Brainerd High School counselors begin school year with BASF experience

CHATTANOOGA, TN, August 2, 2018 — As school returns to session, two Brainerd High School faculty members will be applying newfound knowledge and experience after participating in a summer externship program. BASF’s Chattanooga sites on Amnicola Highway and Polymer Drive hosted Guidance Counselor Tereshkova Bonnick and College and Career Advisor Jaleesa Brumfield for a week-long immersion in advanced manufacturing.

The externship is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Academy, a partnership between the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Internship Program (AMSIP) at Chattanooga State Community College (CSCC) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

“Summer Externships through AMSIP are designed to help our educators understand the amazing career opportunities we offer here in Hamilton County,” said Cydnie Tate, AMSIP program manager at CSCC.

Bonnick and Brumfield felt welcomed by the company and noted that the employees were engaging and thorough in their training. The week began with a safety orientation and review of personal protective equipment, then the educators shadowed various engineers and technicians to learn about their jobs and how BASF operates.

“The school counselors gained direct experience and knowledge of manufacturing, which they can share with students seeking careers in technology,” said Robert Gagliano, Site Director at BASF’s Chattanooga site. “BASF works with Chattanooga State and Hamilton County Schools on science education programs to build awareness about our company and encourage the skill development necessary to support our future workforce.”

By the end of the week, Bonnick said she learned a great deal that she could share about BASF, and now has a better understanding of what students need to pursue a well-paying career in manufacturing.

“I asked the employees what skills the students would need and they responded with basic math, algebra and chemistry,” said Bonnick. “Paying attention to detail is also very important, along with flexibility, applying common sense and being able to troubleshoot problems by retracing their steps.”

“Experience is the best teacher,” said Brumfield. “I plan on sharing the experience at BASF in a presentation I will prepare for my students. The message to them is you can be successful even if you don’t go to a four-year college. You can succeed and move up in a company like BASF.”

For more information about BASF in Tennessee, visit http://www.basf.us/tennessee.

For a press photo, please click on the following link:
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2018/08/08-02-18_BASFExternshipChattanooga.jpg
Suggested caption: Brainerd High School faculty members Jaleesa Brumfield and Tereshkova Bonnick shadowed employees at BASF in Chattanooga the week of June 18 as part of an externship. Pictured from left: BASF Site Director Robert Gagliano; Brainerd High School faculty members Jaleesa Brumfield and Tereshkova Bonnick; Chattanooga State Community College Program Manager Cydnie Tate; and BASF Production Leader Clark Bingham.

 

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 18,200 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.9 billion in 2017. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

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