Katya Echazarreta is a civilian astronaut and the first Mexican-born woman to fly to the edge of space as a member of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s NS-21 spaceflight mission.
She was selected from a pool of 7,000 applicants as a Space for Humanity Ambassador based on her outstanding achievements in the space industry.
The first-generation college student earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UCLA while on a scholarship. She is on the way to earning a master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University, all while inspiring and encouraging young Latinos across the country to pursue their dreams.
Last fall, she partnered with the Golden Arches in the annual McDonald’s HACER® Education Tour, inspiring Hispanic students to reach for the stars with in-person workshops and one-on-one mentorship sessions in select high schools.
Her recent partnership with the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship is a full-circle moment as she worked at her local McDonald’s as a partial breadwinner for her family when she was in high school.
The McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship is one of the largest programs committed to college scholarships and resources for Hispanics, giving students the golden opportunity to receive up to $100,000 for their education.
Since 1985, the program has awarded more than $33 million in scholarships to more than 17,000 students. McDonald’s and its Hispanic Owner/Operators are continuing its legacy for the 2022-2023 academic year. Click here to apply.
“After meeting with students face to face at local high schools across the country, I’m excited to connect with even more students virtually to let them know that their dreams of getting an education can be achieved with resources available to them like the HACER® scholarship,” Katya said in a statement.
p>During the virtual mentoring session, she shared insights on how perseverance helped shape her journey toward becoming an engineer. Katya considers her time at McDonald’s foundational to her approach to becoming an astronaut.
The education workshop series is hosted by CoolSpeak, a leading youth engagement company, to help students in different cities navigate the college application process.
The scholarship application period for the 2022-2023 academic year is open through Feb. 6. Hispanic college-bound students and their parents are encouraged to visit mcdonalds.com/hacer for additional college resources in English and Spanish and details on how to apply for the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship. Click here to apply.
The McDonald's HACER National Scholarship Program will offer scholarships to 30 outstanding Hispanic students from all over the country. To find out if you qualify, check our eligibility and requirements page: https://t.co/8zsyYRrKhs#HACER #scholarship #hispanic pic.twitter.com/98zpT7FzAX
— wow2shinemcd (@wow2shinemcd) November 11, 2022
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