For Immediate Release

April 18, 2007

Washington, DC - Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) and former astronaut Dr. Franklin Chang-Díaz will tour several Houston-area schools on April 27 to speak with students about the importance of math, science and graduating from high school. 

 

“Dr. Chang is a shining example of where an education and a love of math and science can take you,” Green said. “Sometimes the road to success seems too long and too hard, but he can show the kids how it’s done. Also, as an immigrant and the first Hispanic in space, his story has a special resonance with many of the students in my district.”

 

Chang‑Diaz was born in Costa Rica but finished his high school education in the United States. He studied mechanical engineering in college and earned an Sc.D. in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He was soon recruited by NASA and became an astronaut in 1981. He became the first Hispanic in space in 1986 and eventually flew on seven Space Shuttle missions for a total of over 1,600 hours in space. He also performed several spacewalks for a total of nearly 20 hours.

 

What:                          Rep. Gene Green and astronaut Dr. Franklin Chang-Díaz tour schools

 

Where/when:              Friday, April 27

 

9:00 a.m.

Baytown Junior High School

                                    7707 Bayway Drive

                                    Houston, Texas 77520

                                               

10:45 a.m.

Galena Park Middle School

                                    400 Keene Street

                                    Galena Park, Texas 77547

                                               

1:45 p.m.        

Thomas A. Edison Middle School

                                    6901 Avenue I

                                    Houston, Texas 77011