Media Advisory

  

                             For More Information Contact:

                                      Angel Picon

                         Reaching for the Stars Coordinator

                               (209) 401-9663

5151 Pacific Ave.                                                       angel.picon@gmail.com

Stockton, CA 95207

For Immediate Release,

10/06/08

“Reaching for the Stars” space conference at Delta College features astronauts

Jose M. Hernandez and Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Oct. 18th

(Stockton)

With his own dream realized, local hero and astronaut Jose M. Hernandez is helping launch the dreams of others. On October 18th, Hernandez will join fellow NASA astronaut, Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Jr., at the second annual Reaching for the Stars Space Conference to be held at San Joaquin Delta College from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

This event is expected to draw more than 300 students from throughout the county. Each will have the opportunity to meet Hernandez and Dr. Satcher. Students will attend motivational speeches by the astronauts, in addition to participating in hands on activities. These activities will include a space shuttle cockpit simulator, science demonstrations, a portable planetarium, and more. Also in attendance will be a number of community science and math organizations from Delta College and UOP. Each group hopes to encourage youth toward careers in math and sciences.

Astronaut Jose M. Hernandez, a 1984 University of the Pacific graduate in Electrical Engineering, and past Lawrence Livermore Lab “Outstanding Engineer of 2001,” considers himself a Stockton native. He was selected to NASA’s astronaut corps in 2004, and completed his training in 2006. Hernandez was recently named a mission specialist on shuttle mission STS-128, scheduled for launch July 30, 2009.

Hernandez looks forward to another inspiring conference at Delta College. “Many children have the potential to achieve greatness,” said Hernandez. “My hope is this conference will ignite something within that will propel them to the stars and beyond.”

Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Jr. was selected by NASA in 2004, and completed his astronaut candidate training in 2006. Dr. Satcher holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Chemical Engineering (1993), and received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School (1994), eventually becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon.

This event is open to the public and hosted by the Jose Hernandez Reaching for the Stars Foundation. For more information, please contact Angel Picon at:

(209) 401-9663, or, angel.picon@gmail.com.