Two Sandians Honored in 2015 Hispanic Engineer of the Year Awards

Sandia’s Abraham Ellis, manager of the Photovoltaic and Distributed Systems Dept., was awarded the 2015 Hispanic Engineer of the Year Award for “Outstanding Technical Achievement.”

On Friday, August 7th, Great Minds in STEM™ announced the 2015 class of Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC) award winners. These phenomenal role models in science, technology, engineering and math will be honored at the 27th HENAAC science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career conference, “Ignite, Inspire” in Pasadena, California, October 14–18, 2015.

Two Sandia engineers were honored by this organization this year. Abraham Ellis (manager of Sandia’s Photovoltaic and Distributed Systems Dept.) was recognized for “Outstanding Technical Achievement” and Patrick Sena (Senior Engineer in Sandia’s Stockpile Systems Center) was honored for “Lifetime Achievement.” In the past 19 years, 32 Sandians have received HENAAC awards.

Patrick Sena, R&D Senior Engineer in Sandia’s Stockpile Systems Center, was awarded the 2015 Hispanic Engineer of the Year Award for “Lifetime Achievement.”

Great Minds in STEM™ salutes its 27th class of HENAAC honorees and thanks the men and women from industry, government, military, and academic institutions who participated in the various selection committees to review nominations. The peer-review selection committee was co-chaired by Dr. Yannis C. Yortsos, Dean of the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering and Dr. Emily L. Allen, Dean of California State University Los Angeles’ College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology. Both institutions, along with the California State University System, are the Academic Hosts of the 27th HENAAC STEM Career Conference.

For more than a quarter century, Great Minds in STEM™ has recognized the achievements of America’s top engineers and scientists within the Hispanic community during the HENAAC Conference. These STEM leaders, innovators, and champions represent the best and brightest minds our nation has to offer. They are symbols of Hispanic contributions at the highest levels of academia, government, military, and corporate America. HENAAC award winners are proof that the Hispanic community is capable of stepping up to the leadership roles that the new demographics position demands. These outstanding individuals are evidence that we, as a nation, have what it takes to keep America as the world’s technology leader.