HISPA NYC Youth Conference Postponed
In an abundance of caution and in the interest of protecting the health and safety of our students, teachers, volunteers, and their families, HISPA will be postponing its New York City Youth Conference at Columbia University, previously scheduled for March 13, 2020. This decision was made with the input of HISPA’s Board of Directors in light of increasing real and perceived public health concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
We carefully considered many factors in making this decision. After closely monitoring the situation, heeding the cautions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and learning that multiple partners are exercising non-essential travel restrictions, we decided to postpone this event indefinitely.
HISPA strives to improve the lives of our students, and nothing brings us greater joy than providing them valuable learning opportunities. However, we feel that this proactive measure is in the best interest of everyone involved.
We appreciate all the energy and hard work everyone put into planning and preparing for this event. Thank you to our hosts—Columbia, SHPE and Brandon Cuevas—and event sponsors Bristol-Myers Squibb, Verizon, and Refinitiv. We are also grateful to our workshop providers: AT&T, UPS, Columbia University SHPE, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Verizon, and Refinitiv.
This wasn’t an easy decision, and we thank everyone for their understanding.
Respectfully,
HISPA Team
2020 Three Kings Banquet: Thank You & Photos
Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the Three Kings Banquet! It was our largest banquet yet, and we were so pleased to spend it with so many friends, volunteers, and supporters.
HISPA unveiled its new mission statement last night:
HISPA inspires Latino students to discover their potential and ignites their desire to embrace education and achieve success.
And as I said last night, this academic year HISPA will surpass 1,500 Role Model Program school visits, impacting more than 15,000 students. We are able to accomplish this, we are able to lead students to discover their own greatness and potential,
because so many organizations have joined forces with us and with each other to eradicate the lack of role models in the lives of our students.
Last night demonstrated the power of what happens when people come together. We hope even more will join us as we enter 2020 and begin this new decade.
You may view photos of this event at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/76356429@N02/albums/72157712796215628
Dear HISPA Role Models, Youth Conference volunteers and partners:
The HISPA team and Board of Directors would like to thank you for making the 2019 HISPA Youth Conference at Princeton University—our 28th conference to date—an extraordinary success for students and volunteers! This year, HISPA and 92 dedicated volunteers welcomed 149 students from Elizabeth, Hamilton, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Summit and Trenton. Together, we were able to provide these students engaging workshops and encouraging speakers, including the State of New Jersey’s Center for Hispanic Policy Research and Development’s (CHPRD) and the NJ Governor’s Hispanic Fellows. A special recognition and thank you to the CHPRD team: Sara Peña, Maria Miranda and Luisa Soto.
We would like to express our gratitude for your collaboration, time, effort, and support before the conference and throughout the day.
We begin by thanking our co-sponsor, Princeton University’s Office of Human Resources, for having us once again and for supporting all event premises and logistics. Thank you to Clara Stillwagon for offering welcoming remarks and representing Princeton’s HR team. We thank Ivette Martinez-Rivera for her support and motivation to continue powering such an amazing event, as well as Sally J. Buchanan for working hand-in-hand with Ivette in planning, scheduling, and answering all inquiries leading up to the event. Thanks to Vincent Stanley for leading logistical arrangements, setting up and sorting out all needs as they arose with a great calm and initiative. To Dan Walker and Calvin for on-site support at Frist Campus Center and providing top of the line technology and support throughout the day. And to Brenda Wood and the Campus Dining & Catering team for making sure all attendees were well taken care of with great service.
Thank you to our keynote speakers Dr. Dan-El Padilla Peralta for sharing his personal story and being a brilliant example of perseverance and success, and Minué Yoshida for her wonderful interactive presentation. We also thank Arturo Dominguez, Shannon Swilley Greco and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory volunteers for enthusiastically leading students through such an engaging workshop.
From the Graduate School at Princeton University, we thank Dr. Vanessa Gonzalez-Perez for sharing her story and experiences and for working alongside Joel Boggess to co-host lunch and arrange the educational and informative session and panel for the ‘Latinos in College’ track.
