NASA and Univision Collaborate to Engage Hispanic Students

NASA and Univision Collaborate to Engage Hispanic Students

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA and Univision Communications Inc. are teaming up to launch an on-air and online initiative to help engage Hispanic students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

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NASA is committed to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers and technologists. Univision, a leading Spanish-language media company with television, radio, online and interactive assets focused on improving graduation rates and preparing Hispanic students for college.

Beginning Saturday, Oct. 2, Univision will air a series of Spanish-language educational video segments produced by NASA and titled "NASA and You" (NASA y Tu). Featuring Hispanic employees from NASA as role models, the 30-second videos will present new perspectives on education and STEM careers. Among many featured NASA staff members are astronaut Jose Hernandez, who talks about his life and how he became an astronaut, and Margaret Dominguez, an optics engineer, who talks about the engineering challenges of putting a mirror as large as a tennis court in small spacecraft.

"NASA's challenging missions offer a unique opportunity to inspire excellence in students of every age," said NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver. "This collaboration will combine NASA's unique STEM educational content with Univision's communications platforms to reach Hispanic youth and encourage them to pursue STEM-related careers."

The segments will air on Saturday mornings on the Univision children's block "Planeta U." They are part of the company's comprehensive, multi-platform, three-year national education initiative called Es El Momento (The Moment is Now).

Through Es El Momento, Univision is working to improve academic achievement among Kindergarten through 12th grade Hispanic students. It is focused specifically on increasing high school graduation rates, college readiness and completion while engaging Hispanic parents and the broader Hispanic community in these efforts.

For more information about Es El Momento, visit:

http://www.eselmomento.com

"Proficiency in STEM education is the cornerstone of the workforce of tomorrow, which is why we salute NASA for joining in our efforts," said Joe Uva, president and CEO of Univision Communications Inc. "Our ability to tap into NASA's experience and talent will have a tremendous impact on our goal of increasing educational attainment in our communities as part of Es El Momento."

To view the "NASA and You" (NASA y Tu) website in Spanish, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/educacion/nasaytu

For more information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

SOURCE NASA

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
NASA

CONTACT: Ann Marie Trotta, +1-202-358-1601, ann.marie.trotta@nasa.gov, Marny Skora, +1-757-864-1621, marny.skora@nasa.gov, both of NASA Headquarters, Washington; Monica Talan, Univision Communications Inc. N.Y., +1-212-455-5331, mtalan@univision.net

Web Site: http://www.nasa.gov

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