Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month!
The Hispanic Heritage observance began in the United States in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was later expanded in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. National Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off every year from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This year’s theme – Hispanic Americans: A History of Serving our Nation invites us to reflect upon the contributions of Hispanic Americans' to our Nation.
Hispanic Students and STEM
Hispanic Americans comprise 16% of the U.S. workforce but only 7% of all STEM workers. Programs like NSF’s Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST), emphasize the importance of providing opportunities to motivate and inspire Hispanic/Latinx youth to pursue STEM education.
The following are a selection of ITEST projects helping Hispanic/Latinx youth identify their STEM passions and explore careers in STEM: