As part of our Seed (K-12) programming, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley strives to create more opportunities for high school students to learn about STEM through hands-on immersive experiences. This spring, in partnership with Santa Clara University (SCU) School of Engineering, HFSV launched Spring Education Engineering Days (SEEDs): a 2-day program designed to deepen high school students’ understanding of and interest in engineering through real-world exposure and interactive learning experiences.
Hosted at Santa Clara University’s campus, the program welcomed 31 students. Together, HFSV and SCU created an experience that connected students directly with university faculty, student organizations, and engineering resources, giving participants an authentic glimpse of what pursuing STEM in higher education can look like through student club demonstrations and the showcase of 24 senior design projects, such as Design, Build, Fly 2026 Aerodynamics and Structures, Smart Walker, Image-Processing in Self-Driving Cars, and many more.
The results clearly demonstrate the program’s impact: upon program completion, 100% of students rated their interest in exploring engineering and STEM fields at 4 out of 5 or higher, a 40.5% increase from before completing the program.
A Weekend filled with STEM activities
On day one, the students focused on Mechanical Engineering. They received an introduction to SolidWorks from the SCU chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). SolidWorks is used to model, simulate, and manufacture mechanical parts and assemblies, fundamental to the field of mechanical engineering. In the next workshop, students explored robotics by assembling their own Keyestudio 4WD Bluetooth-compatible robots alongside members of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) chapter at Santa Clara University. The day ended with an impactful student panel featuring SCU undergraduate engineers.
On day two, the students learned about Electrical Engineering. The Bronco Racing Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team gave students a tour of their workshop and spoke about building their first-ever all-electric Formula SAE car this year. They shared their high school-to-college journey and demonstrated sim racing, electrical wiring systems, and welding. To close day two, members of The Maker Club and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) shared insights on their journeys from high school to college and what inspired them to choose their majors. Then the racing team gave an Arduino-based workshop where students programmed a light using an electric circuit kit.
The Role of the Parents
The SEED program intentionally included parent programming on day two—an important addition rooted in HFSV’s belief that family engagement is essential to student success. With support from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), parents participated in coding activities. Then, Lorenzo Gamboa, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission, and Melissa Thiriez, Director of Employer Relations and Partnerships, led workshops on the admissions process and the career center. Lorenzo walked parents through what to look for when choosing colleges—stressing that cost is important but not the only thing to consider—along with financial aid, STEM careers, and the critical role families play in supporting students through higher education. Melissa told the group to look at specific engineering roles and see what it entails, as there is a great variety to choose from.
Among participating students, 74% identified as first-generation college-bound, underscoring the importance of family education and involvement. The experience helped reinforce that college and institutions like Santa Clara University are spaces where their children belong. Strong parent participation, including families joining the closing recognition ceremony, reflected the program’s commitment to empowering not only students but entire families in their STEM and college journeys.
At the closing ceremony, HFSV Board Members Mike Wallace and Angela Flores Robertson shared words of encouragement, reminding students that they belong in these spaces and represent the future of STEM leadership. Students went home with a SEEDs program certificate and an Arduino kit (a comprehensive kit used for learning electronics, programming, and prototyping) to continue exploring what they learned.
The Spring Education Engineering Days (SEED) program came about through the Hispanic Foundation’s 2024 Strategic Planning. Strong academic careers develop during high school, so we knew we had to invest more into high school students’ interest and understanding of STEM. Last year, 88% of K-12 students who participated reported increased interest in STEM after completing one of our K-12 programs. SEED is the perfect program to double down on encouraging students to pursue that interest.