Innovative SEMI High Tech U Program Introduces Greater Phoenix Area High School Students To World Of High Tech Careers
Phoenix, AZ - The SEMI Foundation presents the 119thHigh Tech U program in Phoenix, June 7-9, 2011 to support education and career awareness in the fields of high technology. During the three-day program, 36 students from Greater Phoenix area high schools will attend classes taught by volunteer industry professionals at the campuses of the EVG Group and ON Semiconductor. Students will be introduced to the technologies used to create microchips that power virtually every electronic device made today, and explain the educational pathways that lead to rewarding careers in the high-tech industry.
While the national economic picture remains challenging, here in the Greater Phoenix area industries like semiconductor chip manufacturing, solar, and biofuels are expanding, creating an opportunity for local students who are academically prepared to enter the growing high tech workforce. In order to meet this long term need, local partnerships between industry and the education community have developed the SEMI High Tech U program to reach out to high school students to both educate and excite them about high tech careers.
"The continuing turnaround in the semiconductor industry locally, and more recent developments related to a growing presence by solar and other renewable energy companies, creates terrific opportunities for local young people currently in high school and college," says Michael Lesiecki, executive director of Maricopa Advanced Technology Education Center (MATEC) at the Maricopa Community Colleges. "We are very fortunate here in the Greater Phoenix area to have this dynamic partnership between high tech industries and the education community, that is focused on helping make local students aware of high tech career possibilities, and preparing them for rewarding careers in the workforce."
"Young people today are fully engaged in technology through their smartphones, video games and various social media activities. Yet their familiarity with the science and engineering behind the technology is limited," said Ann Jenkins, President, ASML US. "ASML is proud to partner with The Maricopa Community Colleges and some of our Valley peers in supporting SEMI's High Tech U. We believe creating awareness of the science and math behind today's technology will open student's eyes to potential fields of study and possible careers in high-tech."
Steven Dwyer, Vice President and General Manager, EV Group North America, noted, "SEMI's High Tech U program offers a unique opportunity for young people, who represent our future, to not only get excited about math and science, but to experience real-world applications in the high-tech industry so that they truly understand the 'why' behind learning. EV Group is thrilled to be a part of this program. We hope our participation will help to instill in students the same passion we have for technology that is critical to keep innovation in our industry moving forward."
"Encouraging students to pursue science and technology education is essential to building a future high tech workforce", said Mike Iannitti, Senior Director Organizational Excellence at ON Semiconductor. "ON Semiconductor is proud to participate in the High Tech U program as a great way to get students excited about careers in technology."
SEMI High Tech U was created a decade ago by industry association SEMI to get more students interested in science, math, and high tech careers. It is supported and presented by the non-profit SEMI Foundation. Since 2001 the program has been presented to over 3,100 high school students and 604 high school teachers in the US, Austria, France, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Program sponsors for 2011 High Tech U - Phoenix are ASML, EVG Group, and ON Semiconductor.
BEST VISUAL/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
TUE, June 7 — All Tuesday events at On Semiconductor, 5005 East McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85008.
10:15-11:30 am — Hacky Sack Catapult: The air is filled with hacky sacks as kids learn how medieval technology relates to modern day chip making in a math and statistics exercise called "Statapult".
10:15-11:30 am — VIP program (simultaneous with above). Industry representatives, educators and community leaders join SEMI to learn about High Tech U, observe students engaging in Statapult activity.
WED, June 8 - All Wednesday events at EV Group, 7700 South River Parkway Tempe, AZ 85284, WP Carey Room.
10-11:15 am — Human Calculator: Using a "feet on" exercise, like the game "Twister", students try not to get tangled up as they simulate electron microprocessor flow.
1:30-2:15 pm — Students "Bunny Up", learn clean room protocol. Students don clean room bunny suits, followed by tour of EV Group's state-of-the-art applications lab.
THUR, June 9 — All Thursday events at ON Semiconductor, 5005 East McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85008.
2:45-3:45 pm — Mock Job Interviews: Students prepare for the "real world" by practicing job interview techniques.
4:30-5 pm — Graduation and Awarding of Scholarships: Family and friends gather as students receive graduation certificates, anda $1000 scholarship is awarded to two of the students.
SOURCE: SEMI Foundation