Hispanic/Latin@
Sonia Sotomayor (1954-Present)
Sonia Sotomayor was born June 25, 1954. Born to Puerto Rican parents who moved to the Bronx, New York to find a better life. At nine years old, her father passed away, leaving her mother to support Sonia and her brother Juan. Working two jobs, she was able to buy her children the last encyclopedia set that was left in the neighborhood. Her mother who believed that education could set them free from poverty, she encouraged them to exceed in school. Inspired by watching an episode of Perry Mason is what brought Sonia’s curiosity of law. Graduating from Cardinal Spellman High School and completing her undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1976, this dedicated women, pushed her even further towards a higher education. In 1980 she earned her law degree and graduated form Yale University. Soon after, in 1992, she became a U.S. District Court Judge then quickly fell into the position to become the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S history.
Sonia Sotomayor (1954-Present)
Sonia Sotomayor was born June 25, 1954. Born to Puerto Rican parents who moved to the Bronx, New York to find a better life. At nine years old, her father passed away, leaving her mother to support Sonia and her brother Juan. Working two jobs, she was able to buy her children the last encyclopedia set that was left in the neighborhood. Her mother who believed that education could set them free from poverty, she encouraged them to exceed in school. Inspired by watching an episode of Perry Mason is what brought Sonia’s curiosity of law. Graduating from Cardinal Spellman High School and completing her undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1976, this dedicated women, pushed her even further towards a higher education. In 1980 she earned her law degree and graduated form Yale University. Soon after, in 1992, she became a U.S. District Court Judge then quickly fell into the position to become the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S history.
Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (1946-Present)
Manuel Elkin Patarroyo was born in April 23, 1946. He is a Colombian pathologist and studied medicine at the University of Colombia and later received his PhD from Rockefeller University in New York. At the Instituto Nacional de Inmunologia, a hospital in Bogota is where Patarroyo worked on improving the vaccine for malaria. It took four years for his laboratory in Bogota to develop the world’s first safe malaria vaccine, and 6 year to recognize it. Colombia wanting to manufacture the vaccine for 40 cents per dose and the US for $10 per dose, Manuel Patarroyo decided to patent his vaccine over to the World Health Organization for free because he felt that the benefits should go to mankind, and not to pharmaceutical rich investors. Not only has his discovery saved millions of lives but also is the most effective vaccine against malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitos that affects people in the Third World.
Manuel Elkin Patarroyo was born in April 23, 1946. He is a Colombian pathologist and studied medicine at the University of Colombia and later received his PhD from Rockefeller University in New York. At the Instituto Nacional de Inmunologia, a hospital in Bogota is where Patarroyo worked on improving the vaccine for malaria. It took four years for his laboratory in Bogota to develop the world’s first safe malaria vaccine, and 6 year to recognize it. Colombia wanting to manufacture the vaccine for 40 cents per dose and the US for $10 per dose, Manuel Patarroyo decided to patent his vaccine over to the World Health Organization for free because he felt that the benefits should go to mankind, and not to pharmaceutical rich investors. Not only has his discovery saved millions of lives but also is the most effective vaccine against malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitos that affects people in the Third World.
Ellen Ochoa (1958-Present)
Ellen Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. California was where she grew up with her three brothers and sister. Since a young age, she started to have a love for science. As soon as high school graduation she went and received her masters in science and doctorate degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University in 1980. She then got married to Coe Fulmer Miles whom she had two children with and now lives in Texas. In 1990 Ellen Ochoa was selected by NASA to become the worlds first Hispanic astronaut. Ochoa not only has been a veteran of four space flights but also had served in various technical assignments, which include flight software, computer hardware, robotic developments, testing, and training. She has served in others roles such as an Assistant for Space Station to the Chief of The Astronaut Office, lead in Mission Control, and currently is a Director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson Space Center in Texas.
Ellen Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. California was where she grew up with her three brothers and sister. Since a young age, she started to have a love for science. As soon as high school graduation she went and received her masters in science and doctorate degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University in 1980. She then got married to Coe Fulmer Miles whom she had two children with and now lives in Texas. In 1990 Ellen Ochoa was selected by NASA to become the worlds first Hispanic astronaut. Ochoa not only has been a veteran of four space flights but also had served in various technical assignments, which include flight software, computer hardware, robotic developments, testing, and training. She has served in others roles such as an Assistant for Space Station to the Chief of The Astronaut Office, lead in Mission Control, and currently is a Director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson Space Center in Texas.
