Staff Reports | Community Updates
Western Maricopa Education Center, a public career and technical education school district, has opened the nation’s first K‑12 career and technical education advanced manufacturing cleanroom at its Northeast Campus in north Phoenix.
Designed to reflect semiconductor and advanced manufacturing environments, the cleanroom serves as the foundation of West‑MEC’s Advanced Manufacturing Program and provides students hands-on access to industry tools, technology and training, according to a press release.
The program was developed in collaboration with industry partners including TSMC, Intel and Amkor Technology, with curriculum aligned to current workforce needs. Advisory council engagement allows industry representatives to help identify in-demand skills and validate certifications tied to career readiness.
Amkor Technology has played a role in supporting a workforce pipeline that connects student training with employment opportunities in Arizona’s semiconductor sector.
“This is more than company exposure, it’s a direct pathway into the industry,” Raquel Diaz, advanced manufacturing instructor at West‑MEC, said. “Students are learning on the same equipment, following the same processes and building the same skills employers expect, which puts them in a position to step into these roles right after graduation.”
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 13, students began training inside the cleanroom through an expanded semester-long experience in partnership with Roots Education.
Students receive hands-on instruction in instrumentation, microscopy, photolithography, reactive ion etching and wet bench processing, wafer design, PLC and HMI systems, semiconductor engineering technology, and robotics and automation.
Training also includes safety protocols, semiconductor manufacturing fundamentals, precision measurement, automation and advanced production systems, as well as operation of industry-standard equipment.
