Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Antonio Tijerino to Be Honored with SHPE Star Award for Impact on STEM Education and Career Paths

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s President and CEO Antonio Tijerino will be honored by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’ (SHPE) STAR Award in recognition of his, and HHF’s, impact on STEM education and career paths along with other Latino leaders, orgs, and companies (see link for all STAR awardees https://shpe.org/engage/awards/star-awards/).

The STAR Honorees were selected by a diverse review committee based on individual guidelines for each award, as well as those they felt represented the very best in STEM and the embodiment of SHPE’s mission and vision.  Tijerino is being honored with the Ruben Hinojosa STEM Champion Award at the 47th National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 1 – 5, ‘23.

“I am thrilled to receive this prestigious recognition on behalf of HHF from SHPE, which is a venerable organization we respect and have partnered with in the past,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF.  “Our team, in partnership with our corporate partners over the years including ExxonMobil, who nominated us, have made a tremendous impact on our community and America through STEM education and workforce pathways.  In addition, for the award we receive to be named after Ruben Hinojosa is an added honor.  We are extremely grateful and see this recognition as a challenge to do even more going forward.”

Through various nationally-and-internally-recognized programs, HHF has developed tens of thousands of young leaders in STEM, prepped them through LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track), and placed them into the STEM workforce with corporate partners such as ExxonMobil.  HHF has also taught up to 100,000 students to computer code, held workshops to prep, and summits to build social capital and access to career pathways.  They have also conducted STEM teacher development programs and recently in skill building, “making” and even designed the first-ever Latino-themed Minecraft video game with a teachers’ and parents’ guide which was played by millions of youths in almost 30 languages.  HHF has also conducted research and held briefings on Capitol Hill regarding STEM education and career pathways and hosts the Fritanga Podcast.  STEM young role models have been featured in campaigns reaching tens of millions.

About SHPE:

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 14,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. For more information please visit https://www.shpe.org.

About HHF:

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a national nonprofit with reach to Latin America, focuses on education, workforce, social impact and innovation through the lens of cultural leadership.  Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org and follow HHF on all social media channels and platforms.