Intel Foundation and NAVSEA/SSP Top Great Minds in STEM Class of 2015 HENAAC Scholars Sponsors

    MONTEREY PARK, CA, August 26, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Now in its 27th year of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to underserved and underrepresented communities, Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) is pleased to name the initial cohort of 107 students of the Class of 2015 HENAAC Scholars. This class of awardees represents the outstanding scholastic achievements of some of the nation's most technically-talented students. Over 1,400 applications were received for this merit-based scholarship competition.

This year, the Intel Foundation joined the GMiS circle of scholarship sponsors by providing eight highly-competitive $10,000 scholarships to qualified graduate students. Additionally, for the 6th year, NAVSEA/SSP continued the support of incoming freshman attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by sponsoring 14 $10,000 U.S. Navy STEM Scholarships, with the opportunity for students to continue receiving support through their Student Employment Program.

GMiS awards scholarships in three categories: Corporate/Federal Agency-Sponsored Scholarships; Special Recognition Scholarships; and In Memoriam and Personal Tribute Scholarships. In addition to the scholarship, GMiS subsidizes travel, registration and hotel accommodations costs for each scholar to attend the 27th HENAAC STEM Career Conference, in Pasadena, CA, from October 14 - 18, 2015, where scholars have the opportunity to engage with their sponsor.

At the conference, the scholars will be honored during the Scholars Pinning Ceremony and the Student Leadership Dinner. The Scholars Pinning Ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2015, starting at 9:00 PM. The Student Leadership Dinner will he held on Saturday, October 17, 2015, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Both events will be at the Pasadena Convention Center.

If you are interested in supporting the Great Minds in STEM HENAAC Scholars Program for the 2015-16 academic year, please contact Dr. Gary Cruz at [email protected].

Congratulations again to the GMiS Class of 2015 HENAAC Scholars! Following is the first announcement of this outstanding class.

$10,000 Intel Foundation Scholarship

Aldo Aguirre, D. Candidate, Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago
CJ Barberan, Doctoral, Electrical Engineering, Rice University
Melissa Barona, Doctoral, Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University
Juan Barragan, Masters, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Triana Carmenate, Masters, Computer Science, Florida International University
Eric Chaidez, Masters, Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University
Jessica Montes, Masters, Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Neel Shah, Masters, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Northeastern University

$10,000 U.S. Navy STEM Scholarship
(Sponsored by NAVSEA & SSP)

Amanda Acosta, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Cynthia Aguillon, Freshman, Computer Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Isaac Aldape, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Celene Cantabrana, Freshman, Engineering, University of California, Merced
Erica De La Cruz , Freshman, Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
Damian Garavito, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico
Johnathon Garcia, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Patrick Gutierrez , Freshman, Physics, University of Texas at El Paso
Jazmine Madrigal, Freshman, Computer Science, University of New Mexico
Kaitlin Miller, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston
Ricardo Muniz, Freshman, Computer Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Andres Ortiz, Freshman, Physics/Mathematics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology
Devin Salazar, Freshman, Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico
Genaro Sosa, Freshman, Computer Engineering, California State University, Fullerton

CORPORATE/FEDERAL AGENCY SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS

Booz Allen Hamilton

Frank Osorio, Junior, Electrical Engineering, Hartnell College

Cummins, Inc.

Paulina Almada, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Jose Mendez, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Juan Vargas, Senior, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso

Dow Chemical

Antonio Jaramillo, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Sheri Lopez, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico

Edison International

Jessica Barrios, Masters, Civil Engineering, University of Southern California
Elizabeth Berry, Sophomore, Civil Engineering, California State University, Fresno
Alicia Esquivel, Sophomore, Civil Engineering, Loyola Marymount University
Frank Garcia, Senior, Electrical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Saida Gomez, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pyae Hein, Junior, Electrical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Orval Hernandez-Marcial, Masters, Civil Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Maria Medina Alva, Senior, Industrial Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Jeovanny Reyes, Junior, Electrical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Martin Sandoval, Senior, Electrical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles

EMC2 Corporation

Natalie Benavidez, Junior, Electrical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Mariana Garcia, Sophomore, Computer Science, California State University, Monterey Bay
Gerardo Sanchez, Senior, Computer Engineering, University of South Florida
Fernando Serna, Sophomore, Computer Science, Washington State University Tri-Cities
Mitchell Topete, Senior, Computer Science, University of California, San Diego

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Anthony Becerril, Senior, Electrical Engineering, California State University, Long Beach
Laura Carrasco, Senior, Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Stephanie Chavez, Senior, Aerospace Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Keysha Gonzalez, Senior, Computer Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Angel Ramirez, Senior, Electrical Engineering, Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico
Karina Quintana, Senior, Electrical Engineering, Florida International University
Maribel Torres-Velazquez, Senior, Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico

