Senior Recognized as Student Role Model

7/3/2012 By Kathryn L. Heine

Miguel GuerraMechSE senior Miguel Guerra has been recognized with the Student Role Model Award by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers--one of the 2008 SHPE Technical Achievement Recognition (STAR) Awards recognizing the year's highest level of achievement in Hispanic engineering and sciences in several different categories.

Written by By Kathryn L. Heine

Miguel Guerra
Miguel Guerra
Miguel Guerra
MechSE senior Miguel Guerra has been recognized with the Student Role Model Award by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers--one of the 2008 SHPE Technical Achievement Recognition (STAR) Awards recognizing the year's highest level of achievement in Hispanic engineering and sciences in several different categories. The Student Role Model Award recognizes the unselfish and outstanding contributions of an honoree to his SHPE student chapter and the Hispanic community while also maintaining academic excellence.

"SHPE is proud to spotlight each STAR award recipient, as they represent excellence in our field," said Diana Gomez, National President of SHPE. "Our organization strives to be the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, and is committed to increasing the pipeline of Hispanic talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The individuals being honored are true examples to the next generation of students, engineers and technical talent."

"I am honored to be the recipient of this award among so many outstanding role models within SHPE," Guerra said. "This award signifies the passion, effort and time dedicated by SHPE members towards impacting the lives of others, strengthening chapters, and promoting the development of underrepresented students. I am proud to have served as a role model and I will continue working to inspire others to achieve their goals."

"Miguel is a very quiet and humble individual but very passionate about everything that he is involved with," remarked Edgar Martinez, associate dean for interdisciplinary programs in the College of Engineering. "He is currently helping recruiting and retaining more students from underrepresented groups in engineering. His approach is to mentor and encourage other students developing their leadership and academic skills."

"I think this is a way to help them develop leadership and academic skills, increasing their retention in the college," remarked Guerra, who is this year's president of SHPE-UIUC. As an upperclassman, he has served as a personal mentor to several students, while continuing to recruit new members into the organization.

During his time at Illinois, Guerra has worked closely with staff members within the college's undergraduate programs office to improve support for students from underrepresented groups. Last spring, he served on the search committee for the new senior assistant dean and director of Morrill Engineering Program. At the end of the semester, Guerra was recognized with the inaugural Engineering Council Outstanding Student Contribution Scholarship - Junior/Senior Award.

Guerra has also been active in the local community through several science-based educational programs. As a freshman, he participated in the Kids 'n Chemistry program in area grade schools, demonstrating simple chemistry experiments using household items. He also became involved in SHPE High School Visitation program, coordinating science and engineering workshops which promote higher education to sophomores and juniors from underrepresented populations in Chicago. He also volunteered in the F.I.R.S.T. Lego League competition, and for the past two years he has helped organize science and technology workshops on behalf of SHPE for Proyecto C.H.E., an outreach program for sixth- to eighth-grade students in Champaign-Urbana.

Each STAR recipient was nominated by corporate and government peers and colleagues and then considered by a selection committee of professionals, educators and community leaders. The awards will be presented during the 2008 SHPE Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. from Nov. 12-16. The SHPE Conference is the largest Hispanic technical conference in the nation, with approximately 5,000 attendees expected.

Article courtesy of Rick Kubetz, Engineering Communications Office


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This story was published July 3, 2012.