How 4-H Tech Wizards Are Preparing Future Latino Robotics Engineers.

This afternoon I listened intently to Radio Tonalli, a Spanish Radio Talk show program on Portland's KBOO 90.7FM hosted by Edith Molina featuring 18 Latino high school students from 4-H Tech Wizards. Like many of the dozens of Latino callers, I was impressed with the attitude, courage and conviction these young students have in the science fields. Their passion for the sciences was refreshing, empowering and inspirational. After graduation the students want to study: robotics, botany, computer engineering, geography, architecture, pharmacy, new media, internet marketing, and film just to name a few. Did someone say robotics? This group headed by Cecilia and Oktavio, team leaders of this 4-H group was impressive. As Oktavio stated on student success,

"Students need to have conviction. Once accepted, we seek active involvement
from the family. Ultimately, this hinges on support from the community. "

Almost all of the students families were either from Michoacan or Oaxaca, Mexico. What happened to the students from Nayarit? Impressive indeed.

Just who is served by this program?
According to Tech Wizards Program FAQs, the focus is on,

"underserved at-risk youth in Washington County. Based on a recent survey, the
highest drop out rate is currently among the Latino community. Our initial
project is focused on helping these youth, however, as funding
allows, we want to extend this program to include all at-risk youth in our
community."

Future Latino Scientists, Engineers.
The students under the direction of Cecilia and Oktavio are under good hands. Oktavio and I worked on several media projects during our college days at Oregon State University. After listening to the enthusiasm, excitement and optimism from these 4-H Latino students about their interests in studying robotics and GIS, I was reminded of my visit to MIT. The Hotel@MIT where Edith and I stayed at earlier this year was decked out w/ encased robots, and the engineering feats of MIT students and faculty.

These 18 Latino students, and the thousands of others in the program deserve the support of the entire business community, and our state government officials to ensure these programs continue to get funded. They deserve our appreciation and support for their conviction to be the inventors of new services and products that will enhance our lives in the future. And of course Intel and Oregon State University deserves our debt of gratitude for their conviction in backing, developing and preparing these future computer engineers, film makers, botanists, pharmacists, geologists, and architects.

What do you think about the 4-H Tech Wizards Program and the 18 future engineers, botanists and architects? What suggestions would you give to increase the number of bilingual scientists in the U.S., in Oregon? Your turn. As always I look forward to your thoughts and comments. -David Molina, Co-Founder/CEO, BilingualHire