Email this page  Print this page  del.icio.us  digg

Formula for success

Latinas learn about a future in science, engineering.

Anabel Aguayo thought she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

But last year, the Hermanas: Design Your Future (Diseña Tu Futuro) Conference taught her different.

A joint venture between Intel Corporation and Maricopa Community Colleges, the second annual day of workshops, education and inspiration was held Feb. 25 at Estrella Mountain Community College. This year Aguayo was a volunteer. The annual event aims to let Hispanic girls know a college education and a career in technology is within their grasp.

Through a variety of hands-on activities, the day-long workshop introduced 125 girls in grades six through 12 to what scientists and engineers do on a daily basis, demystifying what can be an intimidating field.

The exercises included building rockets and concocting synthetics used in everyday household items. The girls also had the opportunity to work side-by-side with Intel professionals.

According to the National Science Foundation, Latinas comprise a mere 1 percent of the country’s science and engineering workforce. Aguayo, 18 and a freshman at EMCC, hopes to one day join that elite group.

”I knew engineering existed, but I didn’t know much about it,” said Aguayo, who originally had designs on pursing a business administration degree. ”I saw other Hispanic women and if they did it, I knew I could do it too.”

Aguayo is the first member of her family to attend college. The youngest daughter of a maintenance man and produce picker, she credits her new career choice to the conference.

”My parents, they don’t really have careers, so I couldn’t ask them questions. (The conference) was very eye-opening,” she says. ”My parents are very proud of me. They know college and a career is very important.”

If other Hermanas participants share Aguayo’s story, then the program has done its job, according to Intel engineer and Hermanas coordinator Gabriela Gonzalez.

”The goal is to educate and to expose them to the technology career and to college. Many of them don’t know these careers are out there. Often the barrier is finances. They don’t think they can afford college, so we teach them about scholarships and financial aid,” she says. She also is a member of the Intel Latino Network.

Another obstacle tends to be cultural, as older generations have difficulty seeing a woman in a power suit or donning protective gear in a lab.

”Our culture is not encouraging to nontraditional roles. They are used to women having traditional roles. ... So the girls, they don’t see someone who has done it, no role models,” Gonzalez says. ”But after this, it will be a lot clearer in their minds.”

Natalia Arambul, 13, a student at Estrella Middle School, completed a project in which she made slime polymer, similar to the Silly Putty in toy stores. She enjoyed the “fun” projects.

Arambul said she thought about being a pediatrician, but the conference has her thinking about an engineering career. ”Yeah, I’m considering it,” she says.


Bridging the information gap

There are resources for Latino students wishing to explore science or engineering careers.

• Arizona State University is home to the Society of Mexican American Engineers & Scientists (MAES), which hosts an annual Science Extravaganza in November for sophomore and junior high school students. This one-day event consists of work-shops, lab tours, and get-to-college seminars. Visit www.asumaes.com for information.

• The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter at the University of Arizona offers job counseling, company recruitment coordination, lectures, special events and social get-togethers for Hispanic engineering majors. Visit its Web site at http://clubs.engr.arizona.edu/shpe/