Thanks to the Office Provost for hosting the HISPA Role Models Networking Reception and for providing food and refreshments to the Latinos in College track volunteers and students. Thank you to Kevin Hudson for offering closing remarks and to Michele Minter for her continual support. We also thank the Princeton faculty, staff and Latino Princetonians who participated in the conference as partners and volunteers, led by Damaris Zayas and supported by Denise Valenti and Maria Sofia Delmastro. We are immensely grateful to have such a network of support from the Princeton community!
Thank you to Lead Sponsor Merck and MHO for providing a workshop for students and donating giveaway items. We were proud to have such an inspirational leader and role model Danila Giacone to plan, coordinate and lead the Merck workshop as well as assemble, coordinate and prepare the Merck volunteers: Brenda Valle Colon, Francisco Martinez, Michael Conuel, Patricia Jimenez, Maribel Cordero, Corina Norma Funez, Sandra Bautista Cid, Alan Bautista Cid, Jesus Guzman Vale and Eduardo Perez. Thank you to Itzia Arroyo for her support and great energy and as always to Alex Ibanez for being a liaison, amazing leader of the Merck team, and champion for all our programs.
Thank you to Lead Sponsors Novartis and Wells Fargo. Thank you to Sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb and those from OLA for their assistance setting up the conference and engaging students in STEM during your hands-on workshop. To workshop leader Tony Rodriguez and volunteers Sandra Re, Elvira Bruscke, Alma Plasencia, Jairo Torres, Consuelo Ramos, Marcelo Couto, Leticia Ferri, Tulio Teixeira, Radha Ramakrishnan, Nicolas Fuentes, Claudia Generaux, Matteo Couto Frignani and Rafael Vega. Special thanks to Diana Gabriel and Kristina Gabriel for leading and coordinating workshop presenters and volunteer logistics throughout the day.
Thank you to Sponsor ETS. A special thanks to Damaris Garcia, who year after year plays a leading role in coordinating volunteers, registration tables, and event schedule. To Ruth Nicolai for the great partnership and wonderful donation of giveaway items. To Harry L. Davis for delivering all items to the conference premises. To President and CEO Walt MacDonald for his continuous support. To Lenora Green for her year-round guidance and championship; to Terri Flowers for her hands-on support during event planning and execution. Thanks to Diego Zapata-Rivera, René Lawless, Blair Lehman, Malcolm Bauer, Ian Blood, Florencia Tolentino and Kunle Babatunde for leading the ETS workshop with such positive energy and enthusiasm; and to Robert Finnegan, who made sure all the pieces were set and in place. Thank you to Rita Nini, Maria Hazell and Sylvia Ledesma for recruiting volunteers and preparing the giveaways with the support of Kathleen Bucchi, Maria Giraldo, Debra Gonzales, Kitara Washington, Nancy Waters and Erica Sokol.
Thank you to Sponsor PSEG and Adelante for their powerful participation. To Jorge L. Cardenas for serving as Master of Ceremonies and leading the morning session. And to the Adelante team for preparing two outstanding workshops for the students under the leadership of Fatima Calcado, Jennyfer Guerrero, Alanzo White and Antonio Fernandez, with the support of Tony Suppa, Utsav Khandelwal, Carmen Wiggins, Bianca Reyes and Marisol Ramirez.
We thank Collaborator Comcast for their financial support and a heartfelt thank you to Kimberly Smith for her championship of HISPA’s mission.
We thank Collaborators UPS and Crecer for supporting, planning and executing the morning hands-on activity: Steve Cox, Reynier Herrera, Adriana Wilson, Julio Minaya, Carlos Muñoz, Laralisa Hovland, Miriam Arocho and Brian Madden. And to Viviana Encarnacion, who ensured UPS presence by donating giveaways and coordinating UPS volunteers. The HISPA Role Models and Students Networking Session was an energizing start to the day and your support made it possible! Special thanks to Axel Carrion for sharing his expertise and passion during the Lessons in Career and Leadership panel for our university students.
We also thank Verizon and commend Nelson Caballero and Odiles Cardines for their leadership and great work throughout the year. Thank you to Ivan Berg for donating conference goodie items. Thank you for leading your workshop with the support of Alizanette Rodriguez, Ana G. Lua, Susana J. Corona, Karen Sebastian, Victor J. Romo-Aledo, Margaret Jasul Vazquez, Sameer M Melwani, Kelsi Stephanie Morrison, Michael Mallotides, Angeline Lopez, Jeffrey Torres, Michael Black, Stephanie Marie Black, Laura Colon, Leoncio Gomez and Portia Stewart.
