WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) announced today that 

Gabriela Hernandez, a resident of the Fifth District, will be his guest tomorrow evening at President Trump’s State of the Union Address.

“It is my honor to welcome Gabriela Hernandez, a DREAMer from Prince George’s County, Maryland, as my guest for tomorrow’s State of the Union Address,” said Congressman Hoyer. “Like so many DREAMers, Gabriela came to the United States as a young child, and knows no other country but this one as home. She is working hard to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker, and is an upstanding member of her community.”

“I am so glad that Gabriela will join me tomorrow evening,” continued Congressman Hoyer. “Each day, 122 DREAMers lose their DACA protections. I hope that the presence of Gabriela and other DREAMers at tomorrow’s address will remind President Trump and Congressional Republican leaders of the importance of working expeditiously to allow DREAMers to remain here and ensure they have a pathway to citizenship. I remain committed to protecting DREAMers and ensuring these young people – who contribute so much to our nation – are not sent to countries they do not know.”

Gabriela Hernandez is a college student currently studying at Prince George’s Community College. She came to the United States with her mother at the age of four from El Salvador. Gabriela has attended school in Prince George’s County since kindergarten, and hopes to transfer to a four-year university this fall where she plans to study to become a social worker.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced that Ms. Naomi Mburu, a chemical engineering major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), will be his guest at the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 30. Ms. Mburu of Ellicott City, Md., is UMBC’s first-ever recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and one of 32 Americans selected this year.

“Naomi Mburu is an inspiration for young girls and young women who see someone like them excelling in science and engineering. As a top student at UMBC, and mentor to many, Ms. Mburu is already making a difference in the lives of those around her,” said Senator Cardin. “I am proud to bring this exceptional daughter of immigrants to our Nation’s Capitol for this special event. Ms. Mburu personifies the diverse future of this country and what can be achieved through hard work, dedication and a passion for science, technology, engineering and math The more we can highlight great success stories like Ms. Mburu, the more we can spread that enthusiasm for STEM to others. I appreciate UMBC’s commitment to promoting our underserved communities in the STEM fields and will continue to advocate for federal funding that ensures everyone like Ms. Mburu who are willing to work, explore, and discover has a seat at the computer, microscope, or table.”

“We are very proud of Naomi Mburu’s achievements and delighted for her to be recognized in this way. Her selection as UMBC’s first Rhodes Scholar reflects a tremendous amount of hard work, a passion for discovery, intensive mentorship, and community support — all of which are emblematic of the UMBC experience,” UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski added.

According to UMBC, Ms. Mburu is involved with research and scholars programs, and is a leader in many student organizations. As a Meyerhoff Scholar, she is a peer mentor for freshmen and sophomores pursuing chemical engineering. Mburu is also a MARC U*STAR Trainee. The Meyerhoff Scholars Program and the National Institute of Health’s MARC U*STAR Scholars Programs aim to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who pursue Ph.D.s in STEM fields. She has a passion for supporting STEM education and increasing diversity in STEM fields, which led to her involvement with programs and organizations with similar missions.

Ms. Mburu represents a larger story of UMBC’s commitment to supporting diverse students in STEM. UMBC is a top public research university known for innovative teaching, relevant research across disciplines, and a supportive, inclusive community of 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students. UMBC leads the nation in producing African American undergraduates who pursue M.D.-Ph.D.s., and is recognized more broadly for supporting women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, from chemical engineering to computer science.