SHPE proudly recognizes and celebrates its SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Award recipients each year during the SHPE National Convention.
These prestigious awards honor outstanding professionals and students for their dedication, commitment, and selfless efforts to advance Hispanics in STEM careers. The STAR Awards also recognize a company and government agency for demonstrating significant, measurable, and visible assistance to further SHPE’s programs as well as Hispanics in STEM. Please join us at the National Convention to honor and recognize all of our award honorees!
Do you know someone who should be honored with a STAR Award? Please look for the nomination application in early Spring. If you would like further details, please email [email protected].
The SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Awards recognize those in STEM who are changing lives through their community outreach, work, and research.
The 2025 STAR Award honorees will be recognized during the SHPE National Convention in Philadelphia on October 29 – November 1.
We are grateful to those that took the time to submit a nomination—their dedication to recognizing excellence in STEM is truly inspirational. A heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees whose remarkable contributions to STEM not only showcase their individual brilliance but also exemplify the values of equity and excellence. Selected by a diverse review committee that followed individual award guidelines, these honorees embody the spirit of SHPE’s mission and vision.
2025 Call for Nominations
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
The SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Awards recognize those in STEM who are changing lives through their community outreach, work, and research. We encourage you to nominate those you feel represent the best in STEM and embody the SHPE vision.
The winners will be announced in the Fall and celebrated at the 2025 National Convention in Philadelphia during the STAR Awards Gala and the Excellence in STEM Luncheon.
For questions about the STAR Awards, please contact [email protected].
HAVE QUESTIONS OR LOOKING FOR TIPS?
Watch the informational session from June 8, 2024 about the SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Award nomination and selection process led by Chair Diana Gomez and the STAR Awards Committee.
In addition to the recording, the presentation slides may be downloaded here.
2025 STAR Award Honorees
Academic Institution of the Year
Virginia Tech
Company of the Year
Medtronic PLC
Hispanic ERG of the Year
Sandia National Laboratories Hispanic Outreach for Leadership and Awareness (HOLA)
Rodrigo Garcia Founder's Award
Jay Flores
Invent the Change
Dr. Ellen Ochoa Award
Sandra Martínez-Compton
The Boeing Company
Jaime Oaxaca Award
Jubencio Linares
John Deere
Rubén Hinojosa STEM Champion Award
The Honorable Luz Rivas
U.S. Congress
Climate Sustainability Award
Yari Escobar
Jacobs
Community Service Award
Martin J. Enriquez
HP Inc.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Eddison M. Flores
Ardagh Group
Educator Achievement Award - Higher Education
Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte
Clemson University
Educator Achievement Award - K-12
Edgar Monroy
Hayward Unified School District
Entrepreneur Award
Paola M. Santana
Glass
Executive Achievement Award - Corporate
Calline K. Sanchez
IBM
Innovator Award
Angel F. Porras
Ford Motor Company
Managerial Excellence Award – Corporate
Mercedes Valladares
Honeywell
Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award
Christian David Guzman
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Role Model Award - Professional
Andreína Vivas Thomas
Lenovo
Role Model Award - Graduate
Jose Luiz Sarabia Torres
San Jose State University
Role Model Award - Undergraduate
Andrea Godoy
University of Miami
STAR of Today Award - Corporate
Dr. Karin Rudman Prieto PhD
Medtronic PLC
STAR of Today Award - Government
J. Felipe Ruiz
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
STAR of Tomorrow Award - Corporate
Isabel Meza
Dow Inc.
STAR of Tomorrow Award - Government
Dr. Rachid Darbali-Zamora
Sandia National Laboratories
Young Investigator Award
Daniel Oropeza
University of California, Santa Barbara
2025 STAR Award Events Program
2025 STAR Awards Nominations Brochure
Academic Institution of the Year
Wichita State University
Company of the Year
Chevron
Hispanic ERG
HP Inc. Hispanic/Latino BRG
Rodrigo Garcia Founder's Award
Adriana Ocampo Senior
The Boeing Company
Dr. Ellen Ochoa Award
Lauren Ferlita Breitenbach
Northrop Grumman
Jaime Oaxaca Award
James Narey
Bell Textron
Climate Sustainability Award
Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez
Trane Technologies
Community Service Award
Odalys Lopez
Bechtel Corporation
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Hector Garcia
Honeywell
Educator Achievement Award - Higher Education
Idalis Villanueva Alarcón
University of Florida
Educator Achievement Award - K-12
Sheila I. Santiago Torres
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Entrepreneur Award
Robert Delgado
AIX Group
Executive Achievement Award - Corporate
Albert Pedroza
The Boeing Company
Executive Achievement Award - Government
Anselmo G. Collins
LA Department of Water and Power
Innovator Award
Nicholas M. Castillo
RTX
Managerial Excellence Award - Corporate
Ana Catalina Tharp
Delta Air Lines
Managerial Excellence Award - Government
Edgar Magallanes
United States Air Force
Outstanding Chapter Advisor
John J. Ramirez Avila
Mississippi State University
Role Model Award - Professional
Dante E. Barragan
Eaton
Role Model Award - Graduate
Samantha Mendez
The Ohio State University
Role Model Award - Undergraduate
Sofia Murillo Sanchez
Southern Methodist University
STAR of Today Award - Corporate
Gabriel Ruscalleda
Chevron
STAR of Today Award - Government
Jennifer Lopez Whitmer
Consolidated Nuclear Security Pantex
STAR of Tomorrow Award - Corporate
Dr. Yenny Cubides
Dow Inc.
