Welcome to
MeChA × SHPE!
We are a student-led organization bringing together Hispanic and Latino culture, community, academic success, leadership, and professional development at Cal Poly Maritime Academy.
Whether you're looking to celebrate culture, build connections, or discover opportunities in engineering, there's a place for you here.
Join Our Familia ↗Culture. Community. Opportunity.
Three pillars behind everything we do, from cultural connection to career development.
Celebrate our roots
Bring our histories, languages and traditions into campus life and create a space to belong.
Build lasting connections
Connect students, peer leaders, campus partners and other chapters beyond Maritime.
Grow together
Make space for mentorship, engineering opportunities and professional development.
Two legacies. One community.
Learn how Chicano student organizing reshaped California campuses, how SHPE expanded opportunities in engineering, and why that legacy matters here at Maritime.
Explore our history →Meet the founders
Melanie Rodriguez-Rios · President & Co-Founder
Juan Aguilar Huerta · Vice President & Co-Founder
Meet our officers →We couldn't find every connection we needed. So we started building them.
In 2025, our idea began among first-generation EOP students navigating the challenges of college, cadet life, and engineering. In 2026, we established MeChA × SHPE, supported by collaboration with Megan Nance, Director of Student Inclusion Initiatives, and Stephanie Francis, Director of Career Services. We're building a community that connects culture, academic persistence, and career opportunity.
Read Our Story →We are developing a curated resource hub for engineering, maritime, first-generation and Hispanic-serving educational opportunities.