CEE senior earns STAR honors from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

It’s been three years since the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) last awarded a University of Illinois student a STAR award, but this year, Gilberto Chaidez brought the honor back to the Urbana campus.

Chaidez, a senior in civil engineering from Aurora, Ill., was selected for the student role model STAR award this month, an award given to one undergraduate and one graduate student across all SHPE branches in the United States.   

“It’s a really big honor to bring back the title to the campus and just show what SHPE UIUC has to offer,” Chaidez said.

SHPE is a national organization with student branches at colleges throughout the country devoted to supporting the Hispanic community and advancing its potential. 

Chaidez has been involved with SHPE since his freshman year at Illinois and while serving as the alumni relations chair, he stepped up to fill a vacancy at president of the Illinois chapter. He filled the position from January to May, ensuring a smooth transition from the previous executive board to the new while also training his replacement for the alumni relations position.

Under Chaidez’s leadership, the Illinois chapter was named the best in its region, which encompasses most of the Midwest, and his efforts impressed Mauro Rodriguez, a University of Illinois graduate currently serving on the SHPE National Board, who nominated Chaidez for the STAR award.

“Gilberto’s moral character and relentless dedication toward not just obtaining his own success but bringing others with him is truly remarkable,” Rodriguez said. “A shining example to not only his peers in the field but all Latinos and Latinas as well.”

Chaidez credits SHPE with helping him make the decision to come to Illinois. Although he was initially discouraged to go to a large university, attending a SHPE outreach event as a senior in high school quickly changed his perspective.

“This organization really does make it a home away from home,” Chaidez said. “That’s something that really attracted me that the other universities didn’t have to offer.”

Chaidez and the rest of the STAR award winners will be recognized at this year’s SHPE National Conference from November 14-18 in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Writer: Chad Thornburg, Engineering Communications Office

If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Rick Kubetz, editor, Engineering Communications Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 217/244-7716.