BASF opens doors to local students

Job shadow program gives juniors and seniors an opportunity to explore science career interests

MCINTOSH, AL, March 31, 2015 – When students are high school juniors or seniors, linking education to career opportunities is important. BASF provided this link when 12 students from local high schools job shadowed employees at the company’s facility in McIntosh, Alabama.  

“Introducing students to STEM professions and occupations is critical to building an innovative and competitive workforce,” said George Vann, Vice President of the BASF site in McIntosh, Alabama. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with local schools to increase awareness about the skills needed to work in our industry.”

While at the facility, the students participated in a career panel discussion where BASF employees answered specific questions about career options, higher education and why working in the chemical industry is rewarding. During the job shadowing students spent one-on-one time with employees in areas specific to their career interests.

“The most enjoyable part of the job shadowing experience for me was seeing what a chemist does,” said Xavier Barnes, a student at McIntosh High School. “I enjoy my chemistry classes in school and appreciate a BASF employee giving me advice on my future plans.”

“I enjoyed the career panel discussion,” said Jacob Holston, a student at Millry High School. “I learned how the employees made up their minds about what they wanted to do with their lives and the skills it takes to be an operator or an engineer.”

“I’m interested in becoming a Mechanical Engineer,” said Nick Bush, a student at Washington County High School. “I enjoyed going around meeting the employees and seeing just how complex the operations are in the different areas.”

#1 Photo download right, suggested caption: BASF Operator Technician Willie Roberts shows Blake Nappier and Devontae Young of Millry High School, Hunter Harrell and Clayton Elmore of Leroy High School, and Corey Donaldson and Deanthony Holcombe of Washington County High School basic computer assimilations of the chemical process and how it relates to the physical structure of the equipment in a control room in the Light Stabilizers Unit.  

#2 Photo download right, suggested caption: BASF Chemist Ray Noletto gives McIntosh High School student Xavier Barns a tour of a lab.

#3 Photo download right, suggested caption: BASF Maintenance Supervisor Shane Thornton shows Tristen Koen, Josh Gunn and Glenn Moore of Millry High School equipment in the Antioxidants Unit.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20.6 billion in 2014. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

P-US-14-55