iMAPS New England Chapter - Educational Program

IMAPS New England initiated a student scholarship program in 2010. The program was
designed to work with local community colleges with programs in microelectronics.
In the first year of the program two scholarships of $500 each were awarded to
students at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Professor of Electronics,
Rick Jagodowski, was the IMAPS New England liaison at STCC. He solicited applications
consisting of information on academic and extracurricular activities and a short essay
from first year students of STCCs two year program. The applications were evaluated by
IMAPS New England education Committee consisting of members Rita Mohanty, Wei Han,
Ryan Marinis and Amaresh Mahapatra.

The New England chapter of the International Microelectronics and Packaging Society
(iMAPSNE) was pleased to award the inaugural Community College Scholarships to
Philip St. Onge and Arnold Christiansen. Both are students in the (Electronics) program
of Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA. The $500 scholarships were
announced at the May 2010 IMAPSNE symposium. Our congratulations to the winning
students - Arnold Christianson and Phillip St. Onge.

Mr. St. Onge discovered the field of electronics at Pathfinder RVTHS, growing out of
his interest in computers and gaming. As he came to observe how electronic components
were essential to things everyone uses in daily life, he became very interested in
learning as much as possible about how they function and work together. He is working
towards a good understanding of the field as it stands as well as how it connects to
other fields. He expects to graduate from STCC's Electronics program in May 2011.

Mr. Christiansen is a lab instructor in the Computer Engineering Technologies department
of STCC while enrolled in the Electronics course. As both student and instructor, he
sees the benefit of continuing education as "teaching and learning go hand in hand".
He is working towards continuing to share his knowledge and expertise at STCC after he
completes this program and possibly further degree work. He expects to graduate from
STCC's program in May 2011.

iMAPS has a (40)-year history of supporting the electronics industry with technical
meetings and symposia, networking events, professional development courses, and on-line
resources. The New England chapter has an active calendar of technical meetings between
September and June and a well-attended symposium and exposition in May.

IMAPS New England intends to repeat the scholarship program in 2011. Please send
suggestions and comments to Education Chair, Amaresh Mahapatra (am@lindenphotonics.com).