Thanks to AT&T for their support as the co-hosts of the Latinos in College track, as well as for the volunteerism of the AT&T Aspire, oxyGEN and HACEMOS teams, particularly the workshop presentation led by and Christine Liu, Karla Kimble, Raymond Hu, Jason Swatsworth, Phillip Cunningham, and Pedro Mirabal. To Mayra Caceres whose constant passion allowed her to lead the HISPA Youth Conference and Latinos in College track with such grace. And to Celeste Carrasco for serving as Master of Ceremonies during the Latinos in College track morning session and for leading the panel to empower our college students and Fellows.
To Claudia Vasquez from Prudential and SOMOS for her leadership and support of tasks throughout the day as well as for being part of the panel for the college students and Fellows.
Thank you to the NJ Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program alumni: Michelle Perez for being part of the panel and inspiring us with your story, Dania Arias for her powerful opening remarks, and Nick Fuentes for assisting us throughout the day. Thanks to Jonathan Cabrera for his unique poetry presentation; you are an outstanding artist and students were moved by your inspirational work and performance.
Thanks to our inspirational speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez for such a dynamic and motivational story and for serving as a fantastic role model for everyone from Super Bowl stars to our superstar students.
Thanks to all those who joined us; who supported the distribution of materials, hands-on projects, lunch, tours; those who shared their stories as role models; and everyone who supported any aspect of the conference throughout the day. Thank you to the volunteers who put on their hat as HISPA team members–Henry Claisse, Emma Claisse, Misha Meyer, Madelyn Fink and Alyssa Tarantino–for working closely with us to put together a memorable day for students.
Thanks to Robert Figueroa for spending the day with us photographing the event and, as always, beautifully capturing the entire day’s programming. To view and download photos from the event, please visit this link
As always, special thanks to our 2018-2019 Annual Partners: Verizon Foundation (Co-founding), Educational Testing Service, the PSEG Foundation, Visa, and Southwest Airlines, HISPA’s official airline partner, and Annual Supporters, Merck and Wells Fargo.
Thank you to EVERYONE who joined forces with us to SHARE, INSPIRE and TRANSFORM! We look forward to working with you again at future events.
Muy agradecidos!
Ivonne, Mauricio and the HISPA Team
Thank You for Making our Dream Come True!
Dear HISPA Role Models, Youth Conference volunteers and partners:
The HISPA team and Board of Directors would like to thank you for making HISPA’s first Youth Conference at Rutgers University–Camden—our 26th Youth Conference to date—an extraordinary day for students and volunteers alike! This year, 70 volunteers welcomed 128 young scholars from Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton to experience a diverse array of speakers and workshops. The conference was a dream come true for HISPA, which has worked for years to increase our presence in Camden—and YOU were the engine to make it happen! Gracias!
We would like to express our gratitude for your time, effort, and support before the conference and throughout the day.
We begin by thanking our hosts, Rutgers University–Camden and Educational Testing Service (ETS), for opening their doors to us and providing the support needed to make the entire day possible. It was a pleasure to work with you both in all aspects of event planning, including outlining event logistics and securing speakers, workshop presenters and giveaway items.
To ETS, our sincerest thanks to Walt MacDonald for envisioning a Youth Conference at Rutgers, to Lenora Green for championing his vision, and to the Center for Advocacy and Philanthropy (CAAP) team for making this vision a reality; your inspiration, guidance, and commitment brought this remarkable experience to life for students and volunteers alike. Thank you to Terri Flowers for representing ETS by sharing her kind remarks with all attendees and for supporting the planning and execution of the event, as well as to Nate Santana who, after years as a HISPA Role Model, served as master of ceremonies. Thank you to Susan Mains for her continuous warmth and willingness to achieve the successful communications necessary to a successful conference. To Ruth Nicolai for providing giveaway items for students, teachers and volunteers. To Maria Hazell for coordinating ETS professionals to assemble all giveaway bags and prepare volunteers for event support throughout the day. To Diego Zapata-Rivera, Alexis A. Lopez, Blair Lehman, Irvin R. Katz, Beata Beigman Klebanov, and Malcolm Bauer for so thoughtfully planning a truly engaging workshop for students; to Florencia Tolentino, Jimmy Bruno and Jennifer Lentini for supporting this workshop; and to René R. Lawless for supporting logistical planning and preparing the team. Thanks to Rita Nini and Kitara Washington for leading the volunteers’ efforts at Rutgers and making sure every detail was attended to throughout the day. A special thanks to Damaris Garcia who, conference after conference, brings her expertise, leadership and boundless support throughout the planning and execution of all tasks leading up to and on the day of the event.
