FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020
Contact: Kathleen DuBois
[email protected]
323-725-3970 x109
SHPE Distributes Record-Breaking Number of Student Scholarships and Awards Hundreds of Relief Fund Stipends
Bright Minds Scholarship Campaign and ALL-IN Relief Fund assists members in need
City of Industry, California – SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) was launched in 1974 to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its full potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development.
According to SHPE CEO Raquel Tamez, “Financial need is the number one reason why Hispanic students do not complete a bachelor’s degree. So SHPE is offering thousands of reasons to ensure our members do reach graduation – $620,000 to be exact. With scholarships awarded to 191 students for the 2020-2021 academic year totaling more than $620,000 – a 39% increase over 2019-2020 – SHPE is actively narrowing the gap in the Hispanic STEM education pipeline.” Due to the pandemic, SHPE student members have been faced with unprecedented financial, academic and social challenges, which means scholarship support is more essential than ever.
In addition, the ALL-IN Relief Fund was quickly set up in April to support SHPE members experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID-19. “The pandemic hit many Hispanic STEM students and professionals hard. We received hundreds of applications once the new relief fund was announced, with the greatest reason cited for a stipend being job loss,” said Tamez. So far $112,000 in relief fund stipends to 292 Hispanics in STEM have been awarded since May and the next round will be awarded in September.
SHPE is grateful for the overwhelming generosity from hundreds of contributors including members, chapters and corporations. Many companies established named scholarships including: Apple, Bechtel, Chevron, Eaton, Intel, John Deere, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Spectrum, and Toyota. Bechtel, Cummins, Honeywell and Intel provided seed funds to establish the ALL-IN Relief Fund. And SHPE Board Chair Miguel Alemañy funded the Helen Cuesta Scholarship in honor of his mother – the first named scholarship established by an individual member.
Student and professional members who are struggling due to the effects of the COVID-19 can apply now for an ALL-IN Relief Fund stipend up to $500 by visiting https://smr.to/p65984
Individuals and organizations can make a donation to the Bright Minds Scholarship Campaign or ALL-IN Relief Fund by visiting https://www.shpe.org/support-our-students
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ABOUT SHPE
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation. For more information, visit http://shpe.org.