When students doubt their ability to succeed or are unsure about their plans for after high school, Raphael “Tito” Marzo has a simple but powerful message for them: “Sí se puede” — or “Yes you can.” 
 
This is the same message Marzo, who will graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T, heard countless times four years ago when he attended the Sí Se Puede program coordinated by the university’s student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). 

The Sí Se Puede experience 

The annual Sí Se Puede program allows high school students who are typically of Hispanic or Spanish descent to spend a weekend in November living at Missouri S&T.  
 
Attendees take part in workshops and events to help them learn about opportunities and resources for future college students who have an interest in science, technology, engineering or math.  
 
Some topics covered include the process of applying for scholarships, alternate routes to higher education through community colleges and the curriculum and hands-on laboratory experiences for S&T students. 
 
“It was perfect for me because I was able to hear from current students with backgrounds similar to mine, ask them more nuanced questions and hear their more open, down-to-earth responses,” Marzo says. “This program put me in an environment where I could learn from students who were already successful and had a better understanding of how to navigate college.” 

Marzo’s inspiration 

Marzo says he was born in Argentina and lived there for the first few years of his life before moving to the St. Louis area. He says he has always been curious about how different devices worked. 
 
“I would spend hours taking things apart and putting them back together,” he says. “From a young age, I have been the ‘handyman’ in my house, helping with things like fixing appliances or installing a new car suspension and radio. I wanted to know how to take care of the things my family and I used and depended on in our everyday lives.” 
 
This passion led to his interest in mechanical engineering, which then led to him and his mother researching different opportunities for high school seniors. The Sí Se Puede program stood out to them, as it was free and provided transportation for participants from St. Louis and Kansas City to Rolla. 

His SHPE leadership 

Since enrolling at S&T, Marzo has served in multiple leadership roles with SHPE and was the group’s president for the 2022-23 academic year. 
 
He currently serves as the external recruitment chair, which he says allows him to expose even more people to the organization and events that have played a large influence in his life. 
 
“Si Se Puede and SHPE have been so impactful for me and helped me set and realize my goals,” he says. “Serving in these roles has allowed me to help future students have similar experiences and understand how they can aim even higher for their goals. 
 
“Higher education is something that can be attainable for everyone. Students just need to be aware of the resources and how they can be leveraged to help them succeed.” 

His plans 

After Marzo graduates from S&T, he plans to work as a mechanical engineer with PENTA Engineering Corp. in St. Louis. 
 
He also has his sights set on earning a Professional Engineer license. 
 
But regardless of what the future brings for him, Marzo says he will keep the “Sí se puede” mantra close to his heart whenever he faces new challenges. 
 
For more information about Missouri S&T’s chapter of SHPE, visit shpe.mst.edu. Learn more about the Sí Se Puede program at shpe.mst.edu/si-se-puede. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.