What does it take to ignite a student’s interest in semiconductor manufacturing and technology careers? Sometimes, it begins with a cookie.
Through the P-TECH manufacturing pathway, SkyWater introduces students to semiconductor manufacturing with a cookie. Frosting becomes deposited material. Polishing smooths the surface. A stencil demonstrates photolithography and etching processes. Sprinkles represent implant. And when the “wafer” is complete, students get to eat it.
The activity is simple but purposeful. It gives students a tangible introduction to an industry they might never have considered.
The SkyWater Texas team partners with P-TECH in Austin, TX, to deliver progressive exposure to semiconductor manufacturing throughout all four years of high school, building understanding, confidence, and hands-on experience along the way.
For Anh-Thu Tran, Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations, visibility is critical. “Many high school students, especially those in economically disadvantaged areas, struggle to imagine life beyond graduation,” she said. “Their focus is often finding any job rather than building a long-term career.” Programs like P-TECH help broaden that perspective. “If college isn’t in their immediate plans, P-TECH provides access to a viable pathway toward a successful and rewarding future.”
The P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program enables students to earn an associate degree alongside their high school diploma. The manufacturing pathway introduces students to the electronics, technology, and foundational skills required for advanced manufacturing careers. SkyWater contributes by providing direct insight into authentic semiconductor fabrication environments and real-world technical roles. This early exposure bridges the gap between education and reality, helping students picture themselves pursuing careers in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology.
Freshman Year: Discovering Semiconductor Manufacturing
Freshman year is dedicated to discovery. SkyWater team members visit the school to introduce semiconductor fundamentals. Students observe wafers under a microscope, see their intricate circuitry and experience cleanroom attire. The cookie wafer activity helps make complex processes approachable.
Sophomore Year: Building Technical Skills
In sophomore year, students begin to apply skills. Working in teams, they assemble small metal cars using basic tools. The project tests fine motor skills, problem-solving and teamwork, which are skills that are aligned with many technical careers, including semiconductors. The P-TECH model goes beyond classroom learning by giving students hands-on experience with the tools, processes, and problem-solving skills used in technical careers.
Junior Year: Seeing Semiconductor Fabrication in Action
Junior year takes place at our Austin facility. Students tour the fab, learning about SkyWater’s work and seeing semiconductor manufacturing in action. Hands-on activities reinforce core concepts, such as using Legos to simulate transistor construction. At this stage, students shift from learning what a semiconductor is to understanding how it is made and what skills are required.
Senior Year: Exploring Semiconductor Manufacturing Careers
Senior year provides deeper insight into technical roles. Recent participants spent time in the polish carrier head rebuild shop and parts repair shop, observing maintenance technicians and gaining exposure to the specialized work required to keep advanced equipment operating.
From High School to a Semiconductor Manufacturing Career
Felicia Donley, Etch Process Engineer at SkyWater’s Austin site, sees P-TECH as an opportunity for students to explore a career before they have to choose one. “By the time they graduate, they have a much clearer understanding of what these careers look like and what skills they need to succeed. And for students who discover that this is the path they want to pursue, SkyWater’s apprenticeship program gives them a way to take that next step while continuing their education.”
Apprentices are paired with experienced technicians to gain hands-on experience while developing core skills. SkyWater supports their education while they work, providing opportunities to pursue an associate degree alongside their on-the-job training. The program typically takes two years, depending on prior certifications and progress. This combination of earning, learning and working toward a degree provides a practical transition from high school to a career and demonstrates that students do not have to choose between education and employment.
Anh-Thu emphasizes that message. “Graduation is the beginning of many different pathways,” she said. “There is not one single track to a great future.” For some, the path includes college. For others, it begins with a technical role that provides income, skills, and long-term opportunity. “Becoming a semiconductor technician is a high-growth, rewarding career that students can begin immediately, and we’re here to help them achieve that future.”
By connecting classroom learning with hands-on experience, P-TECH gives students a firsthand look at semiconductor manufacturing and the range of technical careers available in the industry.