HENAAC Awards NominationsFor over a quarter century, Great Minds in STEM™ (GMiS) has highlighted the nation’s best and brightest His-panic engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and technology experts. Through the HENAAC nomination process, GMiS is able to honor and showcase these role models to inspire young people to pursue careers in technology, and to motivate professionals to continuously connect with the Hispanic community. By nominating individuals from your organization, you support GMiS in providing a pathway and vision for the next generation, of what it means to be a successful STEM professional.

CONTACTAny questions, please contact Monica Villafaña, Director of Professional Programs at mvillafana@greatmindsinstem.org.

STEP 1 : Read the Award Category descriptions to determine which one is best suited for your candidate.

STEP 2 : Review the Awards Nomination Checklist to ensure you gather all submission requirements.

STEP 3 : Create a login account and then fill out your applica-tion and upload your documents to submit the online nomination. This is a paperless process done through the GMiS website. http://www.greatmindsinstem.org/professionals/nominator

2015HENAAC Awards

How to submit a nomination:Why nominate your colleagues & Employees?

Identify “Rising Stars” in STEM fieldsRetain and showcase your organization’s top talentPromote your organization’s diversity effortsMotivate the next generation of STEM professionalsNominees can be featured Role Models of the Week on the GMiS website Nominees will receive a Certificate of recognition from GMiS

Outstanding Technical AchievementCandidates nominated for this category must have made a significant technological contribution to STEM through key research or having designed, developed, managed or assisted in the develop-ment of a product, service, system or intellectual property.

Criteria:

Lifetime AchievementThis category was created to honor individuals who are not executives and have given thirty (30) or more years of exemplary service and commitment to STEM.

Criteria:

Executive ExcellenceCandidates must be upper-level executives, with large department and budget responsibilities. Individuals should have twenty (20) plus years of experience. The Executive Excellence award is divided into two catego-ries to balance the playing field between organizations with revenues over and under $20 billion. Nominees from the military and government are classified by their organization’s total annual budget.

Criteria:Uniqueness of individual’s obtained goalLevel of responsibilitiesDegree of discipline for level of performance

Uniqueness of individual’s researchDegree of research’s societal impactPatents or published worksServing as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

Total combined years of employment in STEMCareer highlights including top projects, programs, patents and inventions that the candidate has led and/or been a key contributorPast and current mentoring of fellow professionals Ability to be an ambassador for their current em-ployerServing as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

Achievements while in this position Serving as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

“As we celebrate the accomplishments of Hispanics in STEM my hope is that we inspire our daughters and sons to pursue STEM-related degrees. I hope that some will find careers with the Navy, building the most technically advanced military ships and ship systems in the world that help preserve the freedoms we enjoy every day.”

Gloria L. Valdez, SES, U.S. Navy, 2014 HENAAC Pioneer Award Recipient

Civil Engineering/Environmental DistinctionThis category was created to honor individuals exclusively involved with civil and/or environmental engineering. Candidates must possess a minimum of five (5) years professional experience in a civil engi-neering/environmental engineering position.

Criteria:

Information Technology DistinctionCandidates in this category should be exclusively involved with information technology – Software, Hardware, Security and Management. The Informa-tion Technology Distinction will be divided between professionals who work for IT companies and those who work in the IT division of their organization that is not IT-based. Individuals must possess a minimum of five (5) years experience in their specific IT field.

Criteria:

Professional Achievement – Level I and Level IICandidates in this category must be well-established managers or have project responsibility in a technical field with significant contributions in that arena. Nominees in this category are divided into two groups: Level I – 10 to 19 years of experience, and Level II - 20 to 29 years of experience.

Criteria:Uniqueness of individual’s obtained goalLevel of responsibilitiesDegree of discipline for level of performance Leadership ability and upward mobility

Expertise in specified civil engineering/environ-mental engineering areaImpact of the nominee’s work on the overall organizationUniqueness of accomplishmentsServing as a STEM role model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

Expertise in specified IT areaImpact of the nominee’s work on the overall organizationUniqueness of accomplishmentsServing as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

Serving as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

“Building strong programs like Viva Technology, and the DREAM Program ensures inquiry based, hands-on learning that inspires and prepares stu-dents to dream the big dreams – not because they are easy, but because they ARE hard. So let’s roll up our sleeves together, to make those dreams a reality and ‘Go for Launch’ of the next generation of great minds for STEM.”

