A favorite image of mine is that of the so-named "Pale Blue Dot." This image taken in 1990 by NASA's Voyager I space probe helps bring things into perspective about our place in this world. Carl Sagan said of it, "...it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another..." I try to live by this philosophy every day, as I see it critical to help others in order to stimulate a progressive society. Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, an area that is predominantly minority and low-income, led me to want to bring forth change and improvement to my home region. From an early age, I knew I was bound to pursue a career in the space industry. I developed a great passion for math and science, and the idea that I could push the boundaries of our understanding was what drew me in. See, I don't like being stagnant. I want to be constantly pushing forward, innovating, and improving our lives. This reflects in my experience in college. I came in and was primarily involved with rocketry organizations, then I tried my hand at designing RC aircraft and finally leaned into my interests in geography and satellites. Along the way, I also discovered that my core strength is my ever-burning desire to help others. What I have also found though, is that there will always be others who will be willing to give you a hand, especially here at UT. I could not have asked for a better experience here and will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Forty Acres Scholars Program. Hook 'em Horns! 

Major
Aerospace Engineering

Other Academic Interests
Remote Sensing, Minor in Geography 

Extracurricular Activities
Design Build Fly; Longhorn Rocketry Association; Texas Rocket Engineering Lab; PSP Minority Academic Engineering Society; Equal Opportunity in Engineering Program

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program? 
Purpose. When I looked up all the Forty Acres Scholars from the previous cohorts and read their bios, I knew each and every one of them shared purpose as a common value. I wanted to be immersed in that environment, as I knew that it would not only allow me to grow, but to thrive. This is exactly what I encountered when I interacted with potential scholars at Finalist Weekend, with everyone having a deep passion and desire to change the world. The connections and networking that one has access to with this scholarship were another key reason why I sought this out. This scholarship opens so many doors, and that was evident to me during Finalist Weekend when I got to speak to a Texas Ex who had worked on NASA's Mars/Lunar Space Exploration Program, something incredibly valuable to me as an aerospace engineering major.