Tony Ortiz Inspires New Mexico Students
Tony Ortiz has directed the New Mexico State Science Fair, an Intel ISEF affiliated fair, for almost a decade, and was instrumental in bringing Intel ISEF to Albuquerque in 2007. New Mexico Tech president Daniel H. Lopez said, 鈥淭ony Ortiz is a tireless champion of education in New Mexico. His office is directly responsible for opening the world of science, engineering, and technology to thousands of youngsters in the state.鈥�
Ortiz has not only helped students across his state, but across the country and even the world, by becoming more involved with SSP as a member of the Advisory Council and, this year, as Chair of the Council. He enjoys being a part of the Intel ISEF, for 鈥渨hat it represents, to what it gives back to the students,鈥� he says. 鈥淪eeing their excitement when they attend the events鈥he excitement of the first day, when they are at registration, to the last day, when they are leaving. It鈥檚 a different type of excitement, but they are still just as excited. That is rewarding to me.鈥�
He sees SSP as a way to broaden his existing work in science education with NMT. 鈥淪SP has been a great experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淏eing in a relationship with an organization that promotes science inquiry, I feel at home.鈥�
