In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the GW Engineering Marketing and Communications team hosted weekly community events to honor and recognize the incredible contributions of Hispanic and Latino engineers and scientists who have shaped the world of STEM. Throughout the month, we featured trailblazers who significantly impacted various engineering and technology fields and shared their inspiring stories at the table exhibits.
Each week, our table saw a steady flow of visitors who engaged with these stories, reflecting their interest in learning about the contributions of these incredible engineers and scientists. One of our students, Amarachi Elekeokwuri, a B.S. Candidate in Biomedical Engineering, shared her thoughts on the event’s impact, saying, "The History Month booths and the engineers featured on the cookies serve as a source of inspiration for me. Seeing minorities who have achieved so much in a field where I am also a minority motivates me to keep going and always strive to do my best. Plus, the cookies are an amazing treat in the middle of a busy school week."
In addition to the inspiring stories shared, Brooke Ducan, Assistant Director of Co-curricular Engagement, emphasized the significance of hosting this celebration. She stated, "It’s crucial to highlight the accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino engineers and scientists because representation matters. These engineers have made tremendous contributions to their fields, and sharing their stories helps inspire the next generation. This event is about showing students that no matter their background, they too can achieve greatness in STEM." These reflections underscore the value of celebrating diversity within STEM, fostering a welcoming environment where all students can envision success.
From these events, students had the opportunity to learn about the following Hispanic engineers and scientists:
- Dr. Ellen Ochoa – First Hispanic woman in space, NASA astronaut
- Jose Hernandez-Rebollar – Inventor of a glove that translates sign language into speech
- Guillermo González Camarena – Inventor of the color television transmission system
- Luis von Ahn – Creator of CAPTCHA, co-founder of Duolingo
- Carlos Noriega – NASA astronaut, former Marine Corps officer
- Vanessa Galvez – Civil engineer focused on sustainability
- Arturo Arias Suárez – Chilean engineer who developed the Instrumental Seismic Intensity Model
- Cecilia Aragon – Award-winning computer scientist, expert in human-computer interaction
- Scarlin Hernandez – Aerospace engineer, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team member
- Diana Trujillo – NASA Jet Propulsion Lab engineer, Mars Curiosity Rover mission lead
- Eileen Vélez-Vega – Puerto Rico's Secretary of Transportation and Public Works
- Claudio Castillón Lévano – Inventor of the Neonatal Artificial Bubble
We are proud to have shined a light on these engineers during Hispanic Heritage Month and are excited to continue to promote diversity as a priority in our community.
