News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’

At the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Conference this Nov. 12-16 in Phoenix, attendees will have the chance to win $10,000, meet several Latino heroes, learn the latest on “green” technology, network with Fortune 500 companies and win a college scholarship after staying up all night building a secret project.
Already known as the nation’s largest technical conference for Hispanics, the SHPE Conference has confirmed its largest registration in 32 years of existence. Some 5,000 professionals, students, educators, corporate representatives and community leaders from throughout the United States are expected to meet at the conference for a multitude of activities targeted to those pursuing or now working in science, technology, engineering and math (or STEM) fields. More than 300 corporations, government agencies and academic exhibitors are gearing up to land in Phoenix to meet with thousands of sought-after Hispanic students, engineers and technical talent during the conference.
“Attendance at the SHPE Conference continues to grow because of the true value and tangible impact the conference makes on its participants. Last year, one company alone hired more than 60 applicants through our Career Expo. In essence, students, professionals, educators and corporate partners greatly benefit from attending the SHPE Conference and most likely will leave with job or internship offers; financial aid information for college or graduate school; professional certifications and leadership training; or hands-on and affordable activities to take back to the science classroom,” said Diana Gomez, national president of SHPE, Inc.
The Hispanic population continues to increase at a rapid pace — especially among young people — but the growing population is not reflected in scientific and technical professions. Hispanics comprised only 5.5 percent of the science and engineering workforce in 2006, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. In addition, the National Science Foundation has warned that a rapid decline in the science and engineering labor force’s growth rate is expected over the next decade and will fundamentally affect the U.S. economy. Though targeted to Hispanics, the SHPE Conference addresses the critical need for engineering talent as a whole.
“This year at the SHPE Conference, we are drawing more professionals than ever before, thanks to expanded offerings that meet our members’ technical and leadership development needs,” said Manny Hernandez, national vice president of SHPE, Inc. and chairman of the 2008 SHPE Conference. “With SHPE programs helping our individual members advance professionally, we will see the number of Hispanic engineers in top management positions increase across the nation. As the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, SHPE covers the spectrum with programs serving middle school children all the way up to experienced engineering executives.”
Most conference events will take place in downtown Phoenix — at the Phoenix Convention Center, Sheraton Hotel, Wyndham Hotel and Hyatt Regency. New offerings include a program for Arizona middle and high school teachers, a business proposal plan competition rewarding $10,000 to the top-winning team, and a focus on “green” engineering. Other highlights include:

– The AHETEMS Pre-College Symposia for hundreds of local Phoenix middle
school students and high school students from across the nation. Jaime
Escalante, the teacher on whom the movie “Stand and Deliver” was based,
will address students. (This year’s pre-college program sold out within
weeks after the 2007 conference.)
– A myriad of awards recognizing talented high school, college and
graduate students, and professionals including engineers and academic
advisors
– Academic, professional, career development and leadership workshops
– Competitions including the National Academic Olympiad Show, Extreme
Engineering, Design Competition, and Technical Competitions
– Specialized graduate student institute and a graduate school
preparation program
– Salute to Corporate America Luncheon, honoring SHPE’s corporate
partners
– Gala Banquet honoring SHPE’s “Company of the Year” and role models
winners of the 2008 STAR (or SHPE Technical Achievement Recognition)
Awards
– Career Fair with 300 of the nation’s top companies and organizations
offering full-time and internship positions — for students and
experienced professionals
– Professional Development Series as well as certification tracks and new
green engineering program
– Corporate tours

SHPE is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, committed to enhancing America’s position in math, science, engineering and technology with a strong and talented Hispanic workforce. For more information, visit www.shpe.org. “

What: NASA will bring more than 120 Alabama high school students to Huntsville, Ala., Oct. 2-3 to participate in the seventh annual NASA Hispanic Youth Conference. The two-day cultural and motivational workshop will include seminars and activities designed to inspire Hispanic young people to complete their high school education and pursue college careers, primarily in math, science and engineering. These fields of study are cornerstones of the nation’s economic success — and of NASA’s continuing mission of exploration and discovery.

The 2008 youth conference theme is “Getting Involved: Our Families, Our Community, Our Nation.” The event is sponsored by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville; the “Mi Futuro” (My Future) programs at Miles College in Birmingham, Ala., and Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and the North Central Alabama Boy Scouts of America. Participating high school students will have the opportunity to meet NASA and Marshall Center representatives and state leaders.

Who/When:

On Thursday, Oct. 2, there will be a banquet at 7 p.m. Rafaela Schwan, director of programs and external affairs for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers — a social-technical organization that works to encourage the potential of Hispanics in the fields of engineering, math and science — will speak to the students at 8 p.m. Workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3.

Where:

Activities on Oct. 2 will be held at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, One Tranquility Base. Activities on Oct. 3 will be held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Tom Bevill Center, 301 Sparkman Drive.

To attend:

News media interested in covering the conference should contact Betty Humphery in the Marshall Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1.

For supporting materials for this news release - such as photographs, fact sheets, video and audio files and more - please visit the NASA Marshall Center Newsroom Web site at

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) has announced the individual and corporate winners for the 2008 SHPE Technical Achievement Recognition (STAR) Awards. The annual awards recognize the year’s highest level of achievement in Hispanic engineering and sciences in several different categories.
All awards will be presented during the 2008 SHPE Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. from Nov. 12-16. The SHPE Conference is the largest Hispanic technical conference in the nation, with approximately 5,000 attendees expected.
“SHPE is proud to spotlight each STAR award recipient, as they represent excellence in our field,” said Diana Gomez, National President of SHPE. “Our organization strives to be the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, and is committed to increasing the pipeline of Hispanic talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The individuals being honored are true examples to the next generation of students, engineers and technical talent.”
Each STAR recipient was nominated by corporate and government peers and colleagues and then considered by a selection committee of professionals, educators and community leaders. “Every nominee deserves recognition and selecting the top from a group of top candidates was a difficult task,” noted one of the judges. The 2008 STAR award winners include:

– Company of the Year:
IBM, Armonk, N.Y.
– Corporate Achievement Award:
Grace Lieblein, General Motors, Warren, Mich.
– Jaime Oaxaca Award:
Jeet S. Bindra, Chevron, San Ramon, Calif.
– Junipero Serra Award:
Wanda Ronquillo, IBM, Tucson, Ariz.
– Honorary Member Award:
Neftali Ortiz, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corporation, Fort Worth,
Texas
– Educator of the Year in Higher Education:
David Jauregui, Ph.D., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
– Educator of the Year in K-12:
Clara Liz Velez, Hartford Public High School, Hartford, Conn.
– Hispanic in Technology Award/Corporate:
Julio A. Navarro, Ph.D., The Boeing Company, Renton, Wash.
– Hispanic in Technology Award/Government:
Carlos M. Godoy, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport,
Middletown, R.I.
– Promising Engineer Award:
Mairim Ramos-Lebron, Northrop Grumman-Undersea Systems, Annapolis, Md.
– Student Role Model Award:
Miguel Guerra, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
– Professional Role Model Award:
Yamaris Soto, Northrop Grumman and SHPE Baltimore Chapter,
Baltimore, Md.
– Academic Excellence and Leadership Awards:
Maria Liliana Carrillo, Hillsborough High School, Tampa, Fla.
Victor Lopez, Jersey Village High School, Houston, Texas

SHPE, Inc. is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, committed to enhancing America’s position in math, science, engineering and technology with a strong and talented Hispanic workforce. SHPE provides its membership of students and professionals with increased educational opportunities, professional and personal growth, and involvement in education, business and government issues. For more information, please visit