serving Institutions in the Nation not just because of the large number 
of Hispanic students that attend classes here but because of the 
university's longstanding and deeply rooted commitment to expanding 
access to education for our community. HESTEC is just one example of 
that commitment to our young people, our future.
  We are in the midst of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month--a time to 
celebrate Hispanic culture and the many contributions Hispanic 
Americans have made to this great Nation. The University of Texas Pan 
American, through the HESTEC initiative, has decided to celebrate 
Hispanic Heritage Month by looking to the future.
  Love of country is a fundamental value in the Hispanic community. 
When the nation is in need, Hispanic Americans have always answered the 
call to serve. It is in this fine tradition that University of Texas 
Pan American founded HESTEC.
  HESTEC is a call to serve. It is a call to our Hispanic youth to step 
in and fill the pressing national need for highly trained professionals 
in the fields of science, engineering, and technology.
  Our Nation is facing a shortage of critical proportions in the fields 
of math, science, engineering and technology. Science and engineering 
employment opportunities are increasing three times faster than all 
other occupations. Yet, the number of college students entering the 
fields of math, science and engineering continues to decline, placing 
America's position as the world's leader in science and technology at 
risk. Increasingly, Hispanics will be called upon to reverse that 
trend. By the year 2010, Hispanics will represent 1 out of 4 students 
in U.S. schools, but today only 4 percent of U.S. scientists and 
engineers are Hispanic. This presents both a challenge and an 
opportunity for higher education institutions to attract more Hispanics 
entering the career fields of science and technology.
  The University of Texas Pan American recognized that Hispanic Serving 
Institutions have a unique responsibility to meet this challenge and to 
increase the number of Hispanics in math, science, engineering and 
technology fields. Therefore, in October 2002, under the leadership and 
vision of Roland Arriola, vice president of external affairs, the 
university hosted the first Hispanic Engineering Science Technology 
Conference (HESTEC).

  Since its inception, HESTEC has captured the imagination of South 
Texas and galvanized the community around the goal of preparing the 
next generation of mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and 
technology experts. This event has engaged our community on all

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levels. Last year, HESTEC reached over 1,500 teachers, 25,000 community 
members, and 330,000 students from across Texas. The initiative also 
has generated $1 million in scholarship dollars for college students.
  The University of Texas Pan American has created a model initiative 
for the Nation. Today, on the eve of the 3rd annual HESTEC and in the 
midst of our national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I urge my 
colleagues to join me in saluting this fine institution for its service 
to the Hispanic community and to the Nation.

                          ____________________