Article by Richard Guerrero, Jr. The American Space Program and how it relates to gender culture is the subject of a free public book talk at Del Mar College (DMC) by Dr. Erinn McComb, History Professor with the college’s Social Sciences Department, who will discuss her debut book, “Gender and the Race for Space: Masculinity and the American Astronaut” (1957-1983). The free lecture begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Wolfe Recital Hall on Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404), online directions and campus map. This event is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Dr. Paul Gottemoller, DMC Chair of the Social Sciences Department, at pgottemo@delmar.edu or at 361-698-1698. Released in June by Anthem Press, Dr. McComb’s book draws from years of research and rich archival interviews, especially those conducted by Dr. Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, formerly of the Johnson Space Center. Ross-Nazzal conducted dozens of interviews with former NASA employees, including the first six female astronauts.  Dr. McComb’s book explores how masculinity shaped American spaceflight during the Cold War, particularly in NASA’s early astronaut selection process and public image. Her presentation will dive into how American gender culture influenced which individuals were deemed fit for space — and which were left grounded. Based on her doctoral dissertation, the book took nearly five years to complete and weaves together historical testimony, including the voices of early female astronauts — most notably, Dr. Sally K. Ride — and aerospace engineers navigating a male-dominated field. Dr. McComb also discusses competing narratives heading into the shuttle era––one that championed women’s capabilities, and another that diminished them by suggesting the shuttle was “so safe, even a woman could fly it.” In her book, Dr. McComb argues the American astronaut image was informed by early Cold War ideals of masculinity that helped mold a distinctly American (anti-communist) masculinity, which appeared — on the surface anyway — to resolve not only an American “crisis of masculinity” but helped win the Cold War on an ideological and popular level. At the heart of the talk scheduled Sept. 24 is a powerful message: “Gender culture has always shaped opportunities,” Dr. McComb notes. “Often, even if legal barriers weren’t in the way, people shied away from doing what they really wanted because of fears of social ridicule. The stories of the men and women in the book demonstrate that we as individuals should do it anyway. These individuals reached their potential and their individual fulfillment despite barriers, social ridicule or fear.” While books will not be available for purchase at the event, copies of ‘Gender and the Race for Space’ are available online on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites and will be housed in the Del Mar College White Library on the Heritage Campus for public access.    

Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. It's never too early to start learning the core fundamentals of a working life. As we all know, preparing for a successful career requires financial literacy, an entrepreneurial spirit (side hustle, anyone?), and ensuring that you have the skills – including those essential soft skills that apply to nearly all work environments – to enjoy workplace longevity these days. To help young students at West Oso Elementary School in West Oso ISD become familiar with these concepts, a group of 90 volunteers – 41 Del Mar College (DMC) faculty and staff, 43 DMC students, and six students from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi –presented tailored curriculum as part of the Junior Achievement of the Coastal Bend’s “JA in a Day” initiative on Friday, Sept. 12. All Junior Achievement programs are developed by Junior Achievement, a nonprofit youth organization that was founded in 1919. JA’s programs align with State Standards and Common Core, and volunteers receive training and materials to cover curriculum tailored to their assigned grade levels. Lessons included the following: Second-grade students: JA Our Community immerses students in the daily life of their community the people who work there, the money decisions they make, the flow of the community's economy, and the importance of being involved and responsible community members. Third-grade students: JA Our City introduces students to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and grade-level social studies learning objectives, including how people manage their money and the importance of economic exchange within a city. Fourth-grade students: JA Our Region helps students explore how regional differences shape job opportunities, resource use, trade, and consumer choices. It shows students how their choices can contribute to their local and regional economies. Fifth-grade students: JA Our Nation presents essential aspects of our nation’s economy, skill development, career exploration, and community involvement. Through hands-on games and activities, students discover how their skills and actions contribute to their own success and to the economy. Since Fall 2023, Del Mar College has partnered with Junior Achievement to sponsor a “JA in a Day” with West Oso ISD, according to Dr. Jennifer Sramek, DMC Dean of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Heath Sciences. In the fall, the DMC volunteer cohort focuses on West Oso Elementary School while in the  spring the cohort focuses on JFK Elementary School. “On ‘JA in a Day,’ DMC faculty, staff, and students provide age-appropriate lessons on entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs designed to help young people understand the economics of life,” Sramek said. Marcy Davis, Principal of West Oso Elementary School, says Junior Achievement volunteers bring engaging hands-on lessons each year that help students make meaningful connections between academic content and everyday life. Teachers welcome these visits because the lessons directly align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) they are already teaching in the classroom, she adds. “During JA in a Day, the energy is felt throughout the halls, and every class is filled with excitement and active learning. Now in its third year at our campus, this valuable community partnership continues to strengthen the connection between schools and the community, and we look forward to its ongoing impact for years to come,” Davis said. Since Fall 2023, Sramek says DMC has provided a total of 163 volunteers overall. This semester’s volunteer cohort is the largest one to date. “When Team DMC participates in JA in a Day, we are mentors, role models and community partners. For many of these students, JA in a Day might be their first glimpse into careers, entrepreneurship or financial literacy,” Sramek says, adding: “The enthusiasm and compassion that Team DMC brings shows these students that they are seen, valued and capable of achieving great things.”