scholarship

SkyWater Foundation Grants $100,000 in Scholarships to Support Students Pursuing Higher Education and Technical Skills for Success in US Workforce

By Rocket55 |

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – July 23, 2024 – SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT), the trusted technology realization partner, is pleased to announce the selection of 10 recipients by Scholarship America to receive $10,000 each through the second annual SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program. While the application process welcomed students from all fields, an emphasis in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) was encouraged. Currently, there exists a gap in the talent required for the semiconductor industry. Workforce development is critical in producing the highly skilled personnel needed to address the industry’s evolving needs and technological breakthroughs.

Eligible applicants included high school graduates or current college undergraduates planning to enroll full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire 2024-2025 academic year, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent). Selection criteria considered academic performance, leadership, extracurricular activities and a statement of educational and career goals. Due to an overwhelming response last year, Scholarship America capped applications at the first 1,000 received.

The SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of the Oxbow Foundation and SkyWater Technology, Inc. According to SkyWater’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources Laura Lorenz, “SkyWater is very pleased to partner with the Oxbow Foundation to offer these scholarships. Investing in higher education and helping students develop technical skills is essential for strengthening the U.S. workforce.”

The 10 recipients are pursuing degrees at institutions ranging from Columbia to MIT and Purdue, among others and include majors such as engineering physics, aerospace engineering and computer science.

Oxbow Foundation Director Elise Unterseher said, “The Foundation takes pride in advancing STEM education and cultivating future leaders in the semiconductor industry through our scholarship program. By making education more accessible, we align with our commitment to fostering learning. These scholarships empower students to pursue higher education, unlocking their potential for greater earning and success in their future careers.”

According to one of the recipients, Emerald W., “This scholarship will allow me to begin my freshman year 100% focused on the rigorous academic schedule needed for my major, aerospace engineering, which I will be pursuing at Purdue’s Honors College this fall. It will enable me to adjust to college life without having to worry about working full-time to financially support my college education.”

Another recipient, William S. who is studying computer engineering at George Mason University, commented, “This scholarship is helping me face the biggest obstacle I have in my college career: the financial one. I’m a first-generation student who lives on campus at a university in which I pay out-of-state tuition, so organizations like SkyWater make it possible for individuals like me to work toward their dreams without getting stuck on the journey.”

Added Oxbow Foundation Director Julia Unterseher, “We are proud that there have been 20 recipients of this scholarship over two years, and we are pleased to see our program empower students in their academic and professional pursuits. We are also excited to support those who are pioneering higher education within their families, and we take pride in fostering their success.”

About SkyWater Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Program
The Oxbow Foundation and SkyWater Technology, Inc. in partnership have established the SkyWater Foundation Fund, Inc. to offer a college scholarship program. Annually, The Oxbow Foundation expects to contribute up to $100,000 to the program for up to 10 students. The maximum annual award provided to any recipient is $10,000. The SkyWater Foundation has selected Scholarship America, a non-profit organization, to manage and administer the scholarship program.

The SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program may be cancelled or terminated at the discretion of the Oxbow Foundation and/or the Board of Directors of SkyWater Technology, Inc. at any time.

About SkyWater Technology
SkyWater (NASDAQ: SKYT) is a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer and a DMEA-accredited Category 1A Trusted Supplier. SkyWater’s Technology as a Service model streamlines the path to production for customers with development services, volume production and heterogeneous integration solutions in its U.S. facilities. This pioneering model enables innovators to co-create the next wave of technology within diverse categories including mixed-signal CMOS, ROICs, rad-hard ICs, MEMS, superconducting ICs, photonics and advanced packaging. SkyWater serves the growing markets of aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical, industrial and quantum computing. For more information, visit www.skywatertechnology.com/.

SkyWater Technology Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events, rather than past events and outcomes, and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to be different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in other documents that the Company files with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

SkyWater Company Contact: Tara Luther | 952.851.5023 | tara.luther@skywatertechnology.com
SkyWater Media Contact: Lauri Julian | 949.280.5602 | lauri.julian@skywatertechnology.com

SkyWater Foundation’s First Annual College Scholarship Program Awards $100,000 in Support of US Workforce Development

By Rocket55 |

Recipients include students pursuing critical STEM career paths

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – June 27, 2023 – SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT), the trusted technology realization partner, today announced 10 recipients have been selected by Scholarship America to receive $10,000 each through the launch of SkyWater Foundation’s annual Scholarship Program, thanks to the generous support of the Oxbow Foundation. While the scholarship application process was open to students in any major or field of study, applicants pursuing a certificate or degree in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) were especially encouraged to apply. Scholarship America received over 1100 applications for SkyWater Foundation’s scholarships over the course of 12 days.

