Sixteen Chattanooga area high school students graduated from BASF’s TECH Academy program which, in partnership with Chattanooga State Community College, introduces students to technical and craft careers through skills classes, workshops and industry tours.
“TECH Academy gives high school students a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of career opportunities through hands-on activities with industry professionals,” said Brittany Davis, Operations Manager at BASF’s Chattanooga site. “BASF sponsors this program in collaboration with Chattanooga State Community College in hopes that students interested in technical careers feel more prepared and empowered to pursue jobs within science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) fields.”
TECH Academy began each day with a hands-on classroom session with experiments and demonstrations led by Chattanooga State instructors. Students then participated in afternoon field trips to local manufacturing facilities where they gained insight into different industry procedures and practices and learned about career opportunities. Students toured Komatsu American Corporation, Chickamauga Dam, Chattanooga Bakery, Branch Technology and BASF’s Chattanooga facility.
In addition to industry tours and classroom demonstrations, the students learned both soft and technical skills like welding, 3D printing, electric motor design, and more.
“BASF’s TECH Academy is so important for local students because it really opens the door for endless possibilities and helps students invest in their education and career,” said Emily Barajas, rising high school junior at the STEM School Chattanooga. “Throughout the week, I learned about various career opportunities in the technical field and was able to see firsthand what types of organizations I could work for in Chattanooga.”
TECH Academy is part of BASF’s STEAM education and workforce development efforts in North America to support industry growth and regional investment. The program is funded annually by BASF and is free for students. The application process is open to any local student going into their junior or senior year of high school interested in technical careers. Applications for the 2025 TECH Academy will open in February.