MESA, Arizona -- April 18, 2024 -- NXP Semiconductors donates $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,” 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.

“NXP’s investment in the next generation of engineers, technicians, and other AIT professionals shows they too recognize the potential we see in our students and EMCC's ability to prepare them for jobs of tomorrow,” said Dr. Becky Baranowski, Estrella Mountain Community College’s Interim Dean of Instruction (Workforce, Math, and Science).

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.”

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Media Contacts:
EMCC -- Alissa Mansoeillo, alissa.manzoeillo@estrellamountain.edu, 623-935-8057
MCC -- Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-789
NXP -- Paige Iven, paige.iven@nxp.com

Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, with its donors and partners, supports the Maricopa County Community College District, its students, faculty and staff, through scholarships, programs, equipment, and financial and human capital. Visit mcccdf.org to learn more. Contact Nilam.patel@domail.maricopa.edu for assistance establishing a scholarship or a workforce partnership.

Estrella Mountain Community College is one of the ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the nation. EMCC offers academic courses leading to associate degrees, university transfer, certificates, and short-term job training to more than 14,000 students annually. The flagship campus is located on Thomas and Dysart roads in Avondale. Classes are also offered online and at the EMCC @ West-MEC Southwest Campus at 500 N. Verrado Way, Buckeye. Visit estrellamountain.edu/ to learn more.

Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, service-learning and innovative approaches to education. On average MCC students provide 23,000 hours of community service annually. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. Host to more than 25,400 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations through a combination of modalities. MCC is transforming how it champions student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution with nearly 50% of its students being the first in their families to attend college. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges; its American Indian Institute serves students from the 22 federally recognized Arizona tribes as well as out-of-state tribes. The diverse student body includes hundreds of international students from around the world. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to attain their goals. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.

MCC and EMCC are individually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.