Recognition Events
HENAAC Awards Show (Saturday, October 14)The HENAAC Awards Show is the nation’s premiere Hispanic STEM recognition event and the apex of the conference. Taking place Saturday evening, at this formal event, inspirational award winners are recognized and have an opportunity to share their life journey to an audience of over 2,000 professional and student attendees. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served during the show.
CAHSI Research Networking Reception (Friday, October 13)
The reception offers CAHSI faculty, undergraduate researchers, and graduate students an opportunity to network and share experiences, insights, and advice.
Student Leadership Awards Show (Friday, October 13)
This Friday evening event showcases our student attendees. Highlights include speeches from the recipients for HENAAC Oustanding Student Leadership Award, announcement of the Class of 2023 GMiS STEM Scholars; and results from various competitions and contests.
GMiS STEM Scholars Reception (Friday, October 13)
During this event, each GMiS Scholar is formally inaugurated into the GMiS Scholars Society and is pinned with a medallion indicative of their academic performance. Sponsors and donors meet their scholars, present their medallion and certificate, and gain a jump-start on networking with their scholars.
Luminaries Reception (Friday, October 13)
The Class of 2023 Luminary Honorees are celebrated at this evet. These trailblazers shine a light for others searching for a pathway to success. GMiS will showcase their work and recognize these role models in front of their peers for their significant contributions to the technical community and for their achievements in their respective fields.
Ray Mellado Recognition (Friday, October 13)
This special event is part of the line-up celebrating our milestone 35th Anniversary GMiS Conference. During the 2023 Legacy Luncheon we will be honoring the life, legacy and continued impact of our founder, Ray Mellado, who passed away in 2022. Ray spent his entire adult life impacting and inspiring young lives and increasing opportunities for students from underserved communities. He did it first as a coach and educator, and later in the corporate sector at the Xerox Corporation. Ray then dedicated the second half of his professional life to addressing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math crisis facing America. He founded Great Minds in STEM in 1989 alongside his wife, Carmela. In addition to honoring Ray’s memory and legacy at GMiS, we will celebrate our founding and legacy sponsors who have been central to GMiS realizing and broadening Ray and Carmela’s vision. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from legacy sponsors, past HENAAC honorees, and the Mellado family.
National STEM Heroes Awards Dinner (Thursday, October 12)
GMiS honors the talented STEM professionals who have dedicated and shown their aptitude by protecting and leading the course of keeping our nation safe. Attendees include: Flag and General Military Officers, Senior Executive Service (SES) personnel, civil servants from the U.S. Department of Defense, agencies affiliated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and defense contractors.