In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics (IDEAs) Program and Women in Engineering (WIE) Program at The University of Akron (UA) are highlighting the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), a student organization that promotes the advancement of the Hispanic community in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

About the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Q: What is the Organization’s purpose and mission? SHPE changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development.

Q: What events, gatherings, and activities does your organization host? We try to have speakers from companies like Bridgestone or Goodyear talk to students about what it's like in the professional world and how to get there. We offer fun activities to socialize with the other members, and there is an opportunity to participate in the National Convention every year where we meet with all of the SHPE chapters across the country as well as companies interested in hiring engineers. Students interested in learning more about the engineering industry can also attend workshops hosted by the companies. We are also trying something new this year. We would like to get together with the UA Latino members and have a bigger Latino community.

Q: Why should students join your organization? Becoming an SHPE member certainly brings many personal benefits and potential prospects for a future in STEM, but our members are so much more than ambitious individuals seeking academic and professional advancement. They are an integral part of a familia that spans border to border, coast to coast, and far beyond. When you are family, your success is our success and your struggles are our collective responsibility. As students, we like to have as much support as possible. SHPE ensures that you are not alone at any point along the path and cares about our future as much as we do. Having a community to which you can relate is especially vital for young individuals attempting to break into the professional sphere.

Q: How can a student get involved with your organization? Students can participate in the meetings we have throughout the semester and in volunteer work we often do with outside organizations or within the college.

Q: How does your organization connect with the community outside of UA? SHPE has participated with Proyecto Raices which is an organization that provides educational and social support to children of Latino/Hispanic families living in Akron, facilitating their integration into the community and the preservation of their cultural heritage. We have helped with different activities they plan throughout the year giving our students an opportunity to give back to the Hispanic community.

Q: When does your organization meet? We usually try to meet at least once a month and as everyone’s schedule allows.

Q: What are your organization's social media handles? We have an Instagram account where we aim to post updates on when meetings are and make other announcements to students to help them stay up-to-date on what our campus has to offer.

Q: Anything else you would like to add about your organization? SHPE is a great organization for incoming freshmen seeking support and guidance. You are not alone, we got you!

Q & A with Andrea Cuellar Garcia, SHPE President

Q: Why did you choose to lead SHPE? I started with SHPE in my freshman year, and it has helped me develop more skills as a college student as well as in the professional world. We as a community strive to make every student's experience as easy as possible since we are a familia. I would like to give the incoming college students and new SHPE members the same opportunity I was given to grow into the person I am today with all the support and love from previous members. A lot of the officers I started with have graduated throughout the years, leaving me the opportunity to step up as president and apply what I have learned from them to lead a group of hard-working people who would like to make a positive impact in the future.

Q: Have you experienced any difficulties in leading your organization, and how did you overcome them? This will be my first semester as president of SHPE because past officers have graduated over the years. I did not want the chapter to disappear in my final year of college, so I decided to stand up and form a new e-board to keep this organization going.

Q: What is your favorite SHPE event? My favorite SHPE event has always been the national conference that happens every fall. It gives us an opportunity to connect with other SHPE members from all over the US, put our names out there with different companies, have workshops with employers, and most importantly, it provides networking opportunities.

Q: What is the best advice you have for future UA College of Engineering and Polymer Science students? Get to know your professors. Go to their office hours no matter what. They like to see the interest you show in the class and they will not hesitate to help you succeed. Strike a balance between life outside of school and responsibilities. Taking care of yourself first is more important than grades and passing a class. It will not be the end of the world. Explore the different organizations that are on campus based on your career path or interests. It is always good to experience other things outside of classes. And lastly, enjoy this time of your life. It may seem like it is rough, and it will be, but you will only be this young once so enjoy meeting new friends, forming lifelong friendships, building connections and having fun.

Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at UA? Do not be afraid to ask for help. We do not always have to know everything and we are here to learn. Get all the support you need. The University offers tutoring, scholarships, mentors and everything you need they have it. Take advantage of it.

Q: What career aspirations do you have following your time at UA? After getting my biomedical engineering degree at UA, I plan to attend The Ohio State University for the kinesiology master's program.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Q: Texting or Talking? I prefer to talk because it is easier to communicate with others.

Q: Instagram or TikTok? Instagram

Q: Favorite day of the week? Friday!!

Q: Best place in Akron to grab a bite? Diamond Deli will forever be my favorite.

Q: Favorite show to binge-watch? Grey's Anatomy or Revenge.

Q: Fun Fact? I am fluent in both Spanish and English!

Story by CEPS Marketing.

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.