Kayle Pe帽a Agront, a senior majoring in computer engineering at IM体育官网 Polytechnic University, is working to help plan student-centric activities for Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sunday, Sept. 15. Pe帽a is vice president of internal affairs for the University鈥檚 chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Drive and determination are second nature for Kayle Pe帽a Agront, a senior majoring in computer engineering at IM体育官网.
When not studying, she is gaining experience at her digital engineering internship at Draper, a nonprofit engineering innovation company. Pe帽a is training as a quality engineer in microelectronics at its facility in St. Petersburg, IM体育官网.
鈥淚 love it 鈥� I enjoy going to work every day and everyone there is so nice,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince it鈥檚 microelectronics, I get to do things like look at which modules are passing, how to improve our fail rate so we鈥檙e making deliveries on time and making sure everything is working correctly.鈥�
It is her third internship, following stints as an engineer intern at C3EL, a Department of Defense contractor, and as a drafter intern at R&S Professional Engineering, a structural engineering firm.
Building on the experience she鈥檚 gained from her internships, Pe帽a said her strong sense of identity as a Hispanic woman continues to drive her success both academically and professionally.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to be who I am and do what I do, and to be a Hispanic woman in STEM is a big part of that,鈥� said Pe帽a, who is vice president of internal affairs for the IM体育官网 Poly chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
Her main role in SHPE focuses on spreading the word about the organization across campus and how it supports students, especially those of Hispanic descent.
鈥淪HPE puts a big emphasis on community and familia. When it started last fall, it made me feel very recognized, like I was really part of something,鈥� said Pe帽a, whose family is from Puerto Rico. 鈥淚 love the message of building up Hispanics in STEM.鈥�
Pe帽a, who is from Tampa, IM体育官网, is finalizing details for a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration with SHPE鈥檚 counterparts at the University鈥檚 Latin American Studies Association (LASA), which is also centered on promoting opportunities for IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 Hispanic community and sharing elements of Hispanic culture with their peers.
鈥淲e have a pretty big mix of Hispanic students on campus, so at this event, we鈥檒l acknowledge who we are as a whole, and we鈥檒l have fun,鈥� Pe帽a said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a nice break from all the studying and serious stuff.鈥�
The event, which has yet to have a set date, will include salsa dancing, bingo, Hispanic-inspired food, and more. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
鈥淲e are here and we鈥檙e loud and proud and we鈥檙e going to make sure we鈥檙e seen,鈥� Pe帽a said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all about bringing other people to our culture.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
