BASF TECH Academy introduces twenty-nine high school students to technical careers

GEISMAR, LA, July 5, 2017 -- A group of area high school students recently participated in BASF TECH Academy – a week-long program hosted at River Parishes Community College (RPCC) to learn about technical careers through daily field trips and interactions with industry professionals.

"TECH Academy is another way BASF strengthens our relationship with the local community," said Tom Yura, BASF’s Senior Vice President and General Manager in Geismar, Louisiana. "We will continue to host TECH Academy to help students connect to well-paying jobs and future careers that are right here in Louisiana."

The group of rising high school juniors and seniors attended various field trips that reinforced skills needed in technical disciplines for potential careers such as a process technician, instrument technician, welder, pipefitter, drafter, lab technician and more. The students toured multiple technology-rich facilities that helped further educate them on career opportunities. The facilities included BASF’s site in Geismar, the Coca-Cola bottling facility, Emerson Technologies, ExxonMobil Jet Fuel Facility, Smith Steel and Tank Technologies and NASA Stennis Space Center.

“TECH Academy exceeded my expectations,” said Reagan Nguyen, St. Amant High School student. “I learned much more than I thought I would. Being able to learn about these careers in a hands-on environment truly opened my eyes to what they are actually about and I was even able to discover a career that I never thought I would be interested in.”

TECH Academy is part of BASF’s workforce development efforts in North America to support industry growth and investment in the region. BASF’s manufacturing operations require a skilled workforce to construct, operate and maintain chemical production facilities across the region.

"TECH Academy is an educational, enriching experience for local high school students," said Dr. Dale Doty, Chancellor of RPCC. "This program exposes students to technical career opportunities that will ensure each a pathway to success. RPCC enjoys working with BASF through TECH Academy and hopes to continue contributing to the community and supporting local workforce development efforts."

TECH Academy was funded by BASF and was completely free for students. In addition to the high school students, local Ascension Parish high school career coaches attended the week-long program to help them understand technical careers in guiding local students to make decisions about their futures. Students who completed the program also are eligible to apply for BASF scholarships at RPCC.

The following students completed the program:

St. Amant High School
Megan Arceaneaux
Ben Boudreaux
Brendan Brunet
Austin Champton
Kaylon Hebert
Raegan Nquyen
Jadyn Rumfellow
Justin Schexnaydre

Dutchtown High School
Jacob Braud
Landon Burns
Jervay Cheveallier V
Isabella Jung
Cade Moore
Jaden Pearley
Emily Richey
Colin Watkins
Zachary Wilson
Bradley Wolf

Donaldsonville High School
Darell Honora
Trent Sullivan

East Ascension High School
Ronald Morris
Emily Russell

St. James High School
Reid Kliebert
Chaz Rodrigue

Mentorship Academy
Tyler Donaldson

Holden High School
Makenzie Herring

Denham Springs High School
Dawson Albin
Chandler Pope

Woodlawn High School
Treyin Miller

For more information about careers at BASF and jobs available in Louisiana, visit http://www.basf.us/la.

To learn more about BASF Science Education, visit www.facebook.com/BASF.ScienceEd.NorthAmerica.

For press photos, please click on the following links:
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2017/07/07-05-17_TECHAcademy1.jpg
Suggested caption: Kaylon Hebert, St. Amant High School students, explores the BASF Innovation Center at the Geismar site prior to taking a tour of the chemical manufacturing facilities.

https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2017/07/07-05-17_TECHAcademy2.jpg
Suggested caption: Taylor Heath, BASF Instrument Technician, demonstrates a level indicator used to transmit drum level signals to the operations personnel during the TECH Academy visit to BASF’s Geismar site.

https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2017/07/07-05-17_TECHAcademy3.jpg
Suggested caption: TECH Academy students visit BASF’s site in Geismar as part of their week-long activities to learn more about technical careers. Participants pictured include top row: Makenzie Herring, Chaz Rodrigue, Cade Moore, Bradley Wolf, Colin Watkins, Kaylon Hebert, Landon Burns Jervay Cheveallier V, Zachary Wilson, Justin Schexnaydre, Matthew Sianarta, Jadyn Rumfellow, Darell Honora, Tyler Donaldson, Raegan Nguyen, Isabella Jung, Paige Spadoni, Jacob Braud; bottom row: Trent Sullivan, Megan Arceneaux, Jaden Pearley, Austin Champton Ben Boudreaux, Emily Richey, Brenden Brunet, Reid Kliebert, Emily Russell. (Note: Not Pictured: Ronald Morris.)

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

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