HISPA Marks NJ STEM Month with Back-to-Back Youth Conferences at Montclair State and Rider
PRINCETON, New Jersey – March in New Jersey marks NJ STEM Month, a time dedicated to science, innovation, and imagination, where young students begin to see themselves as future engineers, scientists, and leaders. To celebrate the season, HISPA convened two powerful Youth Conferences that turned college campuses into launchpads for ambition.
HISPA—a nonprofit organization inspiring youth to pursue education and high-skill careers, particularly in STEM—hosted a Youth Conference at Montclair State University on March 9, 2026. Themed “Take Action! Achieve Your Dreams,” the day-long event brought together 102 students from Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering and Mario J. Drago School in Passaic, NJ, alongside STEM professionals from nearby businesses, offering a first-hand glimpse into college life and future careers.
The conference was co-sponsored by the Office for Hispanic Initiatives at Montclair State University and co-hosted by Prudential Financial, with additional funding provided by the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network via the Overdeck Family Foundation.
Hands-on STEM career exploration workshops formed the heart of the day. Professionals from Citi, Merck, Prudential, and Verizon led interactive sessions that transformed abstract concepts into tangible experiences—from financial planning to scientific experimentation and stock market simulations. PSEG volunteers further supported the event, reinforcing a shared commitment to STEM discovery.
Beyond workshops, the event included a candid college panel discussion, sharing insight into the transition from high school to higher education. Voices from industry and academia—including Capt. Roy Love of Association of Naval Services Officers, Keever Alvarez Avalos of Prudential Financial, Dr. Katia Paz Goldfarb of the Office for Hispanic Initiatives—offered encouragement as the day began. Students also enjoyed an inspirational address by Gian Paul Gonzalez. A musical performance by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey closed the event, leaving students energized, inspired, and ready to envision futures once thought out of reach.
Just nine days later, on March 18, HISPA carried that momentum forward to Rider University (above). Hosted on the campus of Rider’s Norm Brodsky College of Business, the conference welcomed 136 middle school students from Juan Pablo Duarte-José Julián Martí School and Christopher Columbus School in Elizabeth, NJ, many of whom were stepping onto a college campus for the very first time.
Co-sponsored by Rider University’s Norm Brodsky College of Business and The Center for Community + Belonging, and co-hosted by Bristol Myers Squibb, the event reflected a powerful alignment between higher education and industry leaders committed to building STEM pathways from middle school to college and careers.
Students participated in dynamic, hands-on STEM workshops led by professionals from Bank of America, Bloomberg, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer School of Science (below). In classrooms transformed into innovation hubs, students explored everything from financial systems to scientific discovery, guided by professionals who reflected the very futures students are beginning to imagine. Rider’s Bonner Scholars added another layer to volunteerism, as these volunteers bridged the gap between aspiration and lived college experience.
HISPA Leaders in College alumnus Zachary Fernandez, now an Internal Audit Associate at JP Morgan, opened the day, followed by words from Dr. Gene Kutcher, Dean of the Norm Brodsky College of Business, and Joana Pirela de De Gregorio of Rider University. They all reinforced a central message: college is not only possible, but a place where HISPA students belong.
At the heart of the day was a keynote address by Gloria Fuentes, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Bristol Myers Squibb. Her story—rooted in perseverance, leadership, and navigating spaces where representation has not always been guaranteed—offered students a powerful blueprint for success.
A highlight of the conference was the college student panel, “Life After High School,” which provided an unfiltered look at the challenges and triumphs of college life, demystifying the path forward and making it feel within reach (below).
Across both campuses, HISPA’s Youth Conferences did more than celebrate STEM Month—they embodied it. In classrooms, lecture halls, and laboratories, students encountered not just information, but inspiration. And perhaps most importantly, they saw themselves reflected in the professionals, mentors, and leaders guiding them forward.
Because for many of these students, the most important discovery of the day was not found in a textbook or a lab experiment: it was the realization that their dreams are not only valid, but achievable.
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by its 2025-26 Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Bloomberg, Bristol Myers Squibb, the Delta Dental Foundation, and Merck, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Citi, the LSEG Foundation, Prudential Financial, and Visa. HISPA is a UnidosUS affiliate.