Susana Martinez (1959-Present)
Susana Martinez was born in July 14, 1959 in El Paso, Texas. Martinez studied law and earned her bachelor’s degree form the University of Texas at El Paso in 1981. Then she went on to get her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1986. Martinez eventually moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was an assistant district attorney from 1986 to 1992. She got fired because of a potential for conflict of interests. Her husband, Chuck Franco, later helped Martinez to say that there would be no conflict of interests. In this case she was re-elected to her position three times since 1997. Martinez then went to be elected to be governor of New Mexico, which she won by 51 percent. This victory made her the first female governor of New Mexico, and the first female Hispanic governor in the country. Susana Martinez is supportive of women, Latinos, and Westerners. She was offered to run for vice president for Mitt Romney, but refused because of his alienation of Hispanics and because she would never what to split up her family because of Romney’s beliefs.
Susana Martinez was born in July 14, 1959 in El Paso, Texas. Martinez studied law and earned her bachelor’s degree form the University of Texas at El Paso in 1981. Then she went on to get her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1986. Martinez eventually moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was an assistant district attorney from 1986 to 1992. She got fired because of a potential for conflict of interests. Her husband, Chuck Franco, later helped Martinez to say that there would be no conflict of interests. In this case she was re-elected to her position three times since 1997. Martinez then went to be elected to be governor of New Mexico, which she won by 51 percent. This victory made her the first female governor of New Mexico, and the first female Hispanic governor in the country. Susana Martinez is supportive of women, Latinos, and Westerners. She was offered to run for vice president for Mitt Romney, but refused because of his alienation of Hispanics and because she would never what to split up her family because of Romney’s beliefs.
Edward James Olmos (1947-Present)
Edward James Olmos was born in February 24, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. Olmos is a film and television actor as well as a producer. When he was young he believed the way to get away from his East Los Angeles neighborhood was to be a performer, so he got into a rock band. After he took a drama course, he switched to acting. Throughout his career, Olmos sought out projects that were meaningful and disregard roles that he thought played on Latino stereotypes. Olmos was in an inspirational movie that follows a real-life story of a teacher Jaime Escalante. Escalante taught math for troubles students at a Los Angeles high school. He is known for helping students who were once thought to be “unteachable” to thrive. Olmos produced American Me, which is a film about gangs and prison life. He also directed Walkout, which is a television show based on the East Los Angeles student protests that occurred during 1968. Olmos not only works in film and television, but he is also and activist. Olmos supports many causes and is an advocate for Latino culture.
Edward James Olmos was born in February 24, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. Olmos is a film and television actor as well as a producer. When he was young he believed the way to get away from his East Los Angeles neighborhood was to be a performer, so he got into a rock band. After he took a drama course, he switched to acting. Throughout his career, Olmos sought out projects that were meaningful and disregard roles that he thought played on Latino stereotypes. Olmos was in an inspirational movie that follows a real-life story of a teacher Jaime Escalante. Escalante taught math for troubles students at a Los Angeles high school. He is known for helping students who were once thought to be “unteachable” to thrive. Olmos produced American Me, which is a film about gangs and prison life. He also directed Walkout, which is a television show based on the East Los Angeles student protests that occurred during 1968. Olmos not only works in film and television, but he is also and activist. Olmos supports many causes and is an advocate for Latino culture.
Dolores Huerta (1930-Present)
Dolores Huerta was born April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico. Huerta is an activist and labor leader. She grew up around farms and then worked to improve social and economic conditions for those farmers. Huerta wanted to fight discrimination, so she created the Agricultural Workers Association (AWA) in 1960. In doing this, Huerta lobbied politicians to allow migrant workers without citizenship to the U.S. along with receiving public assistance and pensions. Along with this, she created Spanish voting ballots and driver’s tests. She also co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW). She also was a schoolteacher for a short period of time and during this time she learned that children of farm workers were poor and did not have enough food or necessities to live. In order to help them, she became a founder of the Stockton chapter of the Community Services Organization. Huerta is very important to the union’s successes, she was a successful organizer and a strong negotiator. Today, Huerta is still improving the lives of other people around her and she is still set on her goal to make a stand.
Dolores Huerta was born April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico. Huerta is an activist and labor leader. She grew up around farms and then worked to improve social and economic conditions for those farmers. Huerta wanted to fight discrimination, so she created the Agricultural Workers Association (AWA) in 1960. In doing this, Huerta lobbied politicians to allow migrant workers without citizenship to the U.S. along with receiving public assistance and pensions. Along with this, she created Spanish voting ballots and driver’s tests. She also co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW). She also was a schoolteacher for a short period of time and during this time she learned that children of farm workers were poor and did not have enough food or necessities to live. In order to help them, she became a founder of the Stockton chapter of the Community Services Organization. Huerta is very important to the union’s successes, she was a successful organizer and a strong negotiator. Today, Huerta is still improving the lives of other people around her and she is still set on her goal to make a stand.