Andy Rivera

The Honors Professional Development Grant allowed me to attend the 2025 SHPE National Convention in Philadelphia — my first national conference and easily one of the most impactful experiences of my college career so far. Beyond exploring the city and experiencing the energy of thousands of Hispanic engineers in one place, the biggest moment for me was stepping into the career fair. It was massive — rows of booths from companies I’ve grown up hearing about, including Microsoft and other major tech firms, with real software engineers standing there willing to talk to students like me. Speaking directly with engineers who are working in roles I genuinely dream about was surreal; it made those careers feel real and attainable rather than distant ideas. The experience pushed me to introduce myself confidently, share my projects, and ultimately led to landing an interview with Wabtec — a moment that showed me I belong in those rooms.

Honestly, I expected the recruiters to feel intimidating, but they really weren’t. Most of them were easy to talk to — it felt more like a conversation than an interrogation. I also didn’t think I’d actually land interviews. I went in thinking I’d just practice introducing myself and maybe make a few connections. Instead, I walked away with real interviews scheduled, which caught me off guard in a good way. It made me realize I was more prepared than I thought.

I plan to stay involved on SHPE’s executive board and help prepare even more students to attend future conventions. I also intend to return for the 2026 National Convention and continue building on the connections and opportunities I started this year.

Receiving the Honors award not only made the trip affordable for me personally, but it also reduced the financial burden on our organization as a whole. Because part of my cost was covered, SHPE was able to allocate funding to support another student’s attendance. In that way, the grant didn’t just impact me — it expanded access and opportunity within our chapter.

It moved me closer to landing my first sophomore-year software engineering internship. I gained direct access to recruiters, secured interviews, and learned how to better present my technical work. It made the goal feel immediate instead of distant.