Navy Scientist from San Antonio Highlights STEM Fields of Study and Career Opportunities

Photo By Flisa Stevenson | Navy Capt. Thomas C. Herzig, commanding officer, Naval Medical Research Unit - San Antonio (NAMRU-SA) answers questions from students after he spoke to more than 250 high school students at the 8th Annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Alliance Symposium luncheon, Feb 22, at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo, Texas. Photo by Francis Atwell, courtesy of NAMRU-SA Public Affairs.  

SAN ANTONIO, TX, UNITED STATES

03.22.2018

Courtesy Story

Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio

During the week of Feb 19, the annual series of classroom activities, career fair, and presentations exposed high school students from Laredo and the surrounding area to STEM fields of study and career opportunities. Students were encouraged to attend and explore career options as they begin to consider what path to pursue.
Herzig, a research physiologist and STEM advocate, was the keynote speaker for the luncheon event. Herzig stepped off the stage and walked around the room to directly engage the students as he spoke.
“Think about what ‘you’ want to do with your life and see STEM as an opportunity,” Herzig said. “You also have to have a desire to push yourself to learn, to grow, and to know more,” Herzig said, as he talked about the diversity of opportunities STEM offers.
Herzig also shared how the Navy and his educational experiences prepared him for success as a Navy officer and scientist. “My advice is that you follow your passion as you pursue your career,” Herzig said. “If you have a dream or strong calling, you are more likely to take risks and to be persistent to ultimately succeed, satisfying your personal and professional career needs.”
Herzig introduced the audience to various paths in the Navy including enlisted, officer, and medical services. Herzig also informed students about the Health Professions Scholarship Program, or HPSP.
The HPSP supports students who join the Navy and plan to attend medical school, dental school, or a qualifying health-care-related postgraduate program. Herzig piqued the interests of students as he talked about various STEM related jobs in the Navy and how broadly STEM is used in the real world. “Chemist, physicist, medical doctors, dentist, cyber security, gaming, information technology, electrical and mechanical engineers, logistics, to statistician and actuaries are all STEM career fields,” Herzig said.
The 2018 STEM Alliance luncheon also featured a message from TAMIU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Thomas R. Mitchell and a video message from symposium co-host, Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, thanking students, faculty, and Herzig for participating to help introduce students to STEM career options.
The mission of NAMRU-SA is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations.

• Date Taken: 03.22.2018
• Date Posted: 03.22.2018 15:45
• Story ID: 270332
• Location: SAN ANTONIO, TX, US