Samsung is building its future in Taylor, along with a a $17 billion semiconductor plant. While construction is expected for the next few years, familiarizing itself with the community is happening now.
“We are excited about our kids being able to go into the workplace and join a high-tech company right next door,” said Devin Padavil, Taylor ISD superintendent. “We’re even more excited about the opportunities our students will have.”
Samsung participated in a Day of Service at Taylor ISD Tuesday, June 20, where employees interacted and worked with students from Taylor elementary schools. Activities included arts and crafts, engineering and physical education.
“There’s nothing more noble than impacting the life of someone else,” John Matthews, Taylor ISD Family Support Services, said while welcoming the 70-75 Samsung engineers.
The engineers were split between the different campuses to engage with students.
“For Taylor ISD, this is to show (Samsung) the schools and the kids,” said Darlene Ramirez, Taylor ISD Family Support Services. “Hopefully they will want to come and mentor during our mentor lunch.”
She said it also gives the engineers an opportunity to see Taylor and the community.
Students made paper airplanes and built structures with pasta and marshmallows.
“All the kids have been really good. They all had ideas they wanted to make, and we did our best to help them,” said Christian Boswell, Samsung engineer. “It’s been a good time.”
The activities also gave Samsung volunteers an opportunity to use their engineering abilities.
“It was really nice to get the kids to be on their creative side and letting their imagination flow. I’m happy to facilitate that,” said Daniel Herrera, Samsung engineer.
Odie Garcia worked with student Olivia Hart to make paper airplanes, and then had an opportunity to watch them fly.
“As an engineer we know the background to this stuff,” Garcia said. “We’re kind of very secretly showing them the mechanics of little airplanes to see how they work and showing them how to improve the instructions they already have to make them go further.”
Hart’s family has a business where they build paper airplanes and decorate them, which helped her with the design and folding process.
The employees started at Samsung Monday, June 20, and participated in the Day of Caring Tuesday, June 21.
“This is an incredible opportunity for you,” Padavil said. “I think it says a lot about Samsung that you are here on your second day of work.”
He said this will be an ongoing collaboration between Taylor ISD and Samsung to bring mentors into the lives of students.
“Our kids can see someone that went to school, got a degree in something related to manufacturing and technology,” he said. “Kids can ask questions and see people who look just like them and wonder, ‘hey, how do you get into that career path, and how can I get into that job one day.’”
