Society Of Hispanic Professional Engineers Returns To MDC After Three-Year Hiatus
After enrolling in Hialeah Campus’ computer science program last semester, Alex Arguelles wanted to join a technology club.
In January, Arguelles and three of his friends revived the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers—a college-wide organization based at Hialeah Campus that promotes diversity in STEM fields.
The organization, which had been dormant since 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions and the death of the chapter’s president Kristina Spalding, now boasts more than 50 members.
“Our main mission is to empower the Hispanic community to its fullest potential and impact through STEM awareness, support and development,” said Arguelles, who serves as president of the organization.
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers is a national organization started by a group of engineers working for the city of Los Angeles in 1974. Its goal was to establish a community of engineers that serve as role models for the Hispanic community.
At Miami Dade College, SHPE provides professional development workshops, coding mentorship and financial assistance to attend coding events.
Meetings are held twice a month at the Hialeah Campus library from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Members can also join virtually.
Topics have included artificial intelligence and property engineering. In the future, the organization hopes to host lectures on cybersecurity, blockchain technology and quantum computing.
“I have been enjoying the experience because everyone is so polite and informative,” said Johanna Marie Nickas, a second-year computer programming and analysis major who joined SHPE this semester. “We are learning about ChatGPT and how we can use it to our advantage in the workforce.”
On Tuesday’s, the organization hosts hour-long workshops to train students for job interviews. The chapter also provides active members with funding to attend events such as Hackabull—a 24-hour hackathon held annually in March at the University of South Florida.
“I’m stoked about the workshops and meeting new people in every event,” said Emilio Laurenti, a first-year computer science student who serves as president of external affairs for the SHPE chapter at Hialeah.
Laurenti focuses on recruiting new members and forming partnerships with organizations such as CodePath—an online platform that offers free online coding courses. He also connects with national organizations like the National Security Agency and tech companies like Microsoft to secure internship opportunities for the chapter’s members.
To expand outreach efforts, the organization has presented at high schools in Hialeah and Hialeah Gardens to encourage prospective MDC students to join the society.
Students interested in joining the organization can go to the organization’s SharkNet page at https://bit.ly/3TQKQha. Applicants are not required to be a STEM major.
“SHPE is more than just an organization,” said Rodolfo Cruz, the advisor of the chapter at Hialeah Campus. “It’s a vibrant, supportive community that brings together students, professionals, and industry leaders in the STEM fields.”
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