Geismar, Louisiana, USA
August 21, 2015
A group of Ascension Parish high school students recently attended BASF TECH Academy – a newly-launched four-day program hosted at River Parishes Community College (RPCC) in Burnside, Louisiana to learn about technical careers.
"Through our partnership with River Parishes Community College, BASF is introducing students to industries in our community that rely on science and technology in their daily operations," said Tom Yura, Senior Vice President and Manager of the BASF site in Geismar, Louisiana. "We plan to offer BASF TECH Academy annually to help students make the connection between their coursework in high school and how they can begin preparing now for future careers."
Thirteen 11th and 12th-grade students who attended BASF TECH Academy completed hands-on activities that reinforced skills needed in technical disciplines and met industry professionals who provided insights into potential careers. The students also toured facilities with a technology-rich focus, including BASF's site in Geismar, the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices at Louisiana State University, Louisiana Regional Airport, and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.
“BASF TECH Academy was a great experience,” said Lawrence Brown, from Donaldsonville High School. “ I gained exposure to careers within the technology field and had the chance to network with other students interested in similar areas. I could see myself working in a technical role in my future thanks to this experience.”
BASF TECH Academy is part of BASF’s workforce development efforts in North America to support recent growth and investment in the regions. BASF’s manufactuing operations require a skilled workforce to construct, operate and maintain chemical production facilities across the region.
"BASF TECH Academy was a wonderful and enriching experience for local high school students," said Dr. Dale Doty, Chancellor of RPCC. "The program help expose them to technical career opportunities that will help each of them determine a pathway to economic and career success. RPCC appreciates BASF’s contributions to the community and continued support of local workforce development efforts."
BASF TECH Academy was free for participants and all activities
were funded by BASF. The following students completed the program:
St. Amant High School
- Blake Accardo
- Blake Delatte
- Daniel Dixon
- Julian Guerrero
Donaldsonville High School
- Wallace Baker
- Lawrence Brown
East Ascension High School
- Kyle Arant
- Madeline Cernich
- Bryce Crochet
- Christian Diez
- Fernando Garcia
- Mason Gonzales
- Roberlynn Murray
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20.6 billion in 2014. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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