Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Raul Cilloniz, Eduardo Dibos, first Hispanic NASCAR drivers

Raul Cilloniz and Eduardo Dibos, both born in Peru, were the first South American NASCAR drivers.  They raced in the 1959 Daytona 500, the inaugural race.  Cilloniz finished 12th, only eight laps behind the winner Lee Petty.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Robert Garcia, first Latino member of Congress

Robert Garcia, born December 2, 1977 in Lima, Peru, is the first fully Latino and LGBT member of US Congress.  He immigrated to the US with his mother at the age of 5.  He attended California State University, Long Beach and later got his master's Degree at University of Southern California.

In 2009, he was elected to the Long Beach City Council.  In 2012, he was unanimously elected to Vice Mayor of Long Beach, becoming the first Latino Vice Mayor and youngest in Long Beach's history. 

Garcia ran for mayor in 2015 and was reelected in April 2018. 

He announced his candidacy for California's 42nd congressional district in the US House of Representatives. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Carlos Noriega!

Carlos Noriega, born October 8, 1959 in Lima, Peru, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights and the first Peruvian-born astronaut.

His first mission into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-84) as mission specialist to space station Mir, in May 1997.

His second and final mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-97) to the International Space Station as mission specialist in December 2000.  During the mission he conducted three EVAs with fellow astronaut Joseph Tanner, for a total of about 19 hours.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month - Carlos Noriega, first Peruvian astronaut

Carlos Noriega is the first Peruvian-born astronaut in space, flying on the Space Shuttle twice and performing 3 EVAs. Born in Lima, Peru, he graduated high school in Santa Clara, California and entered the U.S. Marine Corps, eventually achieving rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was selected by NASA in 1994 and his first mission in space was aboard Atlantis (STS-84) to Mir in May 1997.

Noriega's second mission was on Endeavour (STS-97) in December 2000, dedicated to the construction of the International Space Station.