Pelosi to speak in Edinburg: HESTEC event welcomes NASA, Billy Ray Cyrus

The following notable people are slated to visit during HESTEC 2007, Sept. 24-29:

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Actor/singer Billy Ray Cyrus

George Lopez show actors Valente Rodriguez and Belita Moreno

Myth Buster’s Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman

Toyota’s human-like Partner Robot

U.S. Reps. Rubén Hinojosa, Solomon P. Ortiz, Henry Cuellar and Charles Gonzalez

To Learn more about HESTEC or view a complete schedule at www.hestec.org.

By Zack Quaintance

The Monitor

EDINBURG — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — the first woman to hold her position — is slated to visit Edinburg this month.

So is Billy Ray Cyrus.

The 50 elementary school children gathered to hear the announcement of the two high-profile personalities on Saturday morning didn’t flinch until his name was mentioned.

For them, the sixth annual Hispanic, Engineering, Science and Technology conference at which Pelosi and Cyrus are scheduled to attend at the University of Texas-Pan American the week of Sept. 24-Sept. 29 didn’t quite click.

They simply fidgeted in their seats as UTPA Vice President Roland S. Arriola told them to expect other influential men and women during HESTEC’s festivities. The guests would come to the Rio Grande Valley to promote the need for Hispanics in engineering, science and technology.

“How many of you know about Hannah Montana?” Arriola asked the youngsters, referring to the popular children’s show where Cyrus and his daughter play lead roles.

Every little hand in the room shot up. Suddenly, the little ones were listening.

Grown-ups told them about the 15,000 square feet of exhibits that would be up during HESTEC, including a NASA simulation of life on Mars.

There would be guys from the show Myth Busters, which examines and often debunks urban legends.

And most importantly, there will be chances for these children to see life on a university campus, to experience and learn about a future in academia.

When it’s all over, officials say they hope to create a mindset — that every child in the Valley can and will graduate high school and go to college.

And for those already in college, the week provides many opportunities.

Leaders of corporations such as Ford Motor Company and Texas Instruments are expected to come and give students advice and offer career opportunities.

Members of Congress are set to participate in a roundtable discussion on science literacy.

ExxonMobil Corporation CEO Rex Tillerson is scheduled to address students about the importance of Hispanic students pursuing math and science degrees. UTPA leaders have worked with U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, to create the annual event.

The events for older students run all week.

Pelosi is scheduled to attend Thursday, Sept. 27.

Then on Saturday, Sept. 29, parents and their children are invited to a free community day.

At that time, youngsters are set to see Cyrus and George Lopez show actors Valente Rodriguez — an Edcouch native and former UTPA student — and Belita Moreno, who played Lopez’s mom in the show before its cancellation earlier this year.

“We are truly reaching young people of all ages,” said UTPA President Blandina “Bambi” Cárdenas, “and opening their minds to science and engineering possibilities they had never before considered.”

By the end of Saturday’s announcement the yawning and fidgeting gave way to excitement, as the children flocked on stage to take pictures with Hinojosa and other leaders who were present.

If officials have their way, the children will take this day and the coming HESTEC week acitivies with them all the way to college.

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