Juan A. “Tony” Castilleja, Jr., The Boeing Company, 2014 HENAAC Community Service Award Winner

Most Promising Engineer or Scientist - Undergraduate DEGREECandidates in this category must be engineers or scientists with no more than nine (9) years work experience and no higher than a bachelors degree completed. The candidates’ early technical con-tributions through the bachelor’s degree should already demonstrate a promising career.

Criteria:

EducationThis award was created to honor individuals involved in higher education across the United States. Nominees may be educators, administrators, or coordinators who demonstrate a strong commit-ment to promoting STEM education program aware-ness. Some examples of professionals eligible for this category include university deans, professors and MEP administrators. For elementary, middle and high school teachers and administrators, please contact Lupe Muñoz-Alvarado, Director of Education Pro-grams, at lmalvarado@greatmindsinstem.org.

Criteria:

Most Promising Engineer or Scientist - Graduate DegreeCandidates in this category must be engineers or scientists with no more than nine (9) years work experience since earning a completed masters or doctoral degree in a STEM field. The candidates’ technical contribu-tions should already demonstrate a promising career. Individuals currently enrolled in a masters or doctoral program do not qualify for this category. Candidates must have already graduated with a masters or doctoral degree by June 20, 2014.

Criteria:Uniqueness and or innovation of contributions to organizationLeadership abilities and/or initiativeProfessional and technical achievement to date

Uniqueness and/or innovation of contributions to organizationLeadership abilities and/or initiativeUniqueness of accomplishmentsProfessional and technical achievement to datePotential for advancement Serving as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

Success of instituted programs How programs relate to needs of society and schoolMentoring of students to assist with retention and/or graduationInvolvement in outreach to the Hispanic community and other underserved communitiesEffectiveness in recruitment of Hispanic students in STEM

Potential for advancementServing as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

“I was inspired from a very young age by the resilience of my family during their flight from Cuba to the United States. In the research world, it is this resilience that allows us to keep trying even in the face of adversity and allows for the ability to learn from our failures. Lastly, it is this resilience that brings us hope that our own quest for greatness will result in some-thing wonderful.” Stephanie Martin, Ph.D., Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 2014 Professional Achievement I Award Winner

Santiago Rodriguez Diversity AwardCandidates in this category must demonstrate that they have made a difference in an organization’s engagement approach to Hispanic advancement in education, job promotion, business development and the community. Individuals MUST BE em-ployed in the Diversity/Corporate Responsibility/Human Resource division of their respective orga-nization. Nominees for this category do not have to be Hispanic; however the work product of their efforts must have advanced and enhanced Hispanic workforce development within the organization and/or the Hispanic community. Criteria:

EntrepreneurCandidates in this category must own at least 50% of a thriving small or medium size STEM business (i.e. be-tween 10 and 500 employees) that demonstrates strong financial growth. The entrepreneur must be of Hispanic descent.

Criteria:

Community ServiceNominees who are honored in this category usually have a long history of community service and go above and beyond in reaching young people, fellow professionals, and other key demographics. Candidates must demonstrate leadership within the underserved and underrepresented STEM community through volunteer work, contributions and other activities that are NOT part of their current job description.

Criteria:Promoting STEM within the Hispanic and under-served communitiesTime and energy invested in serving the community both within and outside their current organization

Effectiveness of implementing diversity goals and/or changes within the organizationPromoting Hispanic awareness within the organizationOutreach to the Hispanic communityEfforts to promote STEM career development with impact on Hispanics and other underserved communities Community outreach including schools, universi-ties and non–profits

Growth in corporate success Level of innovationCustomer impact and serviceCommunity impactServing as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or interna-tionally

Involvement with schools, universities, and organizationsServing as a STEM role-model and involvement with the Hispanic community nationally and/or internationally

Eduardo Divo, Ph.D.Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2014 Education Award

Amri Hernandez-PelleranoNASA Goddard Space Flight Center2014 Professional Achievement II