To Rutgers, thank you to Nyeema C.Watson for her direction and vision and for welcoming a HISPA and ETS initiative onto Rutgers University–Camden campus. To Provost Michael Palis and Chancellor Phoebe A. Haddon for their support and sharing their words of optimism with our attendees on behalf of Rutgers University. Thank you to Vice Chancellor Jason Rivera for leading the informative college student panel, as well as to the students whose experiences illuminated the many paths to college: Alma Aparicio, Javier Castro, Kimberly Flores, Kelly Medina, Monserrath Mendoza-Martinez from Rutgers–Camden and to Adrian Armendariz and Javier Becerrathe of the University of Pennsylvania SHPE Chapter. Thanks to Professor Joseph V. Martin and Q-STEP’s Veronica Rosselli, Trisha Trinidad, Emily McDermott, Harjit Khaira and Nidhi Baxi for delivering the Rutgers–Camden workshop, introducing young minds to neuroscience. We also want to highlight PJ Craig, Kristin Walker and Christina King for working hand-in-hand with HISPA in planning, scheduling, and leading logistical arrangements, as well as setting up for and sorting out all needs as they arose with great calm and initiative. Thanks to Ashley Dolce for assuring all transportation and parking arrangements ran as expected and to Michael Sepanic for his support with communications and branding. Finally, a special thank you to Christian and Ria for helping in the early morning and to David Tran for leading technology support throughout the day with patience and positive energy.
Thank you to Mayor of Camden Francisco Moran for welcoming students to your city’s Youth Conference and supporting educational institutions to power such initiatives for their students. Thank you to Senator Nilsa Perez-Cruz for her empowering speech, embodying for students the meaning of words like leadership and goal-seeking.
Thank you to our Lead Sponsor Wells Fargo not only for your financial support but also for providing a financial literacy workshop for students—a lesson we believe is of critical importance to their futures. We were proud to have Wanda L. Saez, an inspirational Latina leader dedicated to her community, leading this workshop alongside with Ivette Sanchez. We are immensely grateful to have a network of support from the Wells Fargo community!
We thank Sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb and OLA. Thanks to Diana Gabriel and Tony Rodriguez for their care and commitment to preparing such a life-like workshop for students and introducing them to the possibilities of futures in STEM. And to the BMS workshop supporters: Jairo Torres, Connie Ramos, Janet Serrano Miranda, Johara Rivera and long-time HISPA Role Model Claudia Corredor.
We also thank our Sponsor Merck and MHO. We are grateful for the leadership of Alex Ibanez and for her guidance in putting together the teams within the MHO workshop. Thanks to keynote speaker Carlos Santiago, who shared how to achieve one’s dreams through perseverance and pursuing passion. To long-time HISPA Role Model Itzia Arroyo for helping with all the giveaway donations and event efforts throughout the day, as well as for planning and leading the creative and intriguing chemiluminescence workshop with Danila Giacone. To Merck workshop leaders Alan Goggins and Dominick Panzera, as well as to all the Merck volunteers: Sandra Bautista, Manny E. Garcia, Victoria Gemignani, Adolfo Pertuz, Salvador Espinosa, Zaida Colon and Cristina Aldana. Lastly, thanks to Frank de los Reyes for his reception remarks and for his long-time commitment to a Merck-HISPA partnership.
To Kyara and Valeria Torres-Olivares of Code Equal for their fresh and thoughtfully created workshop, and to Oscar Torres and Veronica Olivares for their support in the planning and execution of this workshop.
