Cong. Cuellar and TAMIU Host STEM Fields Event March 4-7

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Dr. Serena M. Auñón is the keynote speaker at the upcoming 2015 Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Alliance scheduled Wednesday, March 4 – Saturday, March 7. Dr. Auñón will speak to area middle and high school students participating in the event.

The four-day event is co-hosted by Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) and TAMIU.

Students are encouraged to attend the event and explore career options as they begin to consider what path to pursue. Local Hispanic and female students are strongly encouraged to attend as they are underrepresented in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Program highlights include presentations from companies, universities and government agencies. Auñón is scheduled to speak on Friday, March 6 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Auñón, currently serving in the International Space Station Operations Branch Capsule to handle medical issues and as Communicator, was selected in July 2009 as one of the 14 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. She graduated in November 2011 from Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in space station systems, Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training and water and wilderness survival training.

She received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a Doctorate of Medicine from The University of Texas – Health Science Center at Houston. Auñón also completed an aerospace medicine residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch as well as a Master of Public Health in 2007.  She is board certified in internal and aerospace medicine.

Participating organizations include: Laredo Community College, National Weather Services, Hitachi High Technologies America, Hitachi Transport System America, Google, SpaceX, Wells Fargo, AUVSI Foundation/Sea Perch, National Science Foundation, Texas Instruments Inc., BioWare, Graduate School/Biomedical Sciences/UTHSCSA (Health/Dental/Nursing), School of Biomedical Sciences/UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Exceptional Home Care, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, AEP, Union Pacific Railroad, Frank Architects, Inc., FBI, Randolph Air Force Base, Lewis Energy, NASA, UMBC/NASA GSFC, U.S. Department of Homeland Security/ICE, U.S. Air Force, TAMIU ROTC, Laredo CBP Field Operations, InterLink Logistics, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AutoPhone of Laredo, Imaginarium of South Texas, Pro8News, and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu or 326.2180 or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Suite 268.

Additional information is also available at www.tamiu.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu