This month, we launched our STEM Scholar Chats of 2024. Throughout conversations with our Latinos in Tech Scholars, we provided high and middle school students from Mount Pleasant Elementary School District, Alum Rock Unified School District, and East Side Union High School District in Santa Clara County with insights into our speaker’s academic journey and tips for their path to college, inspiring and empowering them to pursue careers in STEM. 

Fernando Sanchez Lopez, a current San Jose State University student majoring in Computer Engineering, shared the challenges he navigated as an English as a Second Language (ESL) and undocumented student and how he overcame doubts by building a sense of community through involvement in student government and sociocultural clubs. 

On the other hand, Kimberly Porras, a current UC Santa Cruz student majoring in Environmental Science, shared with participants her passion for addressing climate change’s impact in all communities and how she overcame hurdles as a Latina first-generation student by focusing on her mental health, cultural authenticity, and building mentor relationships.