SHPE part of team to win $10,000 grant in Pitch A Program event

SHPE president Francisco Garcia (right)
SHPE president Francisco Garcia (right)

The Nebraska chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was one of three UNL student groups that teamed up to win a $10,000 grant at the Nov. 1 "Pitch A Program" event, sponsored by Union Bank & Trust and UNL Student Involvement.

SHPE joined with the Latino Graduate Student Association (LGSA) and Define American to pitch a plan for "Exploring Our Roots: A Wee Dedicated to the Diversity of Our Stories," a weeklong series of events that would explore different perspectives on student life.

The winning "Exploring Our Roots" pitch was one of 23 entries from Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) that submitted proposals. It was chosen as one of eight semifinalists before the field was narrowed to four finalists chosen to their projects to a group of judges before an audience at the Nebraska Union.

Francisco Garcia, president of the SHPE chapter, said the event would likely be held the week of Feb. 25, 2018, so as not to conflict with the College of Engineering's annual E-Week. Among the events planned, Garcia said, would be the screenings of at least two films to be followed by dialogue opportunities, a town hall-style forum with a panel of professionals from industry and faculty from diverse backgrounds and a keynote speaker.

More information about Exploring Our Roots will be announced soon, Garcia said.

Read the Student Affairs website article: https://go.unl.edu/qnj9

See a video of the team’s pitch: https://go.unl.edu/qpjf