By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
Rio Salado College is a finalist for the Judges Award category of the Arizona Technology Council’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards.
The awards are presented annually to honor the leaders and innovators of Arizona’s technology community.
Rio’s STEM Initiatives department was nominated for creating innovative education and training pathways in the area of semiconductor manufacturing and nanotechnology.
“I am deeply honored to be nominated and selected as a finalist for the Arizona Technology Council Innovation Award in the Judges category,” said Dr. Rick Vaughn, Faculty Chair for STEM Initiatives at Rio Salado. “This recognition highlights the dedication and impact of Rio Salado College and in particular the semiconductor manufacturing program.”
Vaughn had the foresight to develop nanotechnology courses at the community college level before the introduction of the CHIPS Act in 2022, which authorized $280 billion in funding to boost semiconductor research and manufacturing in the U.S.
These innovative education and training pathways anticipated the needs of an emerging industry and connected a network of partners nationally to support the local workforce that is in desperate need of technicians.
Rio’s semiconductor manufacturing programs provide training opportunities to veterans, adults, and traditional students through in-person training combined with online learning components.
Vaughn said the programs demonstrate Rio’s commitment to preparing a skilled workforce to help drive Arizona’s tech future.
“As we strive to meet the evolving needs of the semiconductor industry, this acknowledgment underscores our role in fostering innovation and advancing technical education in Arizona,” Vaughn said. “It’s a testament to our faculty, students, and industry partners who share our vision for a dynamic and resilient tech ecosystem.”
The Arizona Technology Council award winners will be announced at a reception on Nov. 13, 2024.
Vaughn Quoted in AACC Publication
Vaughn’s work was also recently showcased in an article in the Community College Journal, a publication of the American Association of Community Colleges.
The article highlights how recipients of the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grants build creative partnerships with organizations and industry leaders to promote college STEM programs.
As a grant recipient, Rio Salado has enjoyed strong enrollment in the certificate program it offers with Arizona State University (ASU), which provides the space and instructors for the labs.
“ASU has been a tremendous partner, but we were partners with ASU well before this grant came into existence, and I think that’s why we have a little bit of a leg up," Vaughn said in the article.
He also cited the important work of Rio Salado success coach Jessica Arroyo in forming partnerships with the veterans’ services offices at all 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.
These partnerships, along with program promotion, yielded a full complement of applicants for Rio Salado’s fall 2024 cohort, with dozens more expressing interest. The next cohort begins in January 2025.