Austin Community College receives $200,000 investment from Samsung Austin Semiconductor

Samsung Austin Semiconductor's partnership with Austin Community College (ACC) has been instrumental in developing the talent pipeline needed for the advanced manufacturing industry. During ACC’s Board meeting on Sept. 9, Samsung Austin Semiconductor unveiled a $200,000 investment to expand the college’s semiconductor training program.

According to ACC, the $200,000 gift will support the college’s Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start program known as STARS. The STARS curriculum currently serves as a national model for more advanced semiconductor technician training.

Our collaboration on the STARS program is part of our 5-star workforce development plan that focuses on building and retaining a skilled workforce. One of the key areas for us is partnering with schools like ACC to provide training programs, apprenticeships and reskilling opportunities.

 “We developed the STARS program in collaboration with Samsung Austin Semiconductor and four other companies in the region to create an accelerated route toward a technician role,” said Dr. Laura Marmolejo, ACC dean of Advanced Manufacturing. “This gift will make a significant impact on our ability to grow STARS and help meet the growing workforce demands in our community.”

Since the start of the STARS program in 2023, 26 Samsung Austin Semiconductor employees have gone through the program.

By the end of 2024, another dozen employees will have gone through the program. Samsung Austin Semiconductor currently has the most employees enrolled in STARS.

In addition to the STARS program, we have numerous employees working on their bachelor’s degrees at ACC. 

Demitrius Esquivel and Jordan Martinez are both working on their Bachelor of Applied Technology in Manufacturing Engineering Technology degree at ACC.

“I got an email survey from ACC about their Bachelor of Applied Technology in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. I said ‘Yes, I would love that,’” Esquivel said during the ACC Board meeting. “I was really glad to see that come to fruition and become part of Cohort 3 and I expect to graduate in the next year or so.” 

Martinez said he considered the program because he wanted to advance his career. Martinez started with Samsung Austin Semiconductor five years ago as a contractor. Two years ago, he became a full-time employee and is now an operations supervisor in the Gas Chemical System department.

"The company works with the school to make continuous improvements within the Bachelor of Applied Technology program, to make sure it includes applicable skills and information that could be applied and help students hit the ground running once completed," Martinez added. 

While in his classes, Martinez takes the opportunity to encourage classmates how the curriculum applies to real-world situations. “I let Bachelor of Applied Technology students know what they are learning is applicable and transfer over to daily work here at Samsung Austin Semiconductor,” Martinez said. “It's not just another degree—it's specifically tailored and is continuously improved so we can develop the talent pipeline needed for the growing semiconductor manufacturing industry.”

"Throughout our journey, we have had numerous organizations assist us in our success, and we appreciate Austin Community College for being one of those organizations,” Jon Taylor, Samsung Austin Semiconductor Corporate vice president of Yield Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering, said at the Board meeting.

During the meeting, the ACC Board of Trustees also approved the recommendation to name the new advanced manufacturing classroom at the Round Rock Campus as the Samsung Austin Semiconductor Advanced Manufacturing Lab.

According to ACC, construction on the new facility will begin in 2025.