More than 2,200 students across 32 cities took part in the 17th Annual National High Technology Day last month. Hosted by AT&T and HACEMOS, AT&T’s Hispanic/Latino employee resource group, #HighTechDay exposed students to the opportunities available in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Students engaged in demos and interactive workshops led those in the field and HACEMOS collaborators: General Motors, National Geographic Explorers and Samsung.

Students learned about circuitry and attended workshops featuring cyber security, mobility and AT&T U-verse® technologies. In addition, students were inspired by innovative technologies such as GM’s Connected Car. They heard keynotes from top AT&T executives and participated in the It Can Wait simulator.

“At High Tech Day, I was surprised by all the technology jobs available to us in the future,” said Eric Cruz, a Chicago student who participated.

This year’s participation increased by 50 percent over 2014. With 8,400 employee members in the U.S., HACEMOS aims to build stronger communities by providing positive role models and demonstrating the importance of education. The organization has invested $2.5 million in college scholarships.