Sofia Rivera Recart spends her time serving as a historian for the Virginia Tech chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), but in November 2023 she built her future at the association's annual conference. Thanks to a sponsorship from the Myers-Lawson School of Construction, this Construction Engineering and Management student attended the conference for free.

The Salt Lake City conference broke records with 12,000 students and more than 300 exhibitors. During her time, she learned more about empowering Latina women in STEM, attended workshops, and built her network. On top of it all, she walked away with an on-the-spot internship offer and another offer soon after.

Sofia Rivera Recart attends the Society of of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference. Photo by Sofia Rivera Recart.

Sofia Rivera Recart attends the Society of of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference as she stand in front of a "be a game changer" sign.

"It was a great experience to connect with other people in my community and see the paths they have followed to have a successful career," said Rivera Recart of the opportunity.

SHEP is the largest association in the nation for Hispanic people in the STEM fields. The group works to empower and challenge its members to become leaders in their field.