Send 40 Latino Engineers to SHPE National | SOLES Scholars

Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists (SOLES) at San José State University is a joint chapter of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and Latinos in Science and Engineering (MAES), dedicated to empowering Hispanic students in STEM through leadership development, professional advancement, and national representation.

Last year, SOLES spent $20,000 to send 30 students to the SHPE National Convention. The impact was measurable and transformative. 20 of our 30 attendees secured interviews with national companies. Our team advanced to the finals in the SHPE Olympiad, proudly representing our region on a national stage. Last, every student participated in technical workshops, leadership sessions, and networking events that strengthened their confidence and career pathways.

During our planning process, we recognized a serious equity concern: women in SOLES were underrepresented at the conference due to financial barriers. Conference costs, including registration, flights, and lodging, created disproportionate obstacles for some of our members. Overall, we believe that every student, regardless of gender or financial background, deserves equal access to career-defining opportunities.

To address this gap, and ensure more students could attend the conference, we partnered with our Dean, who provided $10,000 in additional support to expand access and ensure more women could attend. That investment allowed us to secure additional housing, increase representation, and strengthen our commitment to equitable participation in national engineering spaces.

Because of that combined effort, 30 SOLES scholars traveled to Philadelphia, connected with Fortune 500 recruiters, secured internships and job offers, and built lifelong professional networks.

This year, SHPE National 2026 will take place in Indianapolis from October 28–31. Our goal is to send 35–40 SOLES scholars to represent SJSU on a national stage. Many SOLES members are first-generation college students balancing school, work, and family responsibilities. Conference costs should never determine who gets access to opportunity. We are raising $15,000 to reduce financial barriers for students attending SHPE National and other leadership conferences including SHPEtinas Conference, MAES Leadership Academy, and Sueños in Motion.

Your gift directly supports:

• Increased Latina representation in engineering
• Career-changing internship and job opportunities
• National leadership development
• Access to recruiters and industry mentors
• A stronger pipeline of Latino and Latina engineers

Last year we sent 30.
This year we aim for 40.

Help us continue removing financial barriers and invest in the next generation of Latino and Latina engineers at SJSU.