<span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-12c2abc0-5cd2-00eb-f04d-79f41e7c60c7"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">University Innovation Fellow, NCIIA</span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eduardo Rojas-Flores joined the UIF family during his third year as a Mechanical Engineering student from the University of California, Merced. Eduardo </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">founded AIAA at UC Merced an organization with intentions to provide guidance and support for students pursuing an Aeronautical/Astronautical career. AIAA at UC Merced focuses on hands on experience within California’s Central Valley allowing members to build their resumes and enter the Aerospace/Aeronautical field after college. The organization quickly grew in resources and support from the University and Professional companies. It held the student region conference post Eduardo's departure from the University, however his efforts were recognized by the student organization and now they continue to uphold the founding misssions. The organization now has a working relationship with Lockheed Martin and an annual buget of $30,000 with over $150,000 dollars of funding since its founding.</span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif;"><span style="color:#000000;">After establishing the orginazation and becoming a fellow, Eduardo then became a Nasa Solar system Ambassador Volunteer for NASA-JPL. </span>[https://solarsystem1.jpl.nasa.gov/ssa/biography.cfm?US_ID=1340 <span style="color:#000000;">https://solarsystem1.jpl.nasa.gov/ssa/biography.cfm?US_ID=1340</span>]<span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His purpose is to become a role model for immigrant students as a future innovator in aeronautics, a humanitarian a</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">nd policy maker. Through the program he has presented over 10 talks and held various events for students and parents of all ages.</span></span></span></span>