Meet the Future of Latino STEM Professionals: Kenia Cruz

The Lone Star State is the setting for NCLR’s 2016 STEM Youth Summit in Houston this coming January at the Johnson Space Center. The STEM Youth Summit, generously supported by Shell Oil, is designed to expose Latino youth to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines through hands-on exploratory activities and engagement. At the event, students will have the opportunity to work closely with Latino STEM professionals who seek to increase the number of underrepresented youth in STEM fields. Participants will also have the opportunity to collaborate and work with other youth from our national Escalera network. As the Summit draws nearer, we’ll be featuring some of the remarkable young people, in their own words, who look forward to attending this year’s event. Today’s spotlight is on Kenia Cruz, a student at West Jefferson High School in New Orleans, La.

Hi! I’m Kenia Cruz, a proud Latina.

I’m from La Ceiba, Honduras and moved to New Orleans last year. My culture is full of food, fiestas, and of course, la familia. Spending time with my family and wanting them to be proud of me is my goal.

I got involved in Escalera STEM at school, when my counselor talked to me about it. My favorite part of the program is preparing myself for my future and making new friends. I think that what is fun about this program is always learning and doing something new each day.

Escalera STEM has showed me that being Latino does not have to stop me from achieving my goals. I did not know what STEM was before this program. I have learned that STEM applies to many careers and I have learned more about each field and the careers available.

Check back here for more spotlights on NCLR STEM Youth Summit participants. You can visit nclr.org/issues/education for more information on youth-oriented programs.