January 4, 2005

Conference of Hispanic Professionals and University Students To Be Hosted At Boise State March 31 to April 2

Hispanic students at Boise State University who are preparing for technical careers have won a bid to host the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Region III Leadership Conference at Boise State March 31 - April 2, 2005. Hispanic engineering and business professionals and student leaders from the Intermountain and Midwest regions are expected to attend this leadership conference, the first of its kind hosted at Boise State. Boise State SHPE students, who are majoring in engineering, business and technical fields, welcome assistance from local Hispanic professionals and also from area corporations in planning and presenting workshops on professional leadership topics. To participate in planning and presenting the conference workshops, Hispanic professionals and corporate representatives are invited to contact SHPE-BSU president Antonina Robles at (208) 250-1349, antonina19@yahoo.com, or Boise State College of Engineering public relations officer Margaret Scott at (208) 426-5789. Robles points out that corporate sponsors will gain widespread visibility with Hispanic professionals and students, as the conference and its sponsors will be recognized in SHPE Magazine, which has subscribers in the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. At the SHPE Midwest Expo this fall semester in Tulsa, Okla., Robles led the SHPE-BSU chapter to victory in its bid to host the upcoming regional conference by presenting the winning proposal. In her presentation Robles focused on Boise State’s strong ties to regional industry, its location in a hub of government, technology, and the arts, and Boise’s easy access to skiing and recreation opportunities. “We proposed the conference theme, ‘Real Leaders for the Real World’,” said Robles. “We believe that members need to prepare for the real world after graduation. Employers look for people with strong technical and interpersonal skills, as well as people who have the courage to take risks and the initiative to set and exceed reasonable goals. The conference will provide opportunities for Hispanic students and professionals to grow within themselves and expand their abilities.” Workshop topics under consideration include Leadership vs. Management, Communication Skills, Graduate School, Goal Setting, Effective Networking, Time Management, Conflict Resolution, and others. Student leaders are expected to attend from many universities in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.   Contacts: SHPE-BSU president Antonina Robles at (208) 250-1349, antonina19@yahoo.com    CONTACT _Con-42F90CC6EB \c \s \l Leandra Aburusa, Boise State College of Engineering, (208) 426-4432, laburusa@boisestate.edu; Margaret Scott, Boise State College of Engineering, (208) 426-5789, MargaretScott@boisestate.edu                                                    Media Contacts: Janelle Brown, Boise State Communications Specialist, (208) 426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu; Pat Pyke, Boise State Communications Specialist , (208) 426-1987, ppyke@boisestate.edu  Online at: http://news.boisestate.edu.   Note: Boise State University offices will be closed Dec. 23-26 and Dec. 30-Jan. 3.