Applicant eligibility included: high school graduates or current college undergraduates who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-or-four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire 2023-2024 academic year with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent). Competitive applicants were considered by academic record, demonstrated leadership, extracurricular activities and a statement of educational and career goals and objectives.

The SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program is helping students like Victoria A. from Georgia pursue their goals in higher education. As valedictorian of her high school class, a soon-to-be freshman at Duke University and a first-generation college student, she said, “This scholarship is enabling me to attend a private, out-of-state university which would otherwise be implausible for me.” Hers is a testament of how “these scholarships truly aid students who matriculate into institutions in hopes of financial and career-wise success for their families.”

With $10,000 awarded to each of the 10 recipients, the students are attending a range of universities from Georgia Institute of Technology to MIT and Stanford, among others. The areas of study include STEM-focused majors such as computer science and electrical engineering as well as areas like business, commerce, finance and others.

According to Amanda Daniel, SkyWater’s chief people officer, “The scholarships awarded by the Foundation will help students realize their academic dreams by making their education more accessible, leading to promising career opportunities. It also contributes to the on-going effort of industry to work with institutions in support of domestic workforce development. In particular, STEM education is central to the revitalization of the U.S. semiconductor industry, and we are committed to working with local and national communities to develop the critical talent needed for the future.”

In a world where nearly 70% of new jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but fewer than 50% of workers have one (according to nonprofit Opportunity@Work), these scholarships are helping bridge that gap and equip students with the education they need for promising career paths. In a 2021 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, adults with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $2.8 million during their careers – $1.2 million more than the median for workers with a high school diploma.

“The board of the Oxbow Foundation is thrilled to be a major contributor to the SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program and to witness the transformative impact it has on students like Victoria,” said Oxbow Foundation director, Julia Unterseher. “By providing financial support, we are enabling talented individuals to pursue their educational goals and unlock opportunities for themselves and their families.”

Added director Elise Unterseher, “The Oxbow Foundation is proud to contribute to the advancement of STEM education and the development of future leaders in the semiconductor industry. The SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program makes education more accessible and aligns with our commitment to fostering education. These scholarships are empowering students to pursue higher education and unlock greater earning potential, setting them up for success in their future careers.”

About SkyWater Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Program
The Oxbow Foundation and SkyWater Technology, Inc. in partnership have established the SkyWater Foundation Fund, Inc. to offer a college scholarship program.  Annually, The Oxbow Foundation expects to contribute up to $100,000 to the program for up to 10 students. The maximum annual award provided to any recipient is $10,000. The SkyWater Foundation has selected Scholarship America, a non-profit organization, to manage and administer the scholarship program.

The SkyWater Foundation Scholarship Program may be cancelled or terminated at the discretion of the Oxbow Foundation and/or the Board of Directors of SkyWater Technology, Inc. at any time.

About SkyWater Technology
SkyWater (NASDAQ: SKYT) is a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer and a DMEA-accredited Category 1A Trusted Foundry. SkyWater’s Technology as a Service model streamlines the path to production for customers with development services, volume production and heterogeneous integration solutions in its world-class U.S. facilities. This pioneering model enables innovators to co-create the next wave of technology with diverse categories including mixed-signal CMOS, ROICs, rad-hard ICs, power management, MEMS, superconducting ICs, photonics, carbon nanotubes and interposers. SkyWater serves growing markets including aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical, cloud & computing, consumer, industrial and IoT. For more information, visit www.skywatertechnology.com/.

SkyWater Technology Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events, rather than past events and outcomes, and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to be different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in other documents that the Company files with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

SkyWater Company Contact: Tara Luther | 952.851.5023 | tara.luther@skywatertechnology.com
SkyWater Media Contact: Lauri Julian | 949.280.5602 | lauri.julian@skywatertechnology.com