Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse Honored with the Women of Achievement Award by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance On June 25, 2025, HISPA’s CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, was honored with the Women of Achievement Award by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Women in Business Alliance. Since its inception in 2013, this prestigious […]
Bridging Dreams and STEM: HISPA Inspires the Next Generation at Princeton University June 6, 2025 – Princeton, NJ On June 6, 2025, over 80 8th-grade students from Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27 and Christopher Columbus School No. 15 in Elizabeth, NJ, as well as PACE Charter School in Hamilton, NJ, stepped foot onto […]
April 2, 2025 – 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 26, 2025, celebrating New Jersey STEM Month. Themed “Take Action! Achieve Your Dreams,” the day-long event united more than 100 middle school students from Christopher Columbus School in Elizabeth, Herbert Hoover Middle School in Edison, and Mario J. Drago School in Passaic, NJ, with STEM professionals from nearby businesses, allowing students to explore college life and STEM studies.
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 PSEG, the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network, and the Overdeck Family Foundation.
“Research shows that students from low-income communities often have less access to role models in STEM careers, which limits their awareness of and aspirations to pursue these fields,” said Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, founder and CEO of HISPA. “HISPA’s Youth Conferences help bridge this gap by connecting students with relatable role models from STEM-focused companies.”
Hands-on STEM career exploration workshops are central to HISPA’s Youth Conferences. Led by professionals from Prudential, PSEG, Crum & Forster, Verizon, and Merck, the interactive workshops demonstrated STEM’s real-world applications, such as financial planning, scientific experimentation, and engineering challenges, stoking excitement and curiosity about STEM careers.
In addition to STEM workshops, middle schoolers learned about transitioning from high school to higher education through a Q&A panel with college students from Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Passaic County Community College (PCCC). Attending students were also joined by future educators from PCCC for mentorship and problem-solving activities.
Throughout the day, students heard inspirational remarks from industry leaders, including Nick Fuentes of Medable, Johana Valencia-Duque from Prudential Financial, and Dr. Katia Paz Goldfarb from the Office for Hispanic Initiatives at Montclair State University. They also attended a motivational address delivered by Dr. Michelle Hernandez, Merck’s Director of Occupational Toxicology. Musical performances from The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey ended the day on an upbeat note. Students left inspired and equipped with the knowledge and motivation to make their STEM dreams a reality.
“Exposure to STEM role models is proven to boost students’ interest in pursuing STEM education,” said Dr. Díaz-Claisse. “We are proud to host an event during New Jersey STEM Month that provides students with the role models and experiences they need to envision a future in STEM.”
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation, and the PSEG Foundation, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Citi, ETS, Prudential, and Visa. HISPA is a UnidosUS Affiliate.
To view photos from the event, please visit our Flickr.
For more information about HISPA and its Youth Conferences, please visit www.hispa.org.
Non-profit organization HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its Three Kings Banquet, an annual celebration recognizing those who have gone above and beyond to inspire and support Latino youth to realize their potential and ability to succeed in education, on January 16, 2025, at Pines Manor in Edison, NJ, and January 23, […]
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Inspiring Hispanic Youth
Pennington, NJ – On October 3, 2024, HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its annual Role Model Program Kick-Off and Recruiting Event at Bank of America. Themed “Pioneers of Change: Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” this event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and unites Latino professionals dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders by sharing their personal stories of success and perseverance.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps and fulfill their academic and professional potential. Since 2007, HISPA’s programs have reached over 27,000 students in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, with welcoming remarks from Alberto Garofalo, President of Bank of America New Jersey and Head of Global Corporate Security and Executive Protection.
HISPA’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, will then speak on the theme of “Pioneers of Change,” spotlighting HISPA’s ongoing efforts to use the power of sharing our stories to inspire Latino youth and empower our communities.
Attendees will then hear a testimonial from Miguel Hernandez-Delgado, a The College of New Jersey student and alumnus of the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program.
The event will also feature a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” moderated by HISPA Board of Directors member Roy Love. Panelists, who will speak on what they believe is the number one attribute of being a “Pioneer of Change” in the Latino community, include:
- Kevin C. Hudson, Associate Director for Institutional Diversity and College Opportunity, Office of the Provost, Princeton University
- Dorca Gilbertson, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Client Manager, Merrill Lynch and Investment Solutions Group
- Lorena Kuri, Global PBRG Lead OLA (Organization for Latino Achievement), Bristol Myers Squibb
- Ismael Nibot, CIMA®, Talent Acquisition Partner, Community Co-chair, Prudential Financial
Lauren Mugavero, CIMA®, Managing Director, Head of Investment Advisory Specialists at Bank of America, will close the evening by calling the audience to support HISPA’s mission as role models and inspire the next generation of Latino leaders by sharing their own stories. Guests are then welcome to enjoy networking and refreshments, offering an opportunity for attendees to connect, engage, and explore ways to get involved in HISPA’s efforts.
