Company Overview

High school students put their business and problem solving skills to the test at the third annual Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge on Friday.

60 students from ­­­11 Mid-Michigan high schools competed for a chance to win a scholarship at the event held at Davenport University in Saginaw. 2011 marked the second year that the Dow Corning Foundation was the title sponsor of the event.

The JA Titan Challenge is an online business education program designed to teach students how to run a successful business when confronted with stiff competition. Teams of three students are paired with a business consultant and are coached about the nuances of running a global business. Students operate and manage a virtual business, making real economic decisions. The success of their virtual company depends on how the students interact and manage their company.

Hemlock Semiconductor employees Rob Kain, quality assurance team leader; Brian Carroll, strategic projects leader; Lynn Gruber, finishing quality leader; and Tracy Blaine, Black Belt, each coached teams of three students.

This was Lynn’s third year as a coach for the JA Titan Challenge. Lynn coached a team from Hemlock High School.

“I love to see how the students get so involved ahead of time, researching the game and practicing at home,” he said. “The JA Titan Challenge is an excellent opportunity to help students look at setting a business strategy and then maintaining that strategy through a whole business cycle.”

Rob said the JA Titan Challenge stands apart from other events because the benefits are directly for the students.

“We are here for the students to learn about personal finance, business economics and what it takes to be successful in the business world,” he said. “Hopefully they will take this experience back to the real world and their own lives and apply the concepts they learned today.”

Each member from the first place winning team from Frankenmuth High School received a $500 scholarship toward their future education. A team from Heritage High School of Saginaw took second place.

Hemlock Semiconductor Group also sponsored a Junior Achievement Personal Finance class at Hemlock High School taught by Linda Weigold, sales and supply chain coordinator, and Cary Kessler, S & T portfolio manager. The sessions were taught to junior level economics classes and covered topics including savings accounts, personal budgets and investments.

“We are trying to help the students who will be the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “College is around the corner for them and we are explaining concepts of business, savings and being an adult. Looking back, it would have been helpful to have this program for myself when I as a high school student.”

About Hemlock Semiconductor Group
Hemlock Semiconductor Group (hscpoly.com) consists of several joint venture companies owned by Dow Corning Corporation, Shin-Etsu Handotai and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Hemlock Semiconductor is a leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices and solar cells and modules. Hemlock Semiconductor began its operations in 1961.

Follow Hemlock Semiconductor Group on Twitter: twitter.com/hscpoly

About Dow Corning:
Dow Corning (dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.

Dow Corning is a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation.
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XIAMETER is a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation.