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SHPE Junior Conference Sparks STEM Passion at Chicago's Lindblom Math & Science Academy

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, November 25th 2025 at 22:53 GMT by ABC 7 Chicago

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Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Brings STEM Inspiration to Lindblom Math & Science Academy

On a chilly December morning, the bright lights of Lindblom Math & Science Academy in Chicago buzzed with excitement as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) hosted its annual Junior Conference. The event—designed to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among high‑school students—draws on SHPE’s long‑standing mission to increase Hispanic representation in STEM fields and to provide a supportive network for young professionals.

A Purpose‑Driven Gathering

SHPE Jr. is a branch of the national SHPE organization, established to nurture the interests of students as early as middle school and guide them toward college and career pathways. According to SHPE’s website, the organization “fosters academic achievement, professional development, and community outreach.” The Junior Conference is a core program that offers workshops, mentorship panels, and hands‑on activities, all tailored to help students envision themselves in engineering and related careers.

The Lindblom Academy, a charter school that emphasizes rigorous math and science curricula, was the ideal venue for this outreach. The school’s own page describes its commitment to “preparing students for the future by cultivating curiosity, resilience, and a love of learning.” The partnership between SHPE and Lindblom was highlighted in the event’s press release, which noted the school’s strong track record of college placement and its partnership with local businesses for STEM internships.

The Day’s Flow

The conference opened with a keynote address from Dr. Miguel “Mickey” Ortiz, a distinguished civil engineer and longtime SHPE volunteer. Dr. Ortiz shared his own journey from a Latino high‑school student in East Los Angeles to a senior engineer at a major infrastructure firm, emphasizing the role of perseverance and mentorship in his success. He urged students to see STEM as a field that welcomes diverse perspectives and to consider how their unique cultural experiences can inform engineering solutions.

Following the keynote, a series of breakout sessions took the students into the heart of the conference. Topics ranged from robotics and coding to environmental engineering and biomedical devices. Each session was led by professionals from local companies—including representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Medtronic, and a boutique software firm in Chicago’s West Loop. The sessions featured live demonstrations: a robotics team built a simple obstacle‑avoiding robot, while a coding workshop taught students how to create a basic Python script that visualized data on air quality.

One of the conference’s highlights was the “Engineer‑in‑Residence” panel. Six engineers—two women, a man of color, and a woman of Asian descent—sat on stage to discuss their career paths, challenges, and advice for aspiring engineers. The panel’s diversity was intentional: SHPE’s mission is to showcase a wide array of role models so that every student feels represented. When asked about the most common misconception students have about engineering, the panelists agreed that many believe it’s purely about math and mechanics, ignoring the creative and societal aspects of design. They encouraged students to explore interdisciplinary projects and to think about how engineering can solve real‑world problems.

The afternoon also featured a “STEM Marketplace” where local companies set up booths with interactive displays, scholarships information, and summer internship opportunities. A highlight was a partnership booth with the Chicago Public Schools’ “Career Exploration” program, which offered students guidance on selecting STEM electives and applying for scholarship programs.

Student Participation and Impact

The conference attracted nearly 200 students, most of whom had never attended a professional engineering event before. One senior, Aisha Martinez, who is a rising biology major, expressed her excitement: “Seeing engineers who look like me in the industry shows me that I can make a difference.” Another student, Omar Rivera, shared that the robotics session sparked his interest in pursuing a career in software development.

SHPE’s data shows a steady increase in junior conference participation over the years. A 2022 survey indicated that 78% of attendees reported increased confidence in pursuing STEM courses after attending the conference. SHPE Jr. leaders note that early exposure to professional engineering environments helps bridge the pipeline gap that often leads to underrepresentation of Hispanic students in STEM majors.

Community and Corporate Support

The conference was possible thanks to the generous support of several corporate sponsors. A local engineering firm, whose name appears on the event’s flyer, provided both financial backing and a volunteer workforce to set up the robotics demonstrations. Another sponsor, a national biomedical company, funded the “STEM Marketplace” booths and offered a scholarship program for interested students. These partnerships were highlighted in a press release linked on the Chicago Tribune’s “City & Region” section, which underscored the importance of community engagement in shaping the next generation of engineers.

In addition, the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Student Services collaborated with SHPE to facilitate transportation for students from underserved neighborhoods. The partnership ensured that students who might otherwise lack access to STEM enrichment activities could attend the conference.

Looking Ahead

The organizers plan to make the Junior Conference an annual fixture at Lindblom Academy, with the 2025 event slated for early December. SHPE’s leadership emphasized that the conference is not a one‑time outreach but part of a broader strategy to sustain student interest through mentorship, scholarship programs, and high‑school partnerships. The conference also serves as a platform for SHPE’s broader goal of expanding the pipeline for Hispanic students into undergraduate and graduate engineering programs across the Midwest.

As the conference concluded, the attendees filed out of the hall with a tangible sense of possibility. For many, the experience was a turning point: a day where the abstract concepts of math and science became tangible, where future mentors appeared as approachable professionals, and where a community of like‑minded peers offered support and encouragement. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, together with Lindblom Math & Science Academy and its partners, has provided a microcosm of what a sustained, community‑driven STEM pipeline can look like—one that not only educates but inspires the next generation of engineers.