Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) Recap

By: Brenda Leyva

The Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) conference is an annual event that brings together students, professionals, and organizations to celebrate diversity in STEM fields. It was founded in 1989 to support and inspire underrepresented groups, providing opportunities for networking, professional development, and learning from leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math.

This year, I had the chance to attend GMiS as a CAHSI Advocate. The trip was fully funded and included training and access to all conference events. It was an incredible opportunity for me to gain hands-on experience, especially in cybersecurity, and to meet other CAHSI Advocates from different parts of the U.S.

This was my second time at GMiS, and it felt even better than the first. I was more comfortable with the environment, which allowed me to take advantage of more opportunities and connect with others more confidently.

One of my favorite moments was the Cyber Challenge. My team (Emily and Monsse) worked on tasks like penetration testing, password cracking, and steganography. We worked hard and ended up as one of the top five teams! It was exciting to apply what I’ve learned and see our efforts pay off.

I also had the chance to meet the CEO of CAHSI again. We talked about the work I’ve been doing to bring more opportunities to students in the program, which felt really rewarding. Another highlight was the Latin@s in Computing workshop. I learned a lot from industry professionals, and it was special to reconnect with my familia from the Google LSLS program during the session.

This conference helped me grow, not just in my knowledge but also in confidence. I left feeling inspired to continue working toward my goals and to help others along the way.

For anyone thinking about attending GMiS, I highly recommend it. It’s a place where you can learn, meet amazing people, and feel supported in your STEM journey.

PHOTOS:

Google LSLS familia <3

GMiS in a nutshell :)