6/3/2026 Ben Libman
The High School Visitation (HSV) program is aimed at fostering a sense of community among high school students, particularly those from underrepresented populations. Long sustained through self-funding, HSV has recently been bolstered by a GIANT (Grassroots Initiatives to Address Needs Together) Grant from the IDEA Institute.
Written by Ben Libman
When Yasmine Rios was a senior in high school, she was accepted into chemical engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign . Though excited, Rios was also unsure: would there be a place for her at Illinois? Luckily, Rios’ school was visited by the High School Visitation (HSV) program. HSV is a program aimed at fostering a sense of community among high school students, particularly those from underrepresented populations. Long sustained through self-funding, HSV has recently been bolstered by a GIANT (Grassroots Initiatives to Address Needs Together) Grant from the IDEA Institute.
HSV made a world of difference for Rios. “After attending the visitation program, I left knowing there was a place for me in engineering,” she said. This moment inspired her to give back in the same way. Today, Rios is the High School Outreach Chair for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). SHPE, along with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), leads the HSV initiative.
Sophia Witola Reyes, NSBE President and bioengineering undergraduate, was also inspired to participate when she encountered HSV in high school. Reyes hadn’t ever considered engineering as a path until her class was visited by current undergraduates. “It showed me how much early exposure matters,” said Reyes. “Often, students don’t pursue STEM not because they’re incapable, but because they haven’t had the chance to picture themselves in that space yet. I wanted to help create opportunities for students to encounter engineering earlier and see it as something tangible, relevant, and within reach, as had been done for me.”
In addition to providing mentorship and a sense of community, HSV includes hands-on engineering experiences and opportunities. High school students attended a “Majors and Registered Student Organizations Fair” that introduced them to the many opportunities available on campus. Some HSV members brought projects they had worked on in class to demonstrate what an Illinois Grainger engineer could create while still in school. Gerardo Paramo, SHPE President and bioengineering undergraduate, brought his capstone project to show participants how their education could be used to solve real-world problems. Groups were also given tours of various labs on campus to see the research they could participate in as college students.
Another HSV activity is the Engineering Design Challenge, where students are given hands-on engineering experience by creating a project from scratch. Past design challenges have included DC motor cars, vinegar rockets, popsicle-stick trebuchets, turbine canoes, and egg drops. Many of the supplies come from recycled materials or donations, which keep the activities accessible and hands-on.
Paramo noted how special it feels when their program makes a connection. “One of my favorite things is when students reach out after the visit and share how much of an impact the program had on their decision to enroll at Grainger Engineering,” she said. Paramo also reflected on HSV’s ability to foster mentorship: “Many participating high schoolers who came to Illinois as undergraduates shared that upperclassmen they met because of HSV became their role models.”
Josh Montalvo, computer science undergraduate from SHPE, also emphasized the importance of mentorship. “At the surface, HSV may look like a weekend of tours, challenges, and activities, but its real purpose is to introduce students to the resources, mentorship, and family that can carry them through college and prepare them for success beyond graduation.”
Data shows that HSV is reaching an important group of prospective students who may otherwise fall through the cracks. For three-quarters of participants, the program is their first exposure to Illinois Grainger Engineering. This underscores the importance of student-run events and peer-to-peer mentorship—often, they can be the only touchpoint a student has with Illinois. This makes HSV an indispensable part of the recruitment process. Saliyah As-Salaam, civil engineering undergraduate from NSBE, emphasized the importance of this aspect of the program. “HSV is about helping students feel accepted, seen, and like they will be set up for success in engineering. Participating in HSV my senior year of high school showed me that no matter how large the school is or how difficult the classes may be, there will always be a community of people there to support me. That is a rare but very important feeling.”
HSV strives to understand its impact, both in the short and long term. “The most important metrics of success are not just how many students attend,” said Reyes. “It’s what changes for students because they attend.” Paramo concurred, saying, “we love to see an increase in attendance for the program and the number of participants committed to Illinois, but we also try to understand their unique stories and find trends that highlight what is missing.” That is why, when evaluating the program’s influence, HSV combines hard data like applications to Illinois Grainger and survey responses with anecdotes from participants. This iterative process ensures the best experience for HSV participants and the most impactful programming.
Reyes emphasized the historical significance of this student-led program. “NSBE HSV program has been running since 1992, and SHPE since 1994. For over three decades, students have continued to build, fund, and sustain these programs because they understand how meaningful this kind of outreach is. Facilitating HSV isn’t a small or easy task, but year after year, our orgs are excited to take it on. We begin planning as early as July, and the work includes everything from designing the schedule, booking rooms, coordinating volunteers, contacting schools, visiting high schools to spread the word, creating marketing campaigns, organizing transportation and lodging, planning meals, and raising the funds needed to make the event possible. A lot of this work happens behind the scenes, but it reflects how deeply students believe in the program and its purpose.”
Reyes continued, “I also think it’s important to highlight that many of our volunteers are former HSV students themselves; it’s one of the strongest testaments to HSV’s impact. Students first come to campus through HSV, later become engineering students, and then return as NSBE and SHPE mentors and leaders for the next generation. There’s something really powerful about that cycle: students continuing a program that once helped them, and making sure the next generation has that same opportunity.”