STAR of Tomorrow Award - Government
Dr. Silvana Ovaitt
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
STEM Warrior Award
Angel Francisco Rodriguez
United States Navy
Young Investigator Award
Jorge I. Poveda
University of California, San Diego
2025 STAR Awards Nominations Brochure
Company of the Year: Chevron
Academic Institution of the Year: Wichita State University
Hispanic ERG of the Year: HP Inc. Hispanic/Latino BRG
Rodrigo Garcia Founder’s Award: Adriana Ocampo Senior, The Boeing Company
Jaime Oaxaca Award: James Narey, Bell Textron
Dr. Ellen Ochoa Award: Lauren Ferlita Breitenbach, Northrop Grumman
Rubén Hinojosa STEM Champion Award: MESA
Climate Sustainability Award: Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez, Trane Technologies
Community Service Award: Odalys Lopez, Bechtel Corporation
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Hector Garcia, Honeywell
Educator Achievement Award – Higher Education: Idalis Villanueva Alarcón, University of Florida
Educator Achievement Award – K-12: Sheila I. Santiago Torres, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Entrepreneur Award: Robert Delgado, AIX Group
Executive Achievement Award – Corporate: Albert Pedroza, The Boeing Company
Executive Achievement Award – Government: Anselmo G. Collins, LA Department of Water and Power
Innovator Award: Nicholas M. Castillo, RTX
Managerial Excellence Award – Corporate: Ana Catalina Tharp, Delta Air Lines
Managerial Excellence Award – Government: Edgar Magallanes, United States Air Force
Role Model Award – Graduate: Samantha Mendez, The Ohio State University
Role Model Award – Professional: Dante E. Barragan, Eaton
Role Model Award – Undergraduate: Sofia Murillo Sanchez, Southern Methodist University
STAR of Today Award – Corporate: Gabriel Ruscalleda, Chevron
STAR of Today Award – Government: Jennifer Lopez Whitmer, Consolidated Nuclear Security Pantex
STAR of Tomorrow Award – Corporate: Dr. Yenny Cubides, Dow Inc.
STAR of Tomorrow Award – Government: Dr. Silvana Ovaitt, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
STEM Warior Award: Angel Francisco Rodriguez, United States Navy
Young Investigator Award: Jorge I. Poveda, University of California, San Diego
Company of the Year: Bank of America
Academic Institution of the Year: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Hispanic ERG of the Year: Chevron Corporation
Rodrigo Garcia Founder’s Award: Julio Grapa, P&G
Jaime Oaxaca Award: Antonina Robles, HP Inc.
Dr. Ellen Ochoa Award: Brenda Isaza, The Boeing Company
Rubén Hinojosa STEM Champion Award:
- Antonio Tijerino, The Hispanic Heritage Foundation
- Ray Mellado (1948-2022), Great Minds in STEM
Climate Sustainability Award: Dr. Miguel O. Román, Leidos
Community Service Award: Saul Montano, RTX
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Angela M. Rucks, Bank of America
Educator Achievement Award – Higher Education: Juan D. Ocampo, St. Mary’s University
Entrepreneur Award: Dr. Isaac Rodriguez, SweetBio, Inc.
Executive Achievement Award – Corporate: Dr. Sandra Hernández, Chevron Corporation
Executive Achievement Award – Government: Ivan Pereira, Naval Surface Warfare Center
Innovator Award: Marc Velasco, IBM
Managerial Excellence Award – Corporate: Alonso Navarrete, Cummins Inc.
Managerial Excellence Award – Government: Briana Marie Pierce, United States Air Force
Role Model Award – Graduate: Carolina A. Colón, Georgia Institute of Technology
Role Model Award – Professional: Benjamin Gonzalez Vazquez, Bechtel Global Corporation
Role Model Award – Undergraduate: Leah Flores-Cabrera, Michigan State University
STAR of Today Award – Corporate: Krystal Puga, Northrop Grumman Corporation
STAR of Today Award – Government: Anthony Louis Garcia, Sandia National Laboratories
STAR of Tomorrow Award – Corporate: Ernesto E Covarrubias, The Boeing Company
STAR of Tomorrow Award – Government: Iker Liceaga-Indart, NASA
STEM Warrior Award: Paola Estrada, United States Air Force
Young Investigator Award: Joaquin Resasco, The University of Texas at Austin