NXP Semiconductors donated $100,000 to provide scholarships and establish an endowment for Automated Industrial Technology (AIT) students at Mesa Community College and Estrella Mountain Community College.
Based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, NXP has a strong, decades-long history in Arizona, and most recently opened its newest fabrication site in Chandler in 2020. The 150 mm (6-inch) Gallium Nitride (GaN) fab in Chandler is one of the most advanced RF fabs in the world and one of the few that is solely dedicated to 5G communications infrastructure RF power amplifiers.
NXP designs purpose-built, rigorously tested technologies for the automotive, industrial and IoT, mobile and communication infrastructure markets that enable devices to sense, think, connect and act intelligently to improve people's daily lives.
“With Arizona remaining an important focal point in the future of semiconductor manufacturing, the need for technical talent in our industry has never been more vital,” said Geno Fallico, vice president of Chandler operations at NXP. “This donation will help support Valley college students with the training and tools necessary to one day pursue a rewarding career in manufacturing, helping to foster growth, innovation and technological advancements in our local semiconductor community.”
Administered through the Maricopa County Community College Foundation, the first scholarships were awarded to 13 students in fall 2023.
“We’re grateful for NXP’s generosity in providing scholarships to deserving students in both the East and West Valley,” said MCC Automated Industrial Technology Program Director Ken Hackler. “Our AIT students are already greatly benefiting from this opportunity.”
The AIT programs at MCC and EMCC prepare students to troubleshoot, maintain and repair a variety of automated electro-mechanical, product assembly, process control and product distribution systems that use programmable controls and other methodologies to accomplish system management. These systems include robotic, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and electronic devices. Through this degree, graduates gain the skills to define, integrate, install, program and maintain complex control systems.
For Matthew Cardenas, one of the scholarship recipients, the funds meant that he could finally pursue his AIT studies uninterrupted.
“My original plan was to attend college and earn my associates degree immediately after high school. However, life had other plans leading me to pursue college intermittently over a 12-year span,” he said. “I'm now on the cusp of completing my associate's degree with a major in automated industrial technology. My ultimate goal is to leverage this degree as a stepping stone to become an engineer, recognizing that the industry is in constant evolution and plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our world.”
