When the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) isn’t honing their skills and helping the community, they bring learning opportunities to campus. Recently, FBI special agent and recruiter Stephen Nass attended a meeting to speak about opportunities for scientists in the FBI.
The FBI needs engineers because criminal activity has changed to chemical and biological warfare and engineers know these weapons are employed, according to Nass.
“As the recruiter for this area, what we have found is that the FBI as an organization, which is 35,000 people, we need help,” Nass said. “The help we need is literally in this room.”
There are open positions within the organization, and Nass explained how there are internships with the FBI available to undergraduates and graduates.
“God has gifted you different than him, different than her, for a reason,” Nass said. “You shouldn’t try to decide what you want to do based on some external pressure to be this or do that. Rather, follow those natural giftings and talents that you have been given because that’s how you’ll excel.”
As part of SHPE’s outreach program, Manual Academy High School student Cameron Little was at the meeting to congratulate SHPE on their induction to the national organization.
“Before I joined SHPE, I was somewhat struggling with school because I was mentally struggling because last year my grandfather passed away,” Little said. “As time went on, I figured I take it off my mind and look for opportunities or programs to fulfill and accomplish my high school career.”
with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers about careers. Photo by Christopher Nooman.
The outreach program is one aspect of SHPE that they wish to expand and become more involved with. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, members head to Manual Academy to help tutor students in math and science.
The students are also participating in two projects with high school students. For the project entitled Bridge Pals, high school students come to campus to design bridges and then return to school to build and test them. The second project is making boats out of cardboard and duct tape and competing to see which of the boats ends up floating in Manual Academy’s pool.
“Lots of high school students don’t see college in their future,” SHPE vice president Nayelli Sida said. “When we go to tutor we input our life at Bradley like what we are doing in classes, internships and projects. They don’t see it until they hear us.”
