This October, twenty of Lehigh's Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) members traveled to Anaheim, California for the SHPE National Convention to celebrate five decades of empowering Hispanic leaders in STEM and to explore new professional horizons.
It's historical known as the largest annual gathering of Hispanic STEM students and professionals, with this year having over 15,000 attendees. The 5-day convention consisted of a variety of workshops, seminars, panels, and a 2-day career fair. From workshops focusing on empowerment in the workplace as a woman, to topics such as salary negotiation, the convention provided an opportunity for anyone to gain valuable insight into career growth and professional development.
The engineers had opportunities to interview with multiple top-tier companies such as Bank of America, HP, Goldman Sachs, P&G, Apple, American Express, and Walt Disney Imagineering, for various internships and future career opportunities. Many have since received offers and have continued to build upon these established connections that will be invaluable for professional growth. The privately hosted dinners and lunches provided a more personal approach for students to gain deeper insights into the host company’s culture and values from all over the world.Natalia Castillo '27, a sophomore Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) student, attended the conference and also serves as the SHPEtina Director on Lehigh's SHPE executive board. She was able to network and meet other SHPE chapters from across the country. “Sharing our diverse experiences made us even more confident in our ability to contribute meaningfully to these fields.”
Fellow Lehigh SHPE member and senior ChBE student Sofia Ruiz '25 emphasized how "attending workshops like 'Battling Self-Doubt in Tech' and 'I’m Not Smart Enough to Be in Tech' empowered us to build confidence and embrace our unique perspectives." Beyond the convention, students were able to explore the city of Anaheim, and even visit Disneyland. "This experience was the perfect way to unwind, bond, and celebrate our journey together."
For SHPE members, it is a life-changing opportunity to build a dream career, harness the power of diverse innovation, and embrace the connections of familia.
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