Thanks to our inspirational speakers: to Iris Delgado for sharing her dynamic and motivational story, serving as a fantastic role model for everyone. To Carlos Ojeda Jr. who year after year shows our students that knowledge is power and that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to with the power of their voices.
Thanks to Congreso de Latinos Unidos for their partnership and for enabling Philadelphia’s students to participate in the day, as well as to the support of Ashley Chambers, Melitza Iglesias and Christina Tanon for securing and managing all necessary details for students to join us.
A special thank you Liz Veliz who, as part of the HISPA family, serves graciously as lead volunteer in several of our events throughout the year. We are always grateful for and proud of Gabriela Monje, who has grown from a student of HISPA programs to now supporting us with school invitations and task support. And thank you to Henry Claisse and Jo-Ann Diaz from RPI for supporting workshops with their leadership and expertise in addition to assisting in organizing and setting up for the conference.
Thanks to Robert Figueroa for spending the day with us photographing the event and, as always, beautifully capturing the entire day’s programming. To view and download photos from the event, please visit our Flickr.
Finally, thanks to all those who joined us, as well as to those we may have missed: those who supported the distribution of materials, breakfast or lunch; those who led hands-on projects or tours; those who shared their stories and served as role models; and everyone who supported any aspect of the conference throughout the day, including Brent Beverley of Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Lydia Beverley; and a very special thanks to Youth Conference Collaborator Comcast and Unidos.
And as always, special thanks to all those who make HISPA’s educational programs possible: Co-founding Partner the Verizon Foundation; Annual Partners Educational Testing Service, the PSEG Foundation, Visa, and Southwest Airlines, HISPA’s official airline partner; and Annual Supporters Merck and Wells Fargo. Your generous support of our mission-driven educational programs made this and all our events possible.
Thank you to EVERYONE who joined forces at the HISPA’s 26th Youth Conference to SHARE, INSPIRE and TRANSFORM in Camden, New Jersey! We look forward to working with you again at future events. Mil gracias!
Sincerely,
Ivonne, Mauricio and the HISPA Team
Latinos Unite at Princeton University to Inspire Future Leaders
Princeton, NJ, June 4, 2019 — More than 150 New Jersey students will attend a unique motivational and career-focused conference at Princeton University on June 7. This will be nonprofit Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement’s 11th such youth conference. In addition to its traditional focus on middle and high school students, HISPA will also provide a program track for Latinos in college.
The Youth Conference, themed “Take Action! Achieve your Dreams,” will inspire the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students from Elizabeth, Passaic, Trenton, Hamilton, and Perth Amboy thanks to more than 75 professionals. These leaders in academia, business, science, technology, engineering and math will stress the importance of education and introduce students to STEM careers with hands-on workshops in pharmaceuticals, electromagentism, and more. For many students, it will be their first time on a university campus.
The “Latinos in College” track of the conference will introduce university students to diverse careers and help them build professional networks. Among the participants are the Class of 2019 of the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program, who will also answer the younger students’ questions about college life.
Attendees will hear from keynoter Dr. Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Assistant Professor of Classics at Princeton University, motivational speaker Gian Paul González and many leaders in other fields.
“We are extremely grateful to the public and private sector leaders who have joined our mission,” said Dr. Díaz-Claisse. “They understand the urgency of supporting Latino students to achieve and succeed in higher education and the impact their success will have on the future of America.”
Founded in 2007, New Jersey-based nonprofit HISPA is dedicated to mobilizing Hispanic role models to show students that they, too, can succeed academically and professionally. HISPA has worked with over 2,500 mentors and has reached more than 11,000 students in New Jersey, New York City, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.
This conference, HISPA’s 28th to date, is co-sponsored by the Office of Human Resources at Princeton University with the support of Lead Sponsors Novartis, Merck and Merck Hispanos Organization (MHO), and Wells Fargo. Sponsors are ETS, Bristol-Myers Squibb and its Organization for Latino Achievement (OLA), and PSEG and its Adelante employee resource group. Collaborators are Comcast, the Office of the Provost at Princeton University, UPS and its Crecer employee resource group.
The Latinos in College track is made possible by a partnership with the Office of Human Resources and the Graduate School of Princeton University, Latino Princetonians and CHPRD, and, co-hosted by AT&T.
HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Co-founding Partner the Verizon Foundation. Annual Partners are Educational Testing Service, the PSEG Foundation, Visa and Southwest Airlines, HISPA’s official airline partner. Annual Supporters are Merck and Wells Fargo.
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY—Nonprofit Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) will bring 150 middle-school students from Philadelphia, Trenton, and Camden for its 26th Youth Conference and first at Rutgers University–Camden. Alongside approximately 70 volunteers—mostly Hispanic and Latino professionals from regional companies representing careers in academia and business, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)—students will enjoy a full day of hands-on activities and inspirational stories. For many students, it will be their first time on a university campus.
Founded in 2007, New Jersey-based nonprofit HISPA is dedicated to mobilizing Hispanic and Latino role models to show students that they, too, can succeed academically and professionally. HISPA has worked with over 2,500 mentors and has reached some 11,000 students in New Jersey, New York City, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.
The conference, themed “Take Action! Achieve Your Dreams,” is hosted by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Rutgers–Camden. It will emphasize the importance of high school to future success, excite students about college life, and engage students’ exploration of STEM field and careers. HISPA has held 25 Youth Conferences to date, including at Princeton University in Princeton and Columbia University in New York City.
Students will hear from the Mayor of Camden, Francisco Moran, New Jersey State Senator Nilsa Pérez-Cruz, and Merck executive Carlos Santiago, who will serve as keynote speaker. Telemundo62 reporter Iris Delgado and motivational speaker Carlos Ojeda will deliver inspirational addresses and several Rutgers University–Camden leaders will offer remarks, including Chancellor Phoebe A. Haddon, Provost Michael Palis, and Vice Chancellor Jason Rivera. College students from Rutgers–Camden and University of Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (SHPE) will also answer student questions.
They will also participate in hands-on STEM-focused workshops. This year, students can choose to learn about assessment technologies with ETS, chemiluminescence with Merck and Merck Hispanos Organization (MHO), finance with Wells Fargo, pharmaceutical lab procedure with Bristol-Myers Squibb and the Organization for Latino Achievement (OLA), neuroscience with Rutgers University–Camden, and coding with Code Equal.
This year’s conference is hosted by Rutgers University–Camden and ETS with lead sponsor Wells Fargo, sponsors Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck, and collaborator Comcast. HISPA’s educational programs are made possible by Co-founding Partner the Verizon Foundation. Annual Partners are Educational Testing Service, the PSEG Foundation, Visa, and Southwest Airlines, HISPA’s official airline partner. Annual Supporters are Merck and Wells Fargo.
Dear HISPA Role Models, volunteers, and supporters,
All of us at HISPA would like to thank you for supporting our 2019 New York City Youth Conference. This was our fourth conference at Columbia University and our 25th conference to date—and what an outstanding success! This year, 150 students joined us from across New York City and New Jersey. Young scholars from Elizabeth, Passaic, Manhattan and the Bronx heard from inspirational and accomplished speakers and got their hands and minds busy in your workshops, all alongside 80 amazing role models. Mil gracias!
As always, we would like to acknowledge you for your time, effort, dedication and support before the conference and throughout the day.
We must begin by thanking our hosts, the Columbia Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), who make this day possible. We cherish our collaboration and are grateful for you supporting all event logistics, hosting a workshop for students, and sharing your insights with them during the panel. Thanks to Leora Brovman for your eye-opening inspiration. Thanks to Marnie Whalen for offering welcoming remarks and for representing the Columbia University team by supporting Columbia SHPE in every decision made. Thanks to Brandon Cuevas, president of Columbia SHPE, for his leadership directing all operations to make this conference a reality, and to Perla Canales for working hand-in-hand with us, supporting Brandon, and preparing and presenting the STEM Major Trivia Bowl! workshop, which was exciting and informative for the attending students. Thank you to all the Columbia SHPE members who became part of the day: Adheli Gonzalez, Samuel Castro, Frankcarlos Castro, Victoria Cardenas, Veronica Montanez, Saul Partida, Peter Cruz-Grace, and Jeanie Handal.
