For the second consecutive year, SHPE UF takes the gold

Fourth-year mechanical and aerospace engineering student Sebastian Sobrino-Gonzalez remembers his initial arrival at the University of Florida as a bit disorienting.  

“And so there I was, I kind of came in not knowing anybody at all. My parents just kind of dropped me off and they’re like, ‘All right, good luck,’” he recalled.  

He started at UF as part of the Step Up Summer Bridge Program, whose members then introduced him to UF’s chapter of SHPE, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. And gone were the days of not knowing anyone.  

Now president of that SHPE chapter, Sobrino-Gonzalez knows first-hand the power of connection. Though open to all, SHPE brings together Hispanic undergraduate student engineers through mentorship programs, community outreach events, informal academic advising and the ineffable feeling of togetherness and belonging. The chapter calls it “la familia” — a kinship that transcends nationality to support members through their undergraduate journeys. 

That kinship brought some major success recently. At the 2025 SHPE National Convention in Philadelphia, the UF chapter was one of four chapters in the nation to receive the Gold Chapter Award, the highest honor for any SHPE chapter. That success was even sweeter considering it is the chapter’s second consecutive Gold Award. 

The distinction recognizes the previous academic year’s excellence in leadership, programming and impact within the Hispanic STEM community.  

SHPE UF’s familia is a seriously extended one. It led the convention with the most attendees, with 300 students in the UF delegation. Pretty impressive, considering the entire chapter has 350-plus members, 202 directors and an executive board of 9 members.  

At the convention, the UF SHPE team launched the first-ever SHPE UF mobile app, now being evaluated by the national organization as a potential model for other chapters.  

Winning the Gold Award two years in a row is a substantial point of pride for the chapter.   

Chapter leaders were especially overjoyed to receive the award with previous generations of leadership in attendance. Three former SHPE UF presidents — Juan Valderrama, Sofia Serna and Jorge Moros — were able to join the festivities in Philadelphia.  

“Having them there to witness this moment felt like everything had come full circle. They saw the very leaders they once mentored reach the highest recognition at the SHPE national level, and we got to celebrate that success together as one familia,” Sobrino-Gonzalez said.  

Besides winning the Gold Chapter Award, UF’s chapter came away with the regional chapter of the year award, as well as first place in the convention’s cybersecurity competition.  

As his term as president comes to an end, Sobrino-Gonzalez reflects on his time with SHPE UF and the impact it’s had on his life.  

“It’s been really, really special. Going into SHPE, I saw such an amazing community that really cared about helping each other and uplifting each other,” he said. “I’m a college student away from home for the first time, but these people care about me. I have a family here, and I want to continue being part of this family.”