Inspiring Hispanic students through SHPE’s Virtual STEM Lab

Photo courtesy of Deanna Drako, Manager, Research & Impact, SHPE

By Mariana Acuña Delgado, Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

Early exposure to STEM degrees and careers is crucial for increasing the likelihood of students choosing STEM as their academic and professional path. At SHPE, our mission is to connect students to the endless possibilities STEM fields can offer, while ensuring that no matter where they are in their academic journey, they have the tools and resources necessary to succeed.

One of our key initiatives is SHPE’s Virtual STEM Lab, which provides K-12 students with a variety of hands-on experiences designed to ignite their passion for STEM. This program is especially important for Hispanic students because it provides role models that guide and support them as they navigate their way through their STEM activity.

SHPE’s Virtual STEM Labs are designed to inspire the next generation of Hispanic leaders in STEM, creating opportunities that empower students to see themselves in the field. By blending Hispanic culture with STEM, we’re ensuring students not only feel seen but are also equipped to thrive with culturally relevant experiential learning. 

Most recently, SHPE celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with four Virtual STEM Labs hosting 2,388 participants. Each session focused on cultural cornerstones of the Hispanic heritage, weaving STEM exploration with the richness of Hispanic traditions.

Week 1: Family and Role Models  

Featured SHPE member, Jay Flores and his "It's Not Magic, It's Science!" workshop. Students participated in exciting science experiments, fostering a sense of curiosity while celebrating the importance of family and role models within the Hispanic community.

Week 2: Traditions 

Focused on Hispanic traditions, including the art of piñata-making and Día de los Muertos celebrations. Using science crates, students crafted paper bowls, created candles, and luminaries for an ofrenda, merging cultural traditions with STEM concepts.

Week 3: Food 

Food brings people together and week 3, students learned about the science behind some iconic Hispanic dishes. SHPE’s Research & Impact Manager, Dr. Ana Rodriguez, led students in making Puerto Rican Corned Beef, while students used science crates for hands-on bread and butter-making activities, teaching the chemistry of food science.

Week 4: Music 

Celebrated Hispanic music, where students had the opportunity to explore various genres of music while building wind chimes, light-up speakers, and DIY headphones with science crates. This fusion of sound, culture, and engineering highlighted the intersection of creativity and STEM.

The success of SHPE’s Virtual STEM Labs is rooted in the trust of our community, families, and partners, who enable us to bring these transformative opportunities into students' homes. Thanks to our dedicated partners and sponsors during Hispanic Heritage Month —3M, Bechtel, and Ramboll—we proudly celebrate and uplift Hispanic students on their paths to STEM careers, offering them the early exposure and encouragement essential for future success.