Rice University mathematician Richard Tapia received the Hispanic
Heritage Award for Math and Science on Sept. 29 at a star-studded 22nd
Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards ceremony on Capitol Hill.
Tapia, University Professor, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in
Engineering and director of Rice's Center for Excellence and Equity in
Education, is internationally known for his research in the
computational and mathematical sciences and is a national leader in
education and outreach.
The ceremony was held at the Senate Russell Building, featuring
presentations by members of Congress and a dynamic stage production
with performances by top Latino artists. Tapia joined six other award
winners, including New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, artist Romero
Britto, boxer Oscar de la Hoya, singer Olga Tañon, rock band Maná and
animated television star Dora the Explorer, namesake of the
award-winning PBS television series for children.
Created in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan and the White House to
commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Hispanic
Heritage Awards have grown into one of the nation's most prestigious
national honors and events. Past awardees include New Mexico Gov. Bill
Richardson, television journalist Soledad O'Brien, actress Rita Moreno
and author Sandra Benítez. The awards are presented annually by the
Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and sponsored by ExxonMobil.
"There is a component of going to this ceremony that's really
important," Tapia said. "This award isn't just for me. I'm going for
the group I represent and for the things I care about, which are
outreach, K-12 education, diversity and students. Somebody recognized
that I've done things of high value, even if they're not high
visibility, and that means a great deal to me."
Tapia, born in Los Angeles to parents who emigrated from Mexico as
teenagers to seek educational opportunities, was the first in his
family to attend college. He has authored or co-authored two books and
more than 100 mathematical research papers and was the first
native-born Hispanic elected to the National Academy of Engineering. In
2005, he earned Rice's highest academic title, University Professor,
becoming only the sixth person to earn the rank at Rice.
Tapia is known at Rice and beyond as a crusader for the advancement of
minorities, and for his efforts was honored recently by the Society for
the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.