Best of CASE District VII Award
 

Institution: University of California, Office of the President

Title of entry: The true story behind 'A Million Miles Away'

About this entry: The video titled "From Farmworker to Astronaut: The True Story Behind 'A Million Miles Away'" showcases the remarkable journey of UCSB alumnus José Hernández. Born to migrant farmworkers, Hernández was fully aware of the formidable challenges he would face in pursuit of his dream: mastering English, completing high school, obtaining a college degree, and competing against 12,000 applicants for a coveted position in NASA's astronaut training program. Our aim was to spotlight his narrative not just as a distinguished UC alumnus but also to celebrate his extraordinary career at Livermore National Labs and NASA. We released this video in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month and the movie that came out about his life.