Furthermore, we thank Deanna Kowal, Jimmy Sarmiento, Erin, Felix, Mark and Samuel for the on-site support at Alfred Lerner Hall and ensuring all logistics, technology and catering ran smoothly throughout the day.
Thanks to Elena Cabral for moderating the College Student Panel as well as the Columbia students who joined us to talk about life after high school. Your stories truly mean so much to our students; you make everything we try to communicate about college come to life for them.
We also thank Co-host and 2019 Co-Founding Partner Verizon along with the HSO team for being such a huge part of this event. A heartfelt thank you to Magda Yrizarry for serving as our keynote speaker and encouraging the students to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams, and to Maria Melchiorre and Olivia Paladino for supporting Magda’s outstanding presentation. To Martin Lopez for his leadership: his ongoing support and passion for education bring our events to life. To Walter Rodriguez for his commitment year after year, lending experience and guidance to head conference operations. To Mitch Sanchez and Jay Albino for creating and leading an engaging hands-on workshop that made words like “technology” and “engineering” visible in their lives in real and tangible ways. To Odiles Cardines and Ivan Berg for your continued support, making sure every conference is a success and that students take home cool gifts to remember the day. And finally, to Antonina Roman, Derrick Gwin, Miguel Martinez, Leon Gomez, and Rebecca Burgos for supporting us all day long, from event set-up to student dismissal.
We warmly thank Lead Sponsor ESPN and SOMOS for their support. We are grateful to have sponsors like you and hope you can join us at future events!
Our deep thanks to Sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb and those from OLA for their collaboration. We love working with your team, from setting up the conference to bringing a lab to life for our students. Thanks to workshop leaders and presenters Tony Rodriguez, Denise Rivera, Alby Hubert, Claudia Generaux, Consuelo Ramos, Gowtham Lnu, Jairo Torres, Radha Ramakrishnan, Ritu Arora and Silvi Chacko. And a sincerely special thank you to Diana Gabriel for her great leadership and collaboration with HISPA.
Thank you to AT&T and the Aspire, oxyGEN and HACEMOS teams. A special thanks to Mayra Caceres who always shows up early, stays late, and brings a contagious, radiant enthusiasm for STEM to the students around her. We also thank Christine Liu and Philip Cunningham for leading the workshop presentation along with Emily Lu, Pedro Mirabal, Raymond Hu and Jason Swatsworth.
Thanks to the groups whose support made this event not only possible but informative and engaging. First to the Latino Networks Coalition for bringing many hands together, Refinitiv and Thomson Reuters, especially to Alicia Garcia, Rafael Martinez and Yvette Chiavaro-Sanchez for their leadership and for the volunteerism of Alejandra Sanchez, Yasmin Ramirez, Tamara Dews, Raquel Galan, Veronica Arboleda, Enrika Charles and Rogelio Escalona. Thank you to Anthem, Inc. for the items donated to teachers and speakers as well as to the volunteers who help to support the variety of tasks that pop up throughout the day: Beth Marmolejos, Julia Lounsberry, Mariela Meneses, William Garrido, Erica Pena, Evelyn Rodriguez-Rubio, Khalilah Abdullah, Claribel Blake and Patricia Pacheco.
We thank UPS and Crecer for waking students up with a stimulating morning hands-on activity: to Viviana Encarnacion for her outstanding leadership, communication, and support; to Steve Cox for guiding students and volunteers through the activity with clarity and enthusiasm; and to the entire team: Julio Minaya, Jessie Orellana, Frank Casalinho, Pablo Medina, Paul Falco, Eytone Ruiz, Luis Cabreja, Luis Morales and Michelle Ynsinare.
To Damaris Garcia of ETS for her support throughout the day of the event, taking care of whatever was needed as well as making sure all catering was on point for our students and volunteers. Thanks to Terri Flowers: her seemingly infinite hands guarantee success and excellence. And a very special thank you to Ruth Nicoli for supporting to all our conferences with amazing giveaways for the students and speakers.
A huge thanks to the Pariveda Solutions New York City team and Jorge Diaz Ortiz and Madison Wheeler for assembling and delivering all goodie bags for students, volunteers and teachers.
