United States Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D), who attended Parkway Heights Middle School as a child, visited the school virtually as part of a January 14 assembly aimed at ginning up student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).“We usually host an annual career day on campus, where our students can select and learn about different types of careers from people in the community who are working those jobs,” said Parkway Heights Principal Marco Lopez. “The assembly with Congresswoman Speier is kind of an offshoot of that idea with a focus on STEM, and it had to be done virtually because of COVID and the new variant.”
As part of the event, Speier talked briefly about some of the country’s successes in science including the development of COVID-19 vaccines, before introducing the day’s speakers and encouraging students to get involved in STEM programs.
Up first was Dr. Francisco Sánchez-Rivera, who studies how genetic variation shapes human physiology and disease as an assistant professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Originally from Puerto Rico, Sánchez-Rivera said he was the first person in his family to both attend university and earn a PhD.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ralph Aldredge, associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UC Davis, discussed how he created a mobile app to simulate flame dynamics as part of his study of combustion, bio-fluid dynamics, and avascular-tumor dynamics.
Next up was Ali Guarneros-Luna, a professor of aerospace engineering at San José State University and an engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Ames Research Center.
She talked about how her determination to pursue higher education over the objections of her family led to her present line of work helping to design and launch satellites and facilitate travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
Finally, Diana Trujillo, a NASA aerospace engineer who worked on the Mars rover as a flight director and robotic arm team lead, emphasized the value of hard work and perseverance.
Before joining the Mars Science Laboratory in 2008, Trujillo was a 17-year-old immigrant from Colombia who attended school while cleaning bathrooms.
The choice of speakers was no accident, according to Principal Lopez.
He said the student body of Parkway Heights is predominantly Latino, and that bringing in people whom students could identify with would help them better visualize themselves in those careers.
“It’s our hope that the students can relate to and gain inspiration from the speakers we have brought in,” said Lopez. “We want them to succeed, and we know that the strides we take now will secure a more diverse STEM future tomorrow.”
Nationwide, the Pew Research Center has found that Latinos and African-Americans remain underrepresented in the STEM field.