Armando ArismendiIBM

2014 Chairman’s Award

Silvia OsunaNorthrop Grumman Corporation2014 Most Promising Engineer –

Undergraduate Degree

Special Awards / Engineer & Scientist of the Year

For information on HENAAC Special Award categories including: HENAAC Engineer of the Year and/or Scientist of the Year, Chairman’s Award, Albert V. Baez Award, Pioneer Award and the Vanguard Award, please visit our website: www.greatmindsinstem.org

1. Do you need to be an engineer or SCIENTIST to be nominated for a HENAAC Award?Individuals who are not technical professionals can compete in the categories of Diversity, Community Service and Education. The individual must work to recruit, train, mentor, counsel or promote careers in STEM. Other HENAAC Award catergories are only open to scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists, technologists, and engineers.

2. Do you need to be Hispanic to be nominated for a HENAAC Award?No. There are five award categories where non-Hispanics may be honored. The categories are: Chairman’s Award (awarded at the discretion of the Great Minds in STEM™ Chair), Education, Diversity, Community Service and the Vanguard Award. A non-Hispanic must perform work or outreach activities that strongly impact the Hispanic community’s participation in STEM.

3. Do you need a STEM bachelor’s degree to win a HENAAC Award?In most cases, a person needs a bachelor’s degree in a STEM-based major to be eligible for awards other than those listed in Question #2. However, for military and law enforcement candidates, on-the-job training and experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

4. How are the Engineer of the Year and/or Scientist of the Year selected?You may not nominate an individual for the Engineer or Scientist of the Year. These individuals are selected from among the top candidates submitted in all professional categories. These honorees can be leaders work-ing in any area of the STEM Enterprise. The Selection Committee seeks individuals, who model the technical excellence and leadership that significantly impact an industry, a field of science and/or engineering, academia, the Hispanic community, and our nation.

5. How is the 2015 nomination submission process different from previous years?The process will be the same as in 2014. The nomination deadline is May 29, 2015. You will be able to upload your nomination on-line. To find out more information, please visit our website www.greatmindsinstem.org or contact Monica Villafaña, Director of Professional Programs, at mvillafana@greatmindsinstem.org.

6. What are the components of a complete nomination package?The components of a nomination package include: A. Online Nomination Form; B. Nominator Statement (see question 7); C. Resume; D. Full Job Description; E. Organizational Chart; F. Biography (see question 9); G. Rec-ommendation Letters (see question 8); H. Color Photograph that is at least 600 dpi or higher; I. Synopsis of Key Research (for technical award categories only); and, J. Articles about the Nominee (if applicable).

Frequently Asked Questions

8. How many letters of recommendation should be included?There should be a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) letters of recommendation dated in 2015. The letters can be written by a supervisor, co-worker or someone who has experienced the value of the nominees contribution in their specific STEM field. Each letter should be unique and not a repeated form letter. Any additional letters received after the 5th letter will not be included in the nomination packet for review.

7. What is the nominator statement?Nominators must submit a statement which is a brief description, in 1,000 words or less, of why the individual they are nominating is deserving of the HENAAC award. The focus of this statement should be based on the criteria of the award category for which the individual is being nominated.

10. Will you accept entire thesises, papers, research, books, and video clips?It is not necessary to include documents in their entirety. If the candidate has written a thesis, a book, or paper, do not include these documents. With a limited amount of time to review each nomination packet, reviewers will not have the time to read such documents in depth. However, it is imperative to inform the com-mittee of these accomplishments either in a brief summary or list. The only category that should submit more detailed research information is Outstanding Technical Achievement. Video Clips: Please do not submit any multimedia clips. The committee will not have time to review video clips during the selection process. Howev-er, if the nominee is selected for an award, Great Minds in STEM™ will ask the organization for video clips that may be used in the award presentation.

11. May I resubmit a 2014 nomination packet?Yes. However, Great Minds in STEM™ requires new letters of recommendation with a current 2015 date. Old letters of recommendation have a tough time competing against current letters of recommendation from other candidates.

12. May candidates be nominated in more than one category?Yes. However, we do not recommend nominating a candidate for more than two categories in a given year. On the online nomination form please list under category the two categories where you would like the nominee to be considered. For example: Category: Professional Achievement Level I & Civil Engineering DistinctionYou do not need to submit two seperate packets. Great Minds in STEM™ will prepare the packets to be re-viewed by the respective selection committees.

