ARLINGTON, Va. – Growing up in Del Rio, Texas, a small town located on the U.S.-Mexico border, Juan Lafuente attended a high school that was short on resources but rich in caring, dedicated teachers — resulting in strong math and science programs.
Lafuente’s physics teacher, Mr. Francisco, was a powerful proponent of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and pushed his students to excel in such subjects. Seeing a similar passion in Lafuente, Mr. Francisco helped him apply and earn acceptance to summer engineering enrichment programs at the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.