Foundations Prepare Local Students for Tech Success

Carlsbad’s Nordson Corporation Foundation partnered with the SEMI Foundation this year to provide 40 local high school students with a unique educational experience designed to help students better understand how Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are used to solve problems. The three-day program included hands-on educational sessions taught by Nordson Corporation staff, a  campus tour of UCSD, problem-solving workshops, and career planning and interview preparation sessions. A graduation ceremony and reception, including a slide presentation with awards closed the event.

During the event, students learned about career opportunities, how semi-conductors are manufactured, and gained an understanding of electricity and conductivity. Students were also given Critical Thinking assignments that included investigating solar solutions to aid third-world countries and an Engineering Design Challenge that included fabricating a carrier for six beverage cans. Team Bhutan (Danylo Drohobytsky, Sage Creek HS; Fatima Enriquez, Sage Creek HS; Analaura Flores, Carlsbad HS; Robert Graham, Rancho Buena Vista HS; Shea Hinojosa, Sage Creek HS; Riley Hull, Sage Creek HS; Connor Jabbar, Sage Creek HS) won the Critical Thinking project, while the We CAN Do It team (Jorge Alvarez, Sage Creek HS; Noe Avila, Sage Creek HS, Analaura Flores; Carlsbad HS; Shea Hinojosa, Sage Creek HS; Riley Hull, Sage Creek HS; and Nick Rhead, Sage Creek HS) won the six-pack challenge. The carrier designs were judged on the product durability, symmetric and precise design, material efficiency, ergonomics branding as well as team and presentation skills.

At the graduation ceremony, Danylo Drohobytsky was recognized by students for his leadership as a team player, his interest and aptitude for technology, and his positive attitude. He was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Nordson Corporation takes social responsibility seriously. The company dedicates five percent of its pretax domestic earnings to charity each year, and most of those funds are distributed through the Nordson Corporation Foundation. The Foundation uses those funds to improve the quality of life in communities by educating individuals to become full participants. Funds are provided through charitable grants to nonprofits with some of the funds also used for sponsorships and scholarships.

The Nordson Corporation Foundation operates on the belief that business, as a corporate citizen, has a social responsibility to share its success with the communities in which it operates and draws employees. Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than $50 million in grants.

“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is an important part of the Nordson corporate culture,” said Sara Vaz, Community Relations Manager, Nordson Corporation Foundation. “We believe that education is the key to individual success. We partner with organizations that share that belief and provide curriculum and guidance to students to become self-sufficient adults.”

In 2017, the Nordson Corporation Foundation also provided $87,789 to the Carlsbad Educational Foundation, which used the grant to build “Collaboratories” at Magnolia Elementary and Aviara Oaks Middle School.