Juntos Podemos
"Together We Can..."
Download the Application Form Here - Juntos Podemos 2010, February 19-20
Purpose
Juntos Podemos, or "Together We Can," is a weekend visitation program to the University of Virginia hosted by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. This program is geared towards Hispanic or underrepresented high school students with the purpose of encouraging them to pursue a higher education degree, especially in engineering, technology, or science.
Each year, the members of SHPE invite high school students to visit the University of Virginia cost-free for a weekend to learn all about the university, about college admissions, college life, and engineering. The students will have a chance to talk with admissions speakers, professors, financial aid representatives, take a tour of the university, participate in an engineering activity, stay in a dorm, and more.
Juntos Podemos Last Year (2009)
Juntos Podemos 2009 was a success with 72 high school students from Northern Virginia schools accepted. Students arrived by bus on a Friday evening and served dinner while a guest speaker from the faculty of the Biomedical Engineering Department gave a short introductory presentation. Students met their assigned SHPE member mentors before attending that evenings planned social activity. Last year's social activity involved many performances by different university organizations such as the salsa club, tae kwon do club, the step team and many other groups.The following day, students were provided with breakfast and given a tour of the university. After the tour, admissions office and financial aid representatives presented a short information session about the admissions process. Students then attended the annual engineering open house. The engineering open house allowed students to learn about the different engineering majors at the University as well as learn more about the current projects university students are currently working on. Students were able to meet graduate students as well as professors in a wide range of engineering fields. After the open house, students were placed into teams and competed in an engineering project which consisted of building the most efficient aqueduct with the supplies provided to them such as masking tape and PBC. Students had to apply problem solving techniques along with some math skills to create the aqueduct. The winners of the engineering competition received prizes and dinner was served before the students left to return home.