While we use this column to share updates on new digital libraries, programs, and economic improvements arising from the ASM Renewal, we have not yet discussed another important Renewal aspect—the cultural changes we have accomplished at the Dome with respect to our geographic neighbors. One of those changes has been ASM’s transition to an open, collaborative, corporate partner working with local educational and economic development programs, most notably the Geauga County Growth Partnership and the school districts within our county.
Since summer 2018, ASM’s grounds at Materials Park have hosted Homegrown at The Dome, a festival of local restaurants and businesses. This event raises money to support internship programs at local companies for Geauga County high school students.
Recently, we received word from the Partnership that Homegrown at the Dome has become the county’s flagship funding program for high school interns interested in STEM, particularly in applied computing and manufacturing. And, not only does the crowd under the Dome drive the
program’s funding, ASM has also placed the largest set of interns, and for the longest number of consecutive years, within the county.
While these interns are relatively inexperienced in applied computing, under the able direction of ASM’s Dr. Afina Lupulescu, they routinely deliver excellent summer program results, such as supporting Granta database upgrades and migrations. Additionally, several of our former interns have returned after college to become full-time ASM professionals.
ASM was also recognized this past spring for our support of local school districts by the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA). I was pleased to accept the OSBA Business Honor Roll award on behalf of ASM. This recognition came about due to ASM’s transition of Materials Camp projects
into curricula for the Geauga County iSTEM Academy,a STEM-prioritized charter school for grades 8-12. Notably, an increasing number of ASM interns are coming from the iSTEM Academy.
So, just as the ASM Renewal is creating virtuous circles of value for our members around the world, we are also creating virtuous circles of benefit for our local county and its schools.
William T. Mahoney, CEO, ASM International
[email protected]
This excerpt is from the September issue of Advanced Materials & Processes (AM&P).
