On December 4 at De Anza College, The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) collaborated to host Equipando Padres, a college information day designed to educate Latinos about STEM higher education, with a particular focus on engineering. This event is just one of the many Parent Education Academy events HFSV offers to the community. Workshops and materials were made available in both English and Spanish. As many of these parents have not attended college in the US themselves, Equipando Padres is incredibly impactful through both the resources provided and the motivation it gives to Latino families.
Families from Santa Clara County came to learn how to select, finance, and apply for college. 30 Volunteers from SHPE and HFSV discussed their own educational backgrounds, the importance of a STEM degree, and the logistics of applying to college with parents of rising STEM students. Some of the volunteers were Latinos in Technology Scholar Initiative (LITSI) students, such as Victor Palacios. Victor is a first-generation Mexican American student at San Francisco State University, majoring in Biology, and a research assistant at the University of California, San Francisco. He is an example of the impact HFSV’s programs have had on Latino students.
The evening began with a keynote speech from De Anza College President Omar Torres. An HFSV Board Member, President Torres shared his educational journey, the offerings at De Anza College, and the success of alumni. President Torres explained how attending community college enables students to pursue higher education at a lower financial cost. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that attending college is one of the most transformative decisions a student can make, and that resources are available to all if they simply ask. HFSV is honored that President Torres was the keynote speaker, a dedicated Board Member who champions STEM education for Latinos.
Fernando Sánchez López led the workshops in Spanish, a former LITSI and the Vice President of Outreach at SHPE’s Silicon Valley Chapter. The workshops covered the importance of attending college, how to select a school, and how to finance college. Parents were given time to share their concerns about college and dreams for their students’ futures. Fernando discussed everything there is to know about college:
- Advantages and Challenges of Being A First-Generation College Student
- Types of Universities – location, size, private, public, and community colleges
- Cost and Financial Aid
- Campus Tours
While the parents were learning, students enjoyed a tour of the Milky Way at the De Anza Planetarium. They were shown “Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure,” a guided tour that took students through the solar system, revealing the wonders of the planets and their moons. Students were fascinated by the world all around them, chiming in on what each collection of stars looks like to them. HFSV offers immersive activities to inspire students to learn more about STEM.
The evening concluded with a raffle giveaway. The evening was made possible thanks to the SHPE and HFSV volunteers who supported our 60 attendees. A huge thank you to De Anza College, President Torres, and his team at De Anza (Chris Winn, Nathaly Aguilar, Gracy Galvan, and Chelsey Taniguchi) for their support throughout the evening. We are grateful to have a strong partnership with SHPE Silicon Valley. Thank you, SHPE leaders, Jose Luiz Sarabia Torres and Fernando Sánchez López, for your leadership.
Equipando Padres is just one step in a larger journey to increase Latino representation in STEM. Together, HFSV and SHPE are creating pathways for future engineers, scientists, and innovators. By educating families today, we ensure that Latino students and their families have the tools, knowledge, and support they need to achieve a career in STEM.