First Latino astronaut José Hernández visits Lamont students
LAMONT, Calif. (KGET) — José Hernández — the very first Latino astronaut — made a visit to Kern County on Monday as the keynote speaker for the annual Cine con sus Hijos event in Lamont. Hern… José Hernández, the first Latino astronaut, made a visit to Kern County as the keynote speaker for the annual Cine con sus Hijos event in Lamont, California. The event, held at Myrtle Avenue Elementary School, was held by Lori Gonzalez, Superintendent of the Lamont Elementary School District, who believes it provides an opportunity for people to engage with students and inspire them to achieve their dreams. Hernändez also identifies himself as the first migrant farm working astronaut from his immigrant background. A biopic on Hernainndez's life, "A Million Miles Away," is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Published : 6 months ago by Kaley Brown Soren in Science
LAMONT, Calif. (KGET) — José Hernández — the very first Latino astronaut — made a visit to Kern County on Monday as the keynote speaker for the annual Cine con sus Hijos event in Lamont.
Hernández was selected as keynote speaker for this year’s event at Myrtle Avenue Elementary School, according to Lori Gonzalez, Superintendent of the Lamont Elementary School District.
“It means a lot being here in this community because it’s very similar to communities I grew up in,” Hernández told 17 News. “I love coming to talk to kids like this because they remind me so much of myself. I see a lot of myself in them.”
Gonzalez said this annual event provides an opportunity for people to engage with students, something she believes is highly important.
“I think the most important part about the Cine con sus Hijos and students in general is to find those opportunities and experiences, but also to see themselves that it’s possible,” said Gonzalez. “So, José Hernández is really a picture of that — it is possible to have dreams, aspire to them and make them happen.”
Hernández also calls himself the first migrant farm working astronaut, having come from migrant farm working parents.
“I’m the first one like all these folks that you see here to become an astronaut,” said Hernández. “To me, it’s very humbling that I’m able to use myself as a role model, to empower these kids in believing that anything is possible with hard work and an education.”
A biopic on Hernández’s life, titled “A Million Miles Away”, is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Topics: Space, Latino