Local tech companies, education community team to introduce prep students to high-tech career possibilities at SEMI High Tech U, Oct. 31-Nov. 2

For three days, over 30  high school students from School District #25 in Pocatello will engage in a high energy, highly interactive experience, learning the fundamentals of electronics, solar technology, semiconductor manufacturing, microchip logic, automated process fundamentals and nanotechnology.

They'll be attending SEMI High Tech U, a highly acclaimed three-day tech career exploration program for high school students presented by the SEMI Foundation, and hosted at ON Semiconductor, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and higher learning partner Idaho State University (ISU). Classes will be taught by volunteer professionals from ON Semiconductor, and INL.

Helping Students Plan For The Future

"We recruit students from local high schools who have the potential to do well in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) related careers and give them an experience that helps move them towards planning for their future," says SEMI Foundation vice president Lisa Anderson. "Students who have gone through our program report they feel more motivated to take STEM subjects in school, understand the value of teamwork and understand the educational pathway needed to move forward.  This is all good news in the technology world where finding young people to fill technology jobs is becoming more and more difficult!"

Support From Local Industry, Education Community

"ON Semiconductor is pleased to host the High Tech U program again this year," says John Spicer, Pocatello site manager for ON Semiconductor. "While it takes a variety of skills and knowledge to sustain a successful company, engineering is the back bone for technical advances in our industry.  If we can help to influence young people to consider this profession by demonstrating how science, math, and electronics are fun, interesting and challenging fields on which to base a career – then everyone wins: the student, the industry, and our community."

"Making science, technology, engineering and math applicable for students is a critical step in developing INL's diverse, knowledgeable, and innovative workforce of the future," says Anne Seifert, acting director of INL's Education Programs. "INL is proud to partner with ON Semiconductor to bring SEMI High Tech U to area high school students. This opportunity is a great example of how industry partners can collaborate and leverage resources to inspire students to consider a STEM career and to engage them in relevant, hands-on activities that helps them make connections about how, what they are learning in the classroom today, relates to their role in the future workforce."

"With the aging of the STEM workforce it is vital to prepare young people to enter into these fields. SEMI High Tech U is a great way to introduce students to the STEM fields and to grab their interest. Helping them develop the interest and knowledge of these careers now will prepare them for college," says Dr. Richard Jacobsen, executive director for the ISU Office of Research and Technology Transfer. "Another benefit to both the semiconductor and high tech industry and to the students is the opportunity for industry professionals, university educators, high school teachers and students to work together in projects or activities that include nanotechnology, energy and mathematics-based areas of electronics.  The students can get first-hand details of both potential high tech careers and the education needed to join them."

Participating Schools

Students attending the program are from area secondary schools, including Century, Pocatello and Highland High Schools.

Since its inception in 2001 SEMI High Tech U has been presented to 3814 high school students and 774 high school teachers in the US, Austria, France, Japan, Korea, Singapore, The Netherlands, and The United Arab Emirates. 

About ON Semiconductor: ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ONNN) is a premier supplier of high performance silicon solutions for energy efficient electronics. The company's broad portfolio of power and signal management, logic, discrete and custom devices helps customers efficiently solve their design challenges in automotive, communications, computing, consumer, industrial, LED lighting, medical, military/aerospace and power applications. ON Semiconductor operates a world-class, value-added supply chain and a network of manufacturing facilities, sales offices and design centers in key markets throughout North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions. For more information, visit http://www.onsemi.com.

About INL: INL is one of the DOE's 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of DOE's strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation's leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance. For more information visit: www.inl.gov.

About ISU: Idaho State University, a Carnegie-classified doctoral research high and teaching institution founded in 1901, attracts students from around the world to its Idaho campuses. At the main campus in Pocatello, and at locations in Meridian, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, ISU offers access to high-quality education in more than 280 programs. Almost 14,500 students attend ISU, receiving education and training in those programs. Idaho State University is the state's designated lead institution in health professions and medical education. For more information visit http://www.isu.edu/

About SEMI: SEMI is the global industry association serving the nano- and microelectronics manufacturing supply chains. Our 2,000 member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Beijing, Bengaluru, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.semi.org.

Contacts:           

Lisa Anderson, SEMI Foundation, 408-482-5235

Beth Johnston, ON Semiconductor, 208-234-6738

Kortny Rolston-Duce, Idaho National Laboratory, 208-522-4809

Andrew Taylor, Idaho State University, 208-282-3209