Did you know that only 7% of the STEM workforce identifies as Hispanic? This disparity has not gone unnoticed by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
SHPE has a mission to combat this gap through trainings, programming, and mentorships. SHPE envisions a world where Latinos are influential in the areas of STEM and appreciated by society. Comprised of more than 13,000 members and 260 sponsors and partners, SHPE hopes that their values of familia, service, education, and resilience will continue to close the gap in the STEM fields.
Chapters and scholarships are available for college students through a SHPE membership. UConn has a SHPE chapter of its own where students can network with others from local up to national organizations. SHPE prides itself on its national recognition and being involved with a chapter listed on your resume can attract a positive response from potential employers.
Students can also forge strong networking connections through the SHPE mentorship program. Students are paired with a STEM professional who can help them reach their full potential. Mentees can look up to their mentors and utilize the networking abilities that can come from the relationship.
Last year SHPE awarded more than 170 scholarships to Latino students pursing degrees in the STEM fields. Financial instability is the largest cause for Latino students to not finish their undergraduate education. Through these scholarships, SHPE is motivated to reduce the percentage of Latino students who are unable to continue their education as a result of financial need. While the 2021-2022 scholarships are closed, students can start preparing for next year’s round of applications.
More information on SHPE scholarships can be found here.
