HESTEC Brings National Attention to Lack of Hispanics in Science, Engineering, Technology Fields.

(From AScribe)

EDINBURG, Texas -- What do Michael Dell, actress Rita Moreno and Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin share in common? They have all participated in the national Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology (HESTEC) Week. HESTEC 2004, set to start Sept. 26, hosts an equally dynamic group of speakers for this year's event.

Co-founded three years ago by Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas, and Rolando S. Arriola, Vice President of External Affairs at The University of Texas-Pan American, HESTEC has emerged as one of the nation's premier Hispanic science and technology forums.

Future Lockheed Martin CEO Robert Stevens, former NSYNC member and space enthusiast Lance Bass and Eastman Chemical CEO Brian Ferguson will be a few of the participants at HESTEC 2004. In the past two years, HESTEC has reached out to more than a quarter of a million Hispanic middle school students and encouraged them to consider science, mathematics, engineering and technology careers.

A study conducted by the border think-tank, the Center for Border Economic Studies (CBEST) indicates the week-long event has been immensely successful in reaching young Hispanics and enhancing their interest in scientific pursuits. "The goal of HESTEC is to help transform America by serving as a catalyst for a nationwide effort to encourage millions of young Hispanics to undertake science and technology careers," said Arriola.

The wide-ranging scope of the event will…