Mentor Graphics CorporationMentor will host an Industry Outreach Breakfast on behalf of the South Metro-Salem STEM Education Partners on January 11, 2013 at 7:30 a.m. at the company’s Wilsonville headquarters. The coalition of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Partners, organized by Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) and Oregon FIRST Robotics, is building collaboration among regional school districts, community colleges and universities, community organizations and businesses, to catalyze Oregon students to achieve STEM degrees and certificates by increasing the access, excitement and engagement of students in STEM courses and experiential learning.
Featured speakers at the Industry Outreach Breakfast will be U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Mentor Graphics CEO, Walden C. Rhines, State Representative Chris Harker, Garmin AT Project Engineer, Craig Hudson, along with Paul Sale from Mentor Graphics, and Hilda Rosselli, Deputy Director for College and Career Readiness for the Oregon Education Investment Board.
“Mentor Graphics has been a strong supporter of STEM education for many years,” said Walden C. Rhines, Mentor Graphics Chairman and CEO. “High technology industry has been the largest contributor to high paying jobs in Oregon in recent years but companies like Mentor Graphics are limited by the availability of a technologically educated workforce. It is essential to motivate and provide resources for students of all ages to explore science and technology to the fullest extent of their interest”.
The South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership’s Industry Outreach Breakfast will give local companies an opportunity to learn about the STEM Partnership and to get involved in helping their local schools understand their employment needs around STEM aptitudes, and to determine ways to help schools achieve their educational goals.
The South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership is composed of 12 regional school districts, two community colleges, three universities, five community programs like FIRST Robotics and Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, and several technology companies, such as Mentor Graphics, Garmin and Intel.
Signatory Partners include Amity, Canby, Gladstone, Lake Oswego, McMinnville, Molalla River, North Clackamas, Oregon City Salem-Keizer, Tigard-Tualatin, West Linn-Wilsonville. Woodburn School Districts, Chemeketa and Clackamas Community Colleges, Oregon Institute of Technology, Pacific University, Western Oregon University, FIRST Robotics, Project Lead the Way, Mad Science, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, and private sector employers Garmin AT, Intel and Mentor Graphics.
The partners have decided to work together to raise the achievement of students at all grade levels within their districts by providing teachers with professional development in project-based learning, linking private sector community resources with school needs, and providing more opportunities for students to get dual high school-college credits in science, technology, engineering and math.
For further information contact:
Lita Colligan, Associate Vice President, Oregon Tech 503-821-1247 lita.colligan@oit.edu
Or visit www.oit.edu/STEM
Deb Mumm-Hill, PNW Director, FIRST
503-715-6365
About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world’s most successful electronic, semiconductor and systems companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues in the last fiscal year of about $1,015 million. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.
About Oregon Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is one of seven universities in the Oregon University System, and the only public institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communications and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public and international communities through hands-on learning. Oregon Tech has a full-service, residential campus in Klamath Falls and an urban campus in Wilsonville. The university also has sites in Beaverton, Salem, La Grande, and Seattle, as well as online degree offerings. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Institute of Technology.
About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST ® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and nearly $15 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®) for high-school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism™ is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
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