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Heinrich To Promote STEM Education, Community Empowerment Programs In Rio Arriba County

SANTA FE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will travel to Rio Arriba County on Monday, August 22, to promote educational investments in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and highlight training programs to prepare students for New Mexico's high-tech job industry.

On Monday morning, Senator Heinrich and National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Dr. France A. Córdova will tour Northern New Mexico College, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution in Española. Senator Heinrich and Director Córdova will meet with students impacted by programs made possible by NSF funding, including a new award of nearly 1 million dollars to provide scholarships to students studying STEM. Northern New Mexico College recently applied for NSF’s Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) program. INCLUDES supports efforts to develop STEM talent from traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups in STEM, including women, members of racial and ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and persons with low socio-economic status.

Senator Heinrich has continued to fight to increase NSF funding. He is also cosponsoring the Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act, a bill to increase the number of women and minorities entering the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

In the afternoon, Senator Heinrich and Director Córdova will meet with the Española YMCA Teen Center robotics team at Española Valley High School to see a demonstration. The robotics team has been a fierce competitor at the RoboRave competitions held in Albuquerque. Senator Heinrich and Director Córdova will meet with students to discuss their robotics program, view the robots in action, and encourage students to continue in their study of STEM.

Senator Heinrich and Director Córdova will also meet with students involved with Project RACE, the Rio Arriba Community Empowerment Program at Española Valley High School. Project RACE helps at-risk youth develop professional skills and be successful adults. They will meet with students and instructors to discuss the program's impact on participants. 

***Press interested in attending should email press@heinrich.senate.gov or call (202) 228-1578***

Española – Monday, August 22, 2016

WHAT:  Northern New Mexico College National Science Foundation Event
WHEN:  10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
WHERE:  Northern New Mexico College, Solar Energy Research Park and Academy (SERPA) building, Room 104, 921 N. Paseo De Onate, Española, N.M. 87532

WHAT:  Española Teen Center Robotics Demonstration
WHEN:  1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE:  Española Valley High School, Front Office, 1111 El Llano Rd, Española, N.M. 87532

WHAT:  Project RACE – Rio Arriba Community Empowerment Program
WHEN:  2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE:  Española Valley High School, Front Office, 1111 El Llano Rd, Española, N.M. 87532