Hands-On Semiconductor Education | Washtenaw Community College

15 Ypsilanti-area middle school teachers spent a week during their summer break learning about the semiconductor industry to prepare for bringing this new industry to their classrooms. Math and science teachers volunteered to learn foundational knowledge and participate in four full days of hands-on learning with SEMI Foundation-sponsored STEM kits that they can deploy in their own classrooms this fall.

The training was hosted in partnership with SEMI Foundation and Washtenaw Community College and was funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The week was kicked off with two panel discussions, which hosted leaders in education and industry, including Shari Liss, Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. Patrick Gillen, Bia Hamed, Jeana Harper-Kirkland, Rick Vanittersum II, and Richard Walker delivered content and facilitated projects to engage the teachers during two of the training days. On the final day, teachers were taken on tours of the U of M Lurie Nanofabrication facility and semiconductor partner KLA’s second North American world headquarters, both in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

We estimate that over 900 students will be inspired by the middle school teachers who attended this training and will benefit from the lessons and kits.