José Hernández on Apr 29, 2025 | UCSB Arts & Lectures
Engineer and Former NASA Astronaut
José Hernández
Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farm Worker Turned Astronaut
“I’m not here to tell people how great I am. I’m here to share my story, to say, you’re no different than I am. I was able to do it, this is how I did it.” – José Hernández
Born into a family of migrant farmworkers, José Hernández spent his childhood moving from field to field, dreaming of space. He didn’t speak English until he was 12, yet through resilience and dedication, he defied the odds – becoming an engineer, an astronaut and the first Mexican-American to travel to space. Determined to fulfill his dream, Hernández never gave up, ultimately serving as a flight engineer aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Join us for an inspiring evening as UC Santa Barbara alum and UC Regent José Hernández shares his extraordinary journey from the fields to the stars, proving that perseverance can turn dreams into reality.
Related Event:
A Million Miles Away, Apr 23
Learn More
Event Sponsor: Susan & Bruce Worster
Justice for All Lead Sponsors: Marcy Carsey, Connie Frank & Evan Thompson, Eva & Yoel Haller, Dick Wolf, and Zegar Family Foundation
Presented in association with the following UCSB partners: Office of Education Partnerships and the Departments of Chicana and Chicano Studies, Engineering, and Mathematics
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