College of Engineering News Room

USF's Unstoppable SHPE

USF's Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers is the largest student organization or professional society at USF. Nationally, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is a nonprofit organization whose primary function is to increase and achieve the development of Hispanic students in engineering, mathematics, science, and other technical professions. 

Today and over the years, the core values of SHPE (Familia, Resilience, Service, and Education) have been embodied in the impactful activities of the USF chapter and, more importantly, by its leadership known as the Executive Boards (E-Board).

According to Amy Chu Ramos, a chemical engineering undergraduate and 2022-2023 USF SHPE Chapter President, one critical aspect of SHPE's success is the organization's ability to nurture first-year members and encourage them to take on leadership roles, which later proves helpful during graduation transitions. 

"Our leadership team is passionate about our "familia" and eager to take on the challenge of providing the same space for the next generation," said Ramos. 

She stated, "the current leadership team comprises of ten incredible Executive Board members and over 30 committee directors. Every week, we put in multiple hours of work to ensure our schedule is carried out as planned and our members receive as much help as possible."

Other student members echo that SHPE's ability to maintain momentum is rooted in their connection with new members, driven partly by its MentorSHPE program, where new members receive peer guidance from upper-level students.

"We try to build that sense of familia early on, with incoming first-year students and new members, so they feel like they belong, and that way, they will do the same when they are seniors. Also, each year after the new board elections, we put a lot of effort into making the transitions between the old and new board," said Maria Gabriela Dominguez, a biomedical engineering major.

The organization's resilience was evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by their E-Board, The chapter continued to grow despite the challenges they faced, from pivoting to online and then the transition to in-person last year. 

This year, SHPE USF is pressing forward with service and education activities. The chapter organized a Noche de Ciencias, or "Night of Science," on the USF campus in October. The event featured Hispanic professionals in STEM from companies such as Xerox, TECO Energy, engineering faculty, local alums and students. Along with workshops on college applications, securing financial aid and hands-on STEM activities for K–12 students and their parents.

More recently, SHPE USF traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, in November for the SHPE national convention. Over 10,000 attended a multi-day experience filled with educational workshops, inspiring keynote speeches, competitions, networking events and a career fair. Annually, USF has one of the largest student delegations in attendance at this national meeting.

"I learned about so many diverse companies where I could apply my industrial engineering background, along with becoming more confident in my interview skills and professional self," said Jasmine Rodriquez, an industrial engineering major.

Over 300 companies, governmental agencies, and graduate schools such as Amazon, Boeing, Honeywell, Google, Cummins, Lockheed Martin, Johnson and Johnson, Georgia Tech, MIT, Johns Hopkins, US Department of State, and others exhibited during this year's conference and educated students about potential full-time employment co-op, internship, and graduate school opportunities. 

Looking forward to 2023, SHPE USF plans on maintaining momentum in its membership growth and external engagement. 

"We have a myriad of events we hope will keep students engaged within the organization as the recruitment-heavy months slow down. One of our biggest goals is to grow our relationships with other university chapters," said Ramos.

SHPE will again host Hackabull, USF's only hackathon. A 24-hour event with programming, professional and technical activities, and sponsored events/workshops held annually during the Spring. Last year, Hackabull welcomed more than 150 students from throughout Florida to USF. 

To stay updated on the chapter's activities visit their website, LinkedIn or Instagram where they routinely post general body meetings, organizational activities and contact information.