Hispanics are the sleeping giants of American society. In Coming to America, historian Roger Daniels describes the Hispanic condition that way.

Too many Hispanics seem asleep at the switch - unable to turn the lever in the voting booth to gain political power. Unwilling to take responsibility and put sacrifice and education ahead of short-term thrills that lead only to dead-end jobs and catch-as-catch-can living.

Another success in the making: The number of Hispanic students studying engineering and science continues to grow. This week, in fact, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will hold its 20th annual convention in Orlando, attracting more than 1,000 of the nation's top scientists and engineers and as many as 1,500 engineering students from some of the best schools in the country.