HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JANUARY 2026 41 and engineers. Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us create hands-on experiences that change lives. This past year brought extraordinary energy to our work. With Materials Camps for Teachers thriving across the country, expanded student programming, and continued collaboration with our industry partners, we saw again and again how materials science can spark curiosity in students who may never have considered a STEM career. None of this would be possible without the dedicated community that surrounds the ASM Materials Education Foundation. Our volunteers show up with enthusiasm, our master teachers bring unmatched expertise and passion to every camp, and our donors provide the essential resources that allow our programs to grow. Together, you make our mission real. This summer, we invite you to see the impact firsthand by visiting one of our ASM Materials Camps for Teachers; immersive, high-energy experiences where EMERGING PROFESSIONALS educators roll up their sleeves and engage directly with metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. These camps don’t just teach science; they cultivate curiosity, empower teachers, and spark the moment when a young person realizes STEM can be their pathway. Witnessing that transformation in real time underscores why our work matters and why industry support is so critical. As the demand for a highly skilled technical workforce grows, investments in early STEM engagement are not simply philanthropic, they are strategic. Your continued partnership enables us to expand our national network of camps, professional development programs, and classroom resources, ensuring that the next generation of innovators is prepared to tackle the materials challenges of tomorrow. Together, we can strengthen the pipeline, enrich our industry, and shape a more resilient, technologically advanced future. Thank you once again for your generosity, your partnership, and your belief in the ASM Materials Education Foundation. WE ARE making a material difference. Carrie Wilson Executive Director, ASM Materials Education Foundation Wilson EMERGING PROFESSIONALS Symposium Provides Early Career Support At IMAT 2025, the Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC) hosted the Perspectives for Emerging Professionals symposium. This year, the talks highlighted a broad range of materials science and engineering careers, from studying the effects of corrosion on wildfires in the power industry, robotics in manufacturing, medical devices, and all the way to Washington for advice on securing a role in government as a materials scientist. The event also emphasized professional development and networking. Daniel Dennies, FASM, who assumed the position of ASM senior vice president at IMAT, and Vilupanur A. Ravi, FASM, gave inspiring talks on how to build your dream career in materials. In addition, the symposium held a panel discussion for emerging professionals to have a dialogue with symposium speakers. The EPC hosted the second occurrence of roundtable discussions, where students could bring their resumes for review, participate in mock interviews, receive graduate school/career coaching, and learn about other ASM opportunities. This year’s Emerging Professional Achievement Award was given to Emily B. Mitchell from Spectrum Forensics. The EPC would like to acknowledge our former members who have furthered their participation in ASM. Congratulations to Ryan Haase for his Silver Medal Award, Punnathat Bordeenithikasem for his Bronze Medal Award, and Ho Lun Chun for his Outstanding Graduate Scholar Award. Former EPC member Elizabeth Hoffman, FASM, assumed the ASM presidency at IMAT. The EPC would like to personally thank Dr. Hoffman for her leadership in our ASM community. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, and supported this year’s Perspectives for Emerging Pro- fessionals symposium. The EPC looks forward to further professional development at IMAT 2026 in Quebec City, Canada. EPC members gather at IMAT 2025.
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