No. HENAAC awards are for scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists, people who work in technology fields and engineers. However, individuals who are not technical professionals can win an award in the categories of Diversity, Community Service and Education. The individual must work to recruit, train, mentor, counsel or promote careers in engineering, science and technology.

No. HENAAC awards are for scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists, people who work in technology fields and engineers. However, individuals who are not technical professionals can win an award in the categories of Diversity, Community Service and Education. The individual must work to recruit, train, mentor, counsel or promote careers in engineering, science and technology.

No. There are four award categories where non-Hispanic nominees can win. The categories are: Chairman’s Award (awarded at the discretion of the HENAAC Chair), Education, Diversity or Community Service. A non-Hispanic must perform work or outreach activities that strongly impact the Hispanic Community’s participation in engineering, science and technology.

In most cases, a person needs a bachelor’s degree in a math-based major to be eligible for awards other than those cited above. However, for military and law enforcement candidates, on the job training and experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

You may not nominate an individual for the Hispanic Engineer or Scientist of the Year Award. This individual is selected from among the top candidates submitted in all professional categories. This honoree can be a leader working in any area of science, engineering and technology, including research, technology development or technology management. The HENAAC Selection Committee is searching for an individual who models the kind of technical excellence and executive leadership that significantly impact an industry, a field of science and/or engineering, academia, the Hispanic community, and our nation.

In 2006 HENAAC elected to go paperless, we are continuing this in 2008!  This means we will not be accepting any hard-copy nomination packets.  HENAAC is asking that all information be uploaded on the HENAAC website or mailed on a CD.  All nomination information must be uploaded by June 6, 2008.

Please upload A-I at the same time. HENAAC prefers that all nomination information arrive simultaneously to avoid documents being misfiled on the server.

Please follow this sample for the information HENAAC needs to process you nomination:

Please note the first letter of recommendation should be from the nominator. Beyond this first letter from the nominator HENAAC does not limit the number of letters of recommendation nominees may submit and suggests that they include letters from high-level managers, Vice Presidents, etc…individuals who can comment in detail about the nominee’s work, professional growth and value he/she brings to the organization. While there is no limit to the number of letters candidates may submit, they should be kept to only those letters that will enhance the nomination packet. 

Your biography should be no more than 2-3 pages.  It gives nominees an opportunity to share any significant early life experiences and motivating factors leading to their success. They can also to share information about family, special projects, hobbies, or what they consider to be important events in their lives. The biography should include information not discussed in letters of recommendation or articles.

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 committee of these accomplishments either in a brief summary or list. The only category that should submit more detailed research information is Outstanding Technical Achievement.

No. Please do not submit any multimedia clips. The committee will not have time to review video clips during the selection process. However, if the nominee is selected for an award, the HENAAC staff will ask the organization for video clips that may be used in the presentation of his/her award.

Yes. However, HENAAC also recommends acquiring new letters of recommendation with a current 2008 date.  Old letters of recommendation have a tough time competing against current letters of recommendation from other candidates.

Yes.  However, HENAAC has special award categories exclusively for the military such as Professional Achievement – Military where only individuals that work for a military agency may win this category (i.e. a civilian working for Army Research Labs can win this award).

Yes. All winners must be able to attend the HENAAC Conference and Awards Show October 9-12, 2008 in Houston, TX. If a winner is unable to attend, the next highest ranked candidate in that category will be declared the winner. The only exception to this rule is for service men and women who are on active duty and are unable to obtain leave. A family member may accept in their place.

No. The HENAAC nomination and selection process is independent of conference sponsorship. HENAAC has had many winners from companies and organizations that are not conference sponsors.

All winners and the individuals who nominated them will be notified by the first week of August 2008 via telephone and email. A formal letter of notification with details about the conference, awards show, etc. will be mailed & sent by email the second week of August 2008. A press release announcing the winners will also be posted on the HENAAC website by the second week of August 2008.

All non-winners will receive letters indicating that they were not selected for an award by the third week of August 2008.

The Section Committee is made up of HENAAC Inc.’s various stake holders who have expertise in their given area. These committee members are divided into sub committees to evaluate the nominations. For example, individuals with Ph.D.’s and Masters Degrees in technology make up the Outstanding Technical Achievement Committee. These Committees report to the Selection Committee Chair who is Dr. Sallie Keller-McNulty, the Dean of Engineering of the current Academic Host, Rice University.

You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be nominated.

If you still have questions that we did not answer, please call us at (323) 262-0997 or email bharo@henaac.org.