2025 SESSION

ENROLLED

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 718

Commending the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 18, 2025

WHEREAS, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, an organization dedicated to advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and careers in Hispanic communities both in the Commonwealth and across the nation, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024; and

WHEREAS, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers traces its origins to 1973, when Rodrigo Garcia, a civil engineer with the City of Los Angeles, organized a group of fellow Hispanic engineers in his garage to discuss ways to improve Hispanic representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields; and

WHEREAS, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers was officially formed in 1974 and has since grown to include more than 18,000 members and over 280 college and university chapters; and

WHEREAS, as the largest association in the nation devoted to empowering Hispanics in STEM fields, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers provides invaluable support to its student and professional members through trainings, mentorships, and other programming; and

WHEREAS, in addition to fostering a sense of community among its members, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers contributes to its members' success by offering scholarships, internship opportunities, and network connections; and

WHEREAS, through its unwavering commitment to encouraging its members' accomplishments in STEM careers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers has made a meaningful and lasting impact on countless lives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers hereby be commended on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's history and legacy of service.