Monica Martinez Named National Hispanic Student Leader

CONTACT: Philip Montgomery
PHONE: (713) 831-4792

MONICA MARTINEZ NAMED NATIONAL HISPANIC STUDENT LEADER

Helping Hispanic students to realize dreams and aspirations is
one reason Monica Martinez, a Rice mathematics doctoral student,
received the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards
Conference honor for Student Leadership in 1995. She will accept the
award at a ceremony in Houston on Oct. 15.

Her research involves
mathematical analysis of shallow water areas such as the Mississippi
River and can be applied to engineering problems such as bridge
building. As part of her efforts to encourage Hispanics to pursue
college, she has made presentations at various primary and secondary
schools. Martinez’s own past drove her to help others. In a barrio
in southeast San Diego, she grew up in a family that valued self
reliance and self sufficiency as well as a commitment to helping
others. Her parents, who immigrated from Mexico to the United States
about 20 years ago, always reached out to help other struggling
immigrants. Martinez continues that commitment by encouraging
Hispanics to reach for college degrees.

###