Educational Foundation

MISSION: The Foundation's role is to support student activities related to the study of Microelectronic Packaging, Interconnect and Assembly.

The Microelectronics Foundation supports student activities that cultivate an understanding of packaging, components, and assembly technologies; how they are used; and understanding materials used in the processes.  To promote these activities, the Foundation sponsors technical paper and poster contest awards at various chapter and national level conferences and workshops.  The Foundation will also promote the formation of student chapters at suitable/appropriate/aligned institutions.

 
   
 

Raising important funds to expand 
our efforts for students in 2025

 

APPLYING FOR FUNDING
Students, student organizations, and recognized student chapters are invited to apply for funding in various categories.

Steve Adamson Student Recognition Award

Students are encouraged to apply annually for the Steve Adamson Student Recognition Award, which honors an active student member's participation in IMAPS events, chapters, and programs. Significant technical research and/or service contributions to IMAPS and the microelectronics industry will be considered during the judges' review. The award winner will receive a check for $2,000.
Nominees must be current IMAPS student members, attend an undergraduate or graduate program in engineering or natural sciences. Nominators must also be IMAPS members. Visit the IMAPS Awards site for further details, and to submit your nomination.

Competitions

The Microelectronics Foundation sponsors student paper, presentation, and poster competitions and awards in conjunction with its signature events, including the International Symposium on Microelectronics and the International Conference on Device Packaging. To qualify, students submitting their work and identifying "Yes, I'm a full-time student" on the abstract submission form will automatically be considered for the awards offered through that event. More details can be found on the homepage of each event at IMAPS.org. Award amounts vary by competition.

International Symposium on Microelectronics:
  • A variety of Student award(s) will be available for the annual symposium. 
    • Paper Based (Pre-Conference) Awards:
      • These awards will be based on the peer review and evaluation of the pre-symposium written paper prepared by the student.
      • The full paper has to meet all submission deadlines to be considered.
      • Rubric used by session chairs will be the evaluation of the papers as an initial review. 
      • Top 5 papers based on rubric evaluation will move to next phase.
      • Judging of the top 5 papers will be conducted by judges nominated by the Foundation Committee.
      • Winners are required to attend the symposium in person to receive award (check given on-site).
      • Notification timeline: recipients will be notified at the earliest time possible after decision, no later than 6 weeks prior to the symposium.
    • Presentation Awards:
      • These awards will be based on evaluation of the on-site presentation made by the student.
      • Judging on-site using the rubric evaluation. 
      • Notification sent within 2 weeks following the conference and check mailed directly.
    • Poster Awards:
      • These awards will be based on evaluation of the on-site POSTER presentation made by the student.
      • Judges appointed by Foundation Committee and evaluation using rubric.
      • Notification sent within 2 weeks following the conference and check mailed directly.

International Device Packaging Conference:

The following Student award(s) will be available for Device Packaging. 

  • "Extended Abstract" (Paper) Based (Pre-Conference) Awards:
    • These awards will be based on evaluation of the pre-conference paper ("extended abstract") prepared by the student.
    • The  paper has to meet all submission deadlines to be considered.
    • Rubric used by session chairs will be the evaluation of the papers as an initial review. 
    • Top papers based on rubric evaluation will move to next phase.
    • Judging of the top papers will be conducted by judges nominated by the Foundation Committee.
    • Winners are required to attend the conference in person to receive award (check given on-site).
    • Notification timeline: recipients will be notified at the earliest time possible after the decision, no later than 4 weeks prior to the conference.
  • Presentation Awards:
    • These awards will be based on evaluation of the on-site presentation made by the student.
    • Judging on-site using the rubric evaluation. 
    • Notification sent within 2 weeks following the conference and check mailed directly.


Additionally, local chapters commonly sponsor student paper and poster competitions at chapter events (see Student page). Get connected with your local chapter to stay up-to-date on announcements about scheduled competitions.

Local/Chapter Awards & Competitions
Local active chapters are encouraged to host "merit based" awards and competitions for students at their events and within their chapter/region. Examples include poster competitions or support for local conference student awards. Please contact IMAPS at info@imaps.org if your chapter would like to request funding to support these awards/competitions. The chapters must identify the reason for the request (the event description in most cases), date of the event, any available flyer, announcement or website for the event, the selection process that will be used to determine the winning student(s), the funding amount requested (either $500 or $1000 increment) and the breakdown of the awards money distribution, post event feedback (photos and winners names so the Foundation can promote this activity), and providing examples of how any past Foundation funding has been used (OPTIONAL). Receipt of request must be at least 2 months prior to the event date. 

