Norristown Students Attend HISPA’s First-Ever Youth Conference at the University of Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, PA — On May 11, 2026, HISPA proudly hosted its first-ever Youth Conference at the University of Pennsylvania, welcoming 80 seventh grade students from Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy in Norristown, PA, for a day focused on college access, STEM exploration, and career discovery.
The conference was sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences’ Science Outreach Initiative and co-sponsored by Merck, with additional support from Wharton Latino.
The day began with an opening session featuring welcoming remarks from Rod Colón, Talent Development & College Program Director at HISPA, and Julee Farley, Ph.D., Director of the Science Outreach Initiative at Penn. Students were encouraged to envision themselves in higher education spaces, future careers in STEM, and beyond.
The keynote address, “Take Action, Achieve Your Dreams,” was delivered by Kristina Stallings, a first-year immunology graduate student at Penn. Stallings shared her personal and academic journey, inspiring students to believe in their potential and pursue their goals with determination.
Following the keynote, Stallings joined fellow Penn students Hannah Srey, Oscar Mendez, and Alexis Leach for the panel discussion “Life After High School,” moderated by Colón. Panelists fielded questions about transitioning from high school to college, balancing academics and personal growth, and navigating college life.
“Thank you for every new perspective you gave me to help pursue my education after high school,” one attending middle-schooler commented. “It really answered some of the main questions I had about school and college.”
Attending students also participated in hands-on career exploration workshops, including “Introduction to Safety” presented by Merck, “Introduction to Networks” presented by HISPA Role Models, and “Introduction to Data Analytics” presented by Eigen X. The workshops introduced students to diverse career pathways.
Students also shared lunch with HISPA Role Models, creating opportunities for meaningful conversation. The conference concluded with closing remarks from Addriana Montalvo-Andujar, Director of Volunteer Management at HISPA, who encouraged students to continue dreaming big and taking action toward their futures, even when it feels intimidating.
HISPA’s Youth Conferences are designed to expose students from low-income communities to higher education environments, relatable role models, and hands-on STEM learning experiences that inspire future academic and career success.
When asked about the experience, one student remarked “I appreciate everyone in general—they all put their effort into making my experience amazing. Everyone was welcoming. I’ve never been on a college campus before, so this was a completely new experience for me.”
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.
