At SHPE, Hispanic heritage isn’t something we celebrate for one month, it’s part of who we are every day.
It lives in the stories we carry, the communities that shaped us, and the impact we create through STEM. It shows up in the first-generation student pursuing a dream their family never had the opportunity to pursue. It shows up in the professional opening doors for others. It shows up in the innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and leaders using their talents to solve problems and improve lives.
Through STEM Sin Límites, we’re highlighting members whose journeys reflect the resilience, creativity, and determination that continue to shape the future of STEM. Their paths are different, but they share a common belief: there are no limits to what can be achieved when talent meets opportunity, community, and perseverance.
These are their stories.
Failure Wasn’t the End of the Story
Mannie Canto
Most people see the engineer.
They see the successful career in the defense industry. They see the work on missiles and fighter jets. They see the keynote speaker inspiring students across the country.
What they don’t see is the 0.7 GPA.
The moment he was kicked out of college.
The uncertainty of losing his car.
The reality of nearly becoming homeless.
For many people, those moments become the end of the story.
For Mannie, they became the beginning.
Growing up as a first-generation American, Mannie was fascinated by how things worked. His father, a retired Air Force veteran and jet mechanic, often worked on electronics around the house. Mannie would take them apart piece by piece, eager to understand what was happening beneath the surface.
That curiosity eventually led him toward engineering, but the journey wasn’t easy.
After failing out of college, he faced a choice: allow the setback to define him or fight for a different future.
He chose the latter.
Mannie returned to school, committed himself to his studies, graduated with honors in electrical engineering, and built a career supporting some of the nation’s most advanced aerospace and defense systems.
Today, his mission extends beyond engineering.
As a keynote speaker, he shares his story with students across the country, proving that failure is not a permanent destination—it’s often the beginning of growth.
“Failure isn’t final. It’s necessary because failure will teach us lessons that success never could.”
For Mannie, STEM Sin Límites means refusing to let a setback define what’s possible.
Building Opportunity Through STEM
Adriana Henriquez
Long before she knew what an engineer actually did, Adriana Henriquez was captivated by computers.
As a first-generation Hispanic college student studying Computer Engineering, she found more than a major when she joined SHPE—she found a community that helped her believe she belonged in STEM.
That sense of belonging became the foundation for a career that would span industries, continents, and communities.
From telecommunications projects in Africa to executive leadership roles, Adriana has spent her career solving problems, building connections, and creating opportunities for others.
One of the most meaningful chapters of that journey has been her involvement with Malaika, an all-girls school in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For more than two decades, she has helped support efforts that provide young women access to education, including STEM opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives.
Today, former students are pursuing careers in engineering, architecture, technology, and skilled trades—paths that may have once felt out of reach.
For Adriana, the true power of STEM isn’t measured solely by the technology we build.
It’s measured by the lives we impact.
“A child’s zip code, country, or gender should never determine their access to science and technology.”
Her story reminds us that STEM has the power to create opportunity far beyond ourselves.
Where Curiosity Can Take You
Sandra Flores-Castillo
If you had asked Sandra Flores-Castillo years ago what photogrammetry was, she likely wouldn’t have known.
Today, it’s her career.
As a first-generation college graduate, Sandra discovered geospatial technology through her studies in geography and GIS. What began as curiosity eventually became a profession dedicated to creating mapping data that supports transportation projects and infrastructure across Minnesota.
It’s a career path many students have never heard of.
Which is exactly why Sandra is passionate about sharing her story.
Through mentoring, speaking engagements, student outreach, and professional organizations, she introduces young people to opportunities they may never have considered for themselves.
She understands that representation isn’t only about seeing someone who looks like you.
It’s also about seeing possibilities you didn’t know existed.
“Sometimes saying yes to a new experience can lead you to a career you never knew existed.”
For Sandra, STEM Sin Límites means staying curious, embracing new opportunities, and helping others discover their own path.
Innovation Through Uncertainty
Giuseppe Frattaroli
Before leading AI initiatives and managing more than $1.5 billion in strategic partnerships at Amazon, Giuseppe Frattaroli was solving a very different problem.
Hyperinflation.
As a businessman in Venezuela, he watched the value of money change almost daily. Traditional business models no longer worked. The systems people relied on were failing around them.
Instead of accepting the status quo, Giuseppe reimagined it.
He redesigned the company’s approach, shifted to new partnership models, and adapted faster than the challenges around him. What began as a fight for survival became a lesson in innovation, resilience, and leadership.
When digital delivery platforms entered the market, he saw opportunity where others saw uncertainty. By creating a new model designed for a changing environment, he helped grow sales by more than 750%.
Those experiences continue to shape how he approaches technology today.
As the business lead on AI initiatives at Amazon, Giuseppe works at the intersection of technology, product development, and customer needs—helping ensure innovation serves people in meaningful ways.
His message to the next generation is simple:
You don’t have to know everything before you begin.
“The uncertainty you’re feeling is not the thing stopping you. It’s the thing teaching you.”
For Giuseppe, STEM Sin Límites means embracing change, staying adaptable, and having the courage to learn something new.
Through STEM Sin Límites, we’re celebrating the students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who continue to push boundaries, open doors, and create opportunities for others.
Their stories remind us that success in STEM doesn’t look the same for everyone. Sometimes it starts with a challenge. Sometimes it starts with curiosity. Sometimes it starts with simply taking a chance on yourself.
What matters is having the courage to keep going.
As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond, we’re proud to highlight the incredible members of our SHPE Familia who embody what it means to live STEM Sin Límites every day.
Because the future of STEM isn’t waiting to be built.
Our community is already building it.