Student Chapter Funding
New and active student chapters are allocated funding on a need-based request system for chapter meetings. Please contact IMAPS at info@imaps.org to request funding on behalf of your chapter. The following information should be provided:

Chapter Name
Chapter Advisor
Event to be Funded
Event Date
Dollar Amount Requested
Expected Number of Attendees


High School-Exhibitor Interchange at IMAPS Symposium
A high school group local to the annual IMAPS Symposium is selected each year for participation in the IMAPS High School-Exhibitor Interchange. This program introduces STEM-minded high school students to the microelectronics industry representatives on our show floor and traditionally involves a showcase of the students' body of work as well, such as a robotics or technical demonstration on the show floor. The selected group is awarded a $2,000 check on behalf of the Microelectronics Foundation upon the conclusion of the program. Interested high school student groups or recommendations for local programs by members may contact IMAPS at info@imaps.org for consideration. The selected group is traditionally contacted between May and August of each year.


DONATE TO THE FOUNDATION
If you share the goals of this organization, then we invite you to donate to the Microelectronics Foundation to help us create a better understanding of technologies of microelectronics packaging through student initiatives. The IMAPS Microelectronics Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. 100% of all donations and funds raised are reinvested into the mission of the Foundation to support student activities related to the study of Microelectronic Packaging, Interconnect and Assembly.

Donations are accepted from and on behalf of individuals or organizations either directly or through sponsorship of Foundation events.

    Direct Funding to the Foundation

    Microelectronics Foundation General Fund
    David Virissimo Memorial Scholarship

     Steve Adamson Memorial Student Recognition Award

    Sponsorship Opportunities

    Spring Golf Classic - held in conjunction with the Device Packaging Conference. 
    Fall Golf Classic- held in conjunction with the annual IMAPS Symposium.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE FOUNDATION
If you would like to get involved with the Foundation, we'd like to hear from you! IMAPS welcomes the involvement of individuals and companies in many capacities at both the chapter and national level.

Get Involved as an Individual:
The Foundation recruits individuals for leadership positions that serve various Foundation initiatives, including minimum commitment roles such as one-time event assistants (raffle sales, silent auction item recruitment), medium-commitment roles like chapter level event organizers, and longer-term roles that include chairing national Foundation functions like the Spring and Fall golf classics or positions on the Foundation committee itself. IMAPS also actively seeks "champions" within IMAPS member and exhibiting organizations that recruit donations from within internal networks.

Get Your Organization Involved:
Organizational support of the Microelectronics Foundation includes sponsorship of educational grants through corporate foundations or programs, sponsorship of paper and poster contests, and partnership in internship placement programs with university students.

ABOUT
The Microelectronics Foundation and IMAPS, the membership society, are both organized as 501c(3) entities. This means that any gifts to the Foundation are considered charitable donations.

The Board of Directors is comprised of past officers and senior members of the IMAPS society, the current IMAPS Treasurer and academic members. The board's job is to oversee the operations of the Foundation, advise on investment strategies for the Foundation's endowment and approve grants for student activities.

The Foundation Organization operates under the below Strategic Focus.

  • Identify and serve all who we intend to attract and represent through the Foundation. We provide leadership in defining, tracking and communicating the uniqueness and potential of microelectronics and microelectronic packaging companies and free agents/consultants. In order to serve the needs of this sector and build Foundation Initiatives that match both the needs of the donor and the requirements of IMAPS and its Foundation, we will identify, seek out, and keep an accounting of our dialogue and transactions with everyone in this sector.
     
  • Develop brand equity. The new name for the Foundation and stronger brand reflects current and future expertise and expanded focus into all areas of the rapidly growing electronics industries. Through each of the primary functions of the Foundation-Fund Raising, Endowment Management, Program Creation and Management, Marketing and Industry Communications, the Foundation works on relevancy within both existing and new markets.
     
  • Build up relationships and endowments. The Foundation intends to build endowed funds to $2 million before funding any new scholarships, projects, or initiatives. Special projects, such as the Summit on Innovation and other events that make connections and award innovation, are self-funded and designed to strengthen friendships and connections across all industries that depend on microelectronics in manufacturing, customer service or marketing.
     
  • Innovate around new business and markets. Through innovative projects and major research efforts funded by collaborations of corporate contributions and government grants, the Foundation establishes footprints in new markets and expand in nontraditional markets. This means we make the pie bigger for the whole industry and provide specific, customized advantages of information and access to other leaders, through Foundation projects. There is room at the Foundation table for everyone that commits to the Mission and Vision with competitive advantages going to those who come to the Foundation sooner and work in a "think tank" or innovative environment with the Foundation management team.
     
  • Thought leadership. As part of the Foundation's commitment to the future of microelectronics and microelectronic packaging and future generations of professionals, the Foundation's Think Tank brings together thought and resources around central issues affecting design, manufacturing, and positioning of microelectronics and microelectronic packaging as an integral part of the complete supply chain to the end users.



CONTACT THE FOUNDATION
We'd like to hear from you! Please direct questions or comments about the Microelectronics Foundation, or any questions about donations, fundraising campaigns, financial statements or more to:

Brian Schieman | Executive Director, IMAPS | bschieman@imaps.org | 919-293-5000

 

 

 

PO Box 14727, Pittsburgh PA 15234 | Email Us | 1-919-293-5000