Announcing the SHPE 2024 STAR Award Honorees

LOS ANGELES, August 20, 2024 (Newswire.com) - The prestigious SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Awards recognize those in STEM who are changing lives through their community outreach, work, and research. The honorees were selected by a diverse review committee based on individual guidelines for each award, as well as those they felt represented the very best in STEM and the embodiment of SHPE's mission and vision.

Academic Institution of the Year
Wichita State University

Company of the Year
Chevron

Government Agency of the Year
Army Civilian Corps

Hispanic ERG of the Year
HP Inc. Hispanic/Latino BRG

Rodrigo Garcia Founder's Award
Adriana Ocampo Senior
The Boeing Company

Dr. Ellen Ochoa Award
Lauren Ferlita Breitenbach
Northrop Grumman

Jaime Oaxaca Award
James Narey
Bell Textron

Rubén Hinojosa STEM Champion Award
MESA

Climate Sustainability Award
Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez
Trane Technologies

Community Service Award
Odalys Lopez
Bechtel Corporation

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Hector Garcia
Honeywell

Educator Achievement Award - Higher Education
Idalis Villanueva Alarcón
University of Florida

Educator Achievement Award - K-12
Sheila I. Santiago Torres
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District

Entrepreneur Award
Robert Delgado
AIX Group

Executive Achievement Award - Corporate
Albert Pedroza
The Boeing Company

Executive Achievement Award – Government
Anselmo G. Collins
LA Department of Water and Power

Innovator Award
Nicholas M. Castillo
Raytheon

Managerial Excellence Award – Corporate
Ana Catalina Tharp
Delta Air Lines

Managerial Excellence Award – Government
Edgar Magallanes
United States Air Force

Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award
John J. Ramirez Avila
Mississippi State University

Role Model Award – Professional
Dante E. Barragan
Eaton

Role Model Award – Graduate
Samantha Mendez
The Ohio State University

Role Model Award - Undergraduate
Sofia Murillo Sanchez
Southern Methodist University

STAR of Today Award - Corporate
Gabriel Ruscalleda
Chevron

STAR of Today Award - Government
Jennifer Lopez Whitmer
Consolidated Nuclear Security Pantex

STAR of Tomorrow Award - Corporate
Dr. Yenny Cubides
Dow Inc.

STAR of Tomorrow Award - Government
Dr. Silvana Ovaitt
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

STEM Warrior Award
Angel Francisco Rodriguez
United States Navy

Young Investigator Award
Jorge I. Poveda
University of California, San Diego

The STAR Award honorees will be recognized during the SHPE National Convention being held in Anaheim, California on October 30-November 3. They will be presented during two different ceremonies: the Excellence in STEM Luncheon on Thursday, October 31, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. and the STAR Awards Gala on Friday, November 1, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

SHPE: Leading Hispanics in STEM, a national organization representing Hispanic professionals and students in STEM, will host its 48th National Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, October 30-November 3, 2024. The largest gathering of Hispanic STEM talent in the nation, the event is expected to be attended by 15,000 students, professionals, academia, and industry leaders.

Source: SHPE