MARCY, N.Y. — Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) has awarded 11 students at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) education funding as part of the newly established, merit-based “Cree/Wolfspeed Scholarship” program. The first group of recipients shared a total of $46,000. The commitment from Cree is part of a $2 million scholarship program over 10 years. Scholarship […]
MARCY, N.Y. — Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) has awarded 11 students at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) education funding as part of the newly established, merit-based “Cree/Wolfspeed Scholarship” program.
The first group of recipients shared a total of $46,000. The commitment from Cree is part of a $2 million scholarship program over 10 years.
Scholarship recipients must be interested in pursuing a position in the semiconductor industry upon graduation, Cree says. They must be “committed to working hard,” willing to collaborate, have a passion for innovation, and “reflect the Cree values of integrity and respect, ownership and accountability, and ingenuity and passion.”
The scholarships seek to benefit students who come from “historically underserved or marginalized communities, as well as those with significant financial need…. [and] help pave the way toward successful careers in tomorrow’s high-tech workforce,” per a Jan. 22 news release.
The students must be enrolled in certain SUNY Poly academic programs. They include computer-engineering technology, electrical and computer engineering, electrical-engineering technology, mechanical engineering, mechanical-engineering technology, nanoscale engineering, and network and computer security.
As part of the scholarship, the recipients — first-year and sophomore students — may be offered paid internships and will be assigned a Cree/Wolfspeed mentor. They’ll also be able to attend the annual SUNY Poly and Cree/Wolfspeed scholarship mixer.
The initiative also follows the recent announcement of the Dr. John Edmond and Dr. John Palmour SUNY Polytechnic Institute endowed faculty chairs. The five-year, $1.5 million funding underpins the “continued expansion” of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities for students at SUNY Poly, the university says.
“We want to congratulate and welcome the inaugural recipients of the Cree/Wolfspeed Scholarship program,” John Palmour, chief technology officer at Cree/Wolfspeed, said. “Cree is committed to providing students in our communities with the opportunity to excel through STEM education initiatives, and it is an honor to help support these students as they continue their educational journeys connected to rewarding careers in STEM and as we work to train tomorrow’s high-tech workforce.”
Durham, North Carolina–based Cree is developing the world’s largest silicon-carbide fabrication facility in Marcy, referred to as the Mohawk Valley Fab. It will be 200mm capable and the firm has committed to creating more than 600 new jobs within eight years along with providing internships for SUNY students.
Cree also notes that eight SUNY Poly students recently participated in internships with the company. ν