Join us on October 3 and help shape the future of Latino youth! Visit https://hispakickoff.org/ to register.
HISPA is proud to acknowledge its 2024-25 Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation , and PSEG, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol Myers Squibb, ETS, Prudential Financial, and Visa.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Inspiring Hispanic Youth
Miami, FL – On September 19, 2024, HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) will host its annual Role Model Program Kick-Off and Recruiting Event at the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School. Themed “Pioneers of Change: Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” this event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and unites Latino professionals dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders by sharing their personal stories of success and perseverance.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps and fulfill their academic and professional potential. Since 2007, HISPA’s programs have reached over 27,000 students in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
HISPA mobilizes Latino and other professionals, as well as allies, in high-skill careers to serve as Role Models to primarily low-income Latino youth. In this role, they present their stories in schools, corporate offices, and college campuses to inspire students to follow in their footsteps.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time, with welcoming remarks from Roger Barascout out, Associate Dean of Administration & Chief of Staff at University of Miami Herbert Business School, and Monica Diaz of HISPA’s Board of Directors.
HISPA’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, will then speak on the theme of “Pioneers of Change,” spotlighting HISPA’s ongoing efforts to use the power of sharing our stories to inspire Latino youth and empower our communities.
Attendees will also hear from two prominent inspirational speakers: Eli Velazquez, Executive Vice President of Sports at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, and Samuel Garcia Jr., Ph.D., Education Professional Development Specialist and Project Coordinator at NASA Kennedy Space Center. These influential leaders will share their experiences and insights, demonstrating the transformative impact of role models and leadership within the Hispanic community.
The event will also feature a panel discussion, “Sharing Our Stories, Shaping the Future,” moderated by HISPA Board of Directors member Rene Herrera (Amazon). Panelists, who will speak on what they believe is the number one attribute of being a “Pioneer of Change” in the Latino community, include:
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Angelica Santibanez, Head of Community Engagement – FL, Amazon
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Laura Pozo, Senior Vice President; Process Design Manager, Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America
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Amaury Genao, Community, Citizenship & Sustainability Manager, Turner Construction Company
Andres Polo, of Visa and HISPA’s Board of Directors, will close the evening, calling the audience to support HISPA’s mission as role models and inspire the next generation of Latino leaders by sharing their own stories. Guests are then welcome to enjoy networking and refreshments, offering an opportunity for attendees to connect, engage, and explore ways to get involved in HISPA’s efforts.
Join us on September 19 and help shape the future of Latino youth! Visit https://hispakickoff.org/ to register.
HISPA is proud to acknowledge its 2024-25 Florida funders, whose generous support is instrumental in expanding HISPA’s impact across the state: Amazon, Visa, and Turner Construction Company .
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Founding Partner Verizon, Co-founding Partners and Supporters Merck, Bloomberg, the Delta Dental Foundation, and PSEG, and Annual Partners Amazon, Bank of America, Bristol Myers Squibb, ETS, Prudential Financial, and Visa.
HISPA was featured in AMERICANO Newspaper for its recent Youth Conferences at Princeton University and AT&T, which inspired future Latino leaders. You can read the article here. You may also view it in its entirety below. HISPA Inspires Future Latino Leaders with Dynamic Youth Conferences at Princeton University and AT&T HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ […]
Dear partners and volunteers of HISPA’s 2024 Youth Conference at Montclair State University, We did it! HISPA’s first Youth Conference at Montclair State University was a great success because of your hard work and dedication. With the support of more than 40 volunteers, we delivered inspiration and information to nearly 150 students. We could not […]
HISPA Hosts Youth Conference at Montclair State University to Empower Latino Middle School Students Passaic, New Jersey — March 27, 2024 — HISPA, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Latino youth through education, hosted its first-ever Youth Conference at Montclair State University yesterday, March 26th. The event, co-hosted by Montclair State University’s Office […]
HISPA, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic youth, is thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s prestigious Three Kings Banquet. This fundraising and awards event, which will take place in New Jersey and Florida on January 18 and 25, respectively, will celebrate the achievements of outstanding individuals and organizations and mark a significant […]