9. What is an acceptable length for the biography?The biography should be no more than 2-3 pages and should be a personal history including information the nominee is comfortable in disclosing publicly. The biography is an opportunity to share significant early-life experiences and motivating factors leading to their success. Nominees can share information about their background, struggles and achievements, awards or commendations, family history, special projects, unique hobbies, or other important life events. The biography should include information not discussed in the letters of recommendation.

14. Does my company have to be a sponsor of the HENAAC Conference in order for me to apply and win an award? No. The nomination and peer-review selection process is independent of conference sponsorship. Great Minds in STEM™ has had many winners from companies and organizations that are not conference sponsors.

13. Is attendance at the HENAAC conference and Awards Show mandatory to win?Yes. All winners must be able to attend the HENAAC Conference and Awards Show from October 14-18, 2015, in Pasadena,CA. If a winner is unable to attend, the next highest ranked candidate in that category will be declared the winner. Typically the only exceptions to this rule are for service men and women who are on active duty, maternity leave or an extreme family emergency. In these cases, a leader from the organization or family member may accept on the winner’s behalf.

15. When and how will candidates be notified if they are selected for an award? All winners and the individuals who nominated them will be notified via telephone and email by the first week of August 2015. A formal letter of notification with details about the conference, awards show, rehearsals, etc. will be mailed and sent by email the second week of August 2015. A press release announcing the winners will be posted on the Great Minds in STEM™ website by the second week of August 2015. The nominators of individuals who did not win will receive letters indicating that their candidates were not selected for an award by the end of August 2015.

16. Who makes up the Selection Committee? The Section Committee is composed of various Great Minds in STEM™ stakeholders, who have expertise in their given discipline. These committee members are divided into sub committees to evaluate the nomina-tions. For example, individuals with doctoral and master degrees in technology serve on the Outstanding Technical Achievement Committee. These committees report to the Selection Committee Chair(s), who will make the final award selections. The Chair(s) of the committee is the Dean(s) of engineering or science of the Conference Academic Host(s).

17. Do you have to be a U.S. Citizen to be nominated? No. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be nominated.

18. What if I still have more questions? If you have additional questions, please contact Monica Villafaña, Director of Professional Programs, at (323) 262-0997 or via email to mvillafana@greatmindsinstem.org

A. Online Nomination FormThis online nomination form must be complete as you prepare to submit a nominee. The form requires com-plete contact information for the nominator as well as contact, educational and professional background infor-mation on the nominee.

B. Nominator Statement In 1,000 words or less, in 11-pt or 12-pt size font, the nominator should provide a brief description of why the individual being nominated is deserving of the HENAAC award. Please focus on the criteria of the award cat-egory.

C. Resume/Curriculum VitaeThis should be a summary of the nominee’s educational background and relevant job experience.

D. Full Job DescriptionThe job description should explain current job duties and responsibilities.

E. Organizational ChartThe organizational chart should demonstrate where the nominee fits within his/her own department and entire organization.

F. BiographyThe biography should be a personal history sharing information the nominee is comfortable disclosing publicly. Information for the biography can include the nominee’s background, struggles and achievements, awards or commendations, unique hobbies, family history, etc.

G. Recommendation Letters There should be a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) current letters of recommendation. The letters can be written by a supervisor, co-worker or someone who has experienced the value of the person’s contribution in their specific STEM field. Each letter should be unique and not a form letter with a new name. Any additional letters received after the fifth letter will not be included in the nomination packet for review.

H. Photograph The color photograph should be in 600 DPI resolution and submitted in JPEG format. This photo may be used in TECHNiCA™ Magazine, the HENAAC Conference Journal and/or on the Great Minds in STEM™ website.

I. Synopsis of Key Research This document is required for the technical award categories only. It should include summaries or lists of any research the nominee is involved in as well as patents received or pending.

J. Articles About the Nominee (if applicable) Not a required submission, but recent articles written about the nominee may be submitted for review by the Selection Committee.

HENAAC Awards Nomination Checklist