NASA Langley Research Center

O'Lori Weston, Freshman, Biology, Hampton University

Northrop Grumman Corporation Foundation

Francisco Garcia-Salas, Junior, Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Evan Hernandez, Sophomore, Computer Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tunji Ogiefo, Junior, Computer/Electrical Engineering, Morgan State University

Oracle

Andrea Luna, Junior, Electrical Engineering, Crafton Hills College

Rockwell Collins

Roya Edalatpour, Senior, Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Adrian Ramirez, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Erick Salazar, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso

The Boeing Company

Gabriela Bran, D. Candidate, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
Diana Castro, Senior, Aerospace Engineering, California State University, Long Beach
Victor Esparza, Masters, Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California
Ivan Figueroa, Senior, Aerospace Engineering, California State University, Long Beach
Leslie Perez, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California

The Chrysler Foundation

Ernesto Covarrubias, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Cynthia Garcia, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, El Paso Community College
Joseph Garcia, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Irvine
Ana Guzman, Senior, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Patrick Hogan, Senior, Chemical Engineering , California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Marcelo Murcia, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Alexsandra Olaya, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, Florida International University
Manuel Retana, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno

SPECIAL RECOGNITION SCHOLARSHIPS

Associated Administrator of Los Angeles (AALA) Scholarship
(Sponsored in part by GMiS)

Rosalia Hernandez, Freshman, Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine

National Football Hall of Fame - San Gabriel Valley/Pasadena Chapter Scholarship
(Sponsored by GMiS)

Daniel Gardea, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Brandon Lopez, Freshmam, Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine
David Tolmachoff, Freshman, Engineering, University of Notre Dame

Shell Oil Company Scholarship
(GMiS STEM Showdown )

Haishat Alli, Junior, Engineering Physics, Tulane University
Mitchell Fullerton, Sophomore, Bioinnovation, Tulane University
Nicole Krawczewicz, Senior, Engineering Physics, Tulane University
Kaito Kuroda, Senior, Math & Computer Science, Tulane University
Ciara Simmons-Pino, Senior, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rice University
Mickyle Stanbury, Junior, Chemical Engineering, Rice University

IN MEMORIAM AND PERSONAL TRIBUTE SCHOLARSHIPS

Chevron - Ann Seki Memorial Scholarship
(Sponsored by Chevron)

Mark Alvarez, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Alessandro Archila, Sophomore, Petroleum Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Max Hassell, Sophomore, Chemical Engineering, Rice University
Hector Hernandez, Sophomore, Petroleum Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Fernando Jacinto, Junior, Mechanical Engineering California State University, Long Beach
Makayla Santillan, Junior, Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Guillermo Villalobos, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University

Davila-Trevino Memorial Scholarship
(Sponsored by the David Davila and Joe Trevino Families)

Emmanuel Culebro, Junior, Electrical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Elia Garcia, Senior, Biology, University of Houston
Rebekah Kawas, Junior, Biology, Texas A&M International University
Jasmine Lucero, Senior, Industrial Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington
Raul Membreno, Junior, Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
Elizabeth Moreno, Junior, Industrial Engineering, Texas Tech University
Mario Orrantia, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Juan Perez, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Federico Salinas, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Kevin Schnittker, Senior, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso

Leticia S. Montiel Memorial Scholarship
(Sponsored by Rudy Montiel)

Sofia Martin, Senior, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso
Paloma Zamarripa, Senior, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso

Lopez-Pineda Family Scholarship
(Sponsored by Bayron Lopez)

Sandra Hernandez-Andrade, Junior, Industrial Technology, California State University, Los Angeles
Francisco Moxo-Galicia, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles

Raytheon - Jose R. Silva Memorial Scholarship
(Sponsored by Raytheon)

Lucero Buendia, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso

Victoria Alegria Tracy Memorial Scholarship
(Sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John Tracy)

Liliana Montes De Oca, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles
Samantha Sotez, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles

Villarreal Family Scholarship
(Sponsored by Raul Villarreal)

Alberto Beltran, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
Mirtha Echeverria, Junior, Mechanical Engineering, Miami Dade College

A second scholarship announcement is scheduled for September 16, 2015, in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. The announcement will include the GMiS Community College Scholarships, the GMiS Outstanding Graduate Student Leadership Award and the GMiS Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leadership Award. Recipients of the scholarships sponsored by the Amezcua Family, Lemus Medical, Ray and Carmela Mellado, and other new sponsors will be included.

About Great Minds in STEM

Great Minds in STEM is an education, national 501(c)3 nonprofit, whose vision is to be a national leader in keeping America technologically strong by promoting science, technology, engineering and math careers especially in underserved communities. Now, in its 27th year, it remains the only national entity, which has consistently recognized the esteemed technical achievements of STEM role models through a selective, peer-reviewed process. For more information on GMiS, please contact Monica Villafana, Director of Professional Programs, at (323) 262-0997 and visit the Great Minds in STEM website at www.greatmindsinstem.org.

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