A California-based organization has awarded Poughkeepsie High School student Shiann Mayorga with a national scholarship based on academic excellence and leadership skills.
Mayorga, a senior who plans to study biology at Marist College, was recognized by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) with an AHETEMS (Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science) award – a scholarship based on schoolwork and peer leadership. This is the first year the award has been given, and Mayorga is one of two recipients nationwide.
“I didn’t believe that it was true,” said Mayorga. “I didn’t think I was going to win anything.”
Mayorga’s parents, Walter and Oprah, are both from Nicaragua. They came to the United States in the late 1980s to build a family, and they wanted their children to have more opportunities than they were afforded, Mayorga said.
“We’ve visited Nicaragua,” she said, “and I like it down there, but I’m really grateful that I live in this country – there are so many opportunities here.”
Mayorga has taken advantage of those opportunities. In addition to her required academics, she is involved in a number of extra-curricular activities, including the National Honor Society, Latinos Unidos, SHPE Jr., STEP (Science and Technology Enrichment Program), and in 2006 she was nominated to attend the Angelo Del Toro Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference in Albany. She also plays the violin, and was on her school’s soccer team in junior year. Additionally, for the past two summers Mayorga has volunteered at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, and has observed nine surgeries, including spine, liver, breast and bowel surgery.
When Poughkeepsie High School guidance counselor Frank Perez heard about the AHETEMS scholarship, Mayorga immediately came to mind, he said. “She’s a hard-working student,” said Perez. “Based on her academic excellence, her essay, and what her dreams are … she was chosen. It’s a real honor.”
Perez was Mayorga’s guidance counselor for her first three years of high school. After working closely with some of SHPE’s affiliates, he recognized the benefits of bringing the program into the high school, and applied to begin a junior chapter. Perez heads the school’s chapter – the first high school chapter in New York state, which, like the nation-wide organization, focuses on the success of young Latinos.
But SHPE’s focus was not always on students.
The organization was founded in Los Angeles, Calif. in 1974 by a group of professional engineers; its primary purpose was to begin a national organization of engineers who would serve as role models for the Hispanic community. It was not long before the established organization began reaching out to universities. Professionals began working with college students – networking and exposing them to successful Hispanic professionals. SHPE’s success among college campuses prompted the organization to reach out to grade school students across the country. Now, college students work with students in grades K-12, mentoring them, providing activities and bringing them to universities.
“We have more than 230 university chapters, and just over two years ago we expanded to high school students,” said Rafaela Schwan, who oversees SHPE’s educational foundation. “But until recently, we hadn’t done much recognition of our students.”
Founding the award
In 2007 SHPE teamed up with one of its sponsors, the U.S. Navy, and created the AHETEMS award. In addition to recognizing a student’s academic excellence and leadership, the award includes a $2,500 scholarship, funded by the 50 companies that sponsor the society.
“We received applications from across the United States, and the nominations were unbelievable, but the two students who were chosen were incredible,” said Schwan. “Ms. Mayorga is already so active in making change.”
Mayorga, along with Perez and 36 members of Poughkeepsie High School’s SHPE Jr. chapter, recently traveled to SHPE’s annual conference, where she received her award. The conference, held in Philadelphia this year, included a weekend of presentations, networking, activities and workshops for SHPE members across the country. Mayorga met the other AHETEMS recipient, Juan Gonzalez of Dallas, Texas, and delivered a speech.
“I’m honored,” said Mayorga. “I feel like I’m representing my family, myself, my school and my state.”
Mayorga is the first person in her family who will attend college, but she has two younger brothers who she hopes will follow in her footsteps.
“Our parents have always instilled in us that education is the key to success,” said Mayorga, “and I’m looking forward to making them proud.”