Tori Martinez receives a certificate from the National Science Foundation for her summer research project presentation.
Tori Martinez has seized every opportunity as an Adams State University student and has made the most of her education.
She spent the summer in Washington D.C. as an intern for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The internship is collaboration between the NSF Summer Scholars Program and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program.
Much of her time was spent in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, as a research analyst. "I had to work on a research project on the internal organization, based on the race/gender and ethnicity of the organization. I also did research on how much funding went to the minority institutions."
The NSF ensured personal development was part of the internship experience. Martinez attended the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, (PCAST) and heard a presentation from NASA about the US being the first county to visit every planet in our solar system. "The summer was amazing, so much fun," Martinez said.
Tori Martinez stands with all the 2015 National Science Foundation Summer Scholars before their private tour of the United States Capital Building, in background
She learned about the internship at the 2014 HACU Conference, where she spoke with government officials who encouraged her to apply for the summer internship. Martinez was one of 250, out of 2500 applications, chosen for the competitive internship.
During the ten-week internship Martinez networked with a wide variety of people from various government sectors. This brought Adams Sate to their attention and resulted in an invitation for Martinez and Oneyda Maestas, director of the Adams State Cultural Awareness and Student Achievement (CASA) Center, to present at the 2015 HACU Annual Conference in Miami.
Martinez initiated the idea for Women’s Week on campus, works as a teaching assistant for the Sociology Department, and enjoys researching the San Luis Valley and its people.
She plans to graduate in December, 2015 with a double major in sociology and psychology. After commencement, Martinez plans to attend graduate school, possibly at the University of New Mexico.