Thanks to our inspirational speaker Joaquin Zihuatanejo for his breath-taking presentation of encouragement, love and pursuing your goals—sometimes with surprising results. Thank you to Carlos Ojeda and Coolspeak for your many years of support. Students leave invigorated because of your and your amazing team of speakers!
Thanks to all those who joined us; who supported the distribution of materials, hands-on projects, lunch, tours; those who shared their stories and served as role models to New York and New Jersey youth; and everyone who supported any aspect of the conference throughout the day.
Thanks to Robert Figueroa for spending the day with us photographing the event and, as always, beautifully capturing the entire day. To view and download photos from the event, please visit HISPA’s flickr.
As always, special thanks to our Co-founding Partner the Verizon Foundation; Annual Partners Educational Testing Service, the PSEG Foundation, Visa, and Southwest Airlines, HISPA’s official airline partner; and our Annual Supporters Merck and Wells Fargo.
Thank you to EVERYONE who joined forces at the Columbia Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and HISPA’s 25th Youth Conference to SHARE, INSPIRE and TRANSFORM in New York City! We look forward to working with you again at future events. Mil gracias!
El Diario has recently covered HISPA’s March 15 Youth Conference at Columbia University.
Written by Carmen Molina Tamacas, the article was released April 2. You can read it in Spanish here: https://eldiariony.com/2019/04/02/estudiantes-latinos-pueden-sonar-con-las-carreras-stem/.
You can also view photos from the event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/76356429@N02/albums/72157679426443968.
HISPA Invites Latino Students to Dream of STEM Columbia SHPE Hosts HISPA’s 25th Youth Conference Princeton, NJ, March 11, 2019 — Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement and Columbia Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (Columbia SHPE) will bring 150 Hispanic middle and high school students to Columbia University on March 15 for a day-long […]
By Michelle Peal
Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) held its annual awards gala, the Three Kings Banquet, on January 10, 2019, at Pines Manor in Edison, NJ. HISPA mobilizes Latino professionals to serve as role models in educational programs in their communities, and some 300 leaders from the public and private sectors gathered to celebrate the contributions of more than 2,500 Hispanic role models.
“Today, HISPA is over 2,500 role models strong,” said Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, HISPA CEO. “Tonight’s awardees are just a few shining examples of our role models’ bravery and what each of our individual contributions can do to make a real difference in young peoples’ lives.”
HISPA volunteers visit middle schools, participate in youth conferences and other programs with one common goal: to inspire students to stay in school, pursue higher education and achieve their dreams. Since its 2007 founding in New Jersey, HISPA has extended its Role Model Programs to Texas, New York, and Florida.
One highlight of the evening is the awards presentation recognizing those who have excelled in their personal commitment and financial support of HISPA’s mission. The following organizations and individuals received awards:
Corazon Award – St. Mary’s University
Leadership in Mentoring Award – Latino Networks Coalition
Share Award: Role Model of the Year – Joe Vincente, UPS
Inspire Award: Champion of the Year – Claudia Vazquez, Prudential Financial
Transform Award: Sponsor of the Year – Verizon Foundation
“It’s a partnership that has grown and blossomed, and we’ve been able to do some really great stuff,” said John Carrillo, director, Outreach Initiatives, St. Mary’s University. St. Mary’s has hosted HISPA’s San Antonio Youth Conference for five years now. “We do try our best to go above and beyond and try to provide the best service to the organization.”
“With the kids we try to tell them don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to network. Get involved,” said Joe Vicente, IT Manager, UPS.
“I feel very honored to have the support of my company to be able to achieve so much for the students. We’ve been able to help over 100 students, and I feel proud of the opportunity I have received,” said Claudia Vazquez, director, Product Management & Transformation Initiatives, Prudential Financial.
“Latino youth are very important, and as professionals we want to make sure our youth know that we were once in their shoes and that their dreams are possible,” said Alicia Garcia, Latino Networks.
“We’re very happy to be able to help with the magnificent work of HISPA. You don’t do these things to win, but it’s nice to be recognized,” said Martin Lopez, portfolio manager, Verizon.
The Three Kings Banquet coincides with the January 6 holiday of Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, the traditional gift-giving period of the Nativity in Spanish-speaking countries. HISPA selected this theme to thank the volunteers and patrons who share their gifts in support of educational equity and opportunity for Hispanics.