The Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Academy from Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute is giving students valuable technical skills and work experience before they ever enter college. This new program is part of the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), which helps strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem through access to state-of-the-art knowledge and practice in Industry 4.0.
Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s Lisa Deck is the architect of the new program designed for high school students in southwestern Indiana, specifically Bloomfield High School, Loogootee High School and Washington High School. Along with its partner, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), the Academy provides hands-on training, paid internships, college credits, and industry credentials for careers related to the semiconductor industry and defense sector.
The Microelectronics Academy is a free two-year program that spans the junior and senior years of high school. Academy students get access to courses in computer-aided design, introductory electronics, microsystems, vacuum technology, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and more. They can also earn dual credits through Ivy Tech Community College that can be applied to future college endeavors.
Deck started developing the program in August 2024 alongside ROI, and the Academy officially launched a year later in August 2025.
“The development of the MOMENTUM Microelectronics Academy was made possible through the expert guidance and powerful collaboration with Lisa Deck and IN-MaC,” said Shelley Christmas, an assistant superintendent for Loogootee Community School Corporation. “We are excited that this effort is allowing our students to become engaged in advanced technology fields and is helping to develop the next generation of skilled talent for Indiana's future workforce and our nation's critical defense sector.”
This isn’t Deck’s first successful project; she has also designed 22 other “pathway” programs through her work as the education and workforce program manager at Purdue’s IN-MaC. Deck’s Pathway System is a structured process to bring together K-12 schools, higher education partners, and local industry to build academies from the ground up.
“The Microelectronics Academy is a powerful example of what happens when education, industry, and community come together with a shared vision,” Deck said. “We’re giving students the opportunity to explore high-tech careers and make informed choices about their next steps. Our goal is simple—empower every student to connect their learning today with a successful and meaningful future.”
ROI, a nonprofit affiliated with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, aims to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands, which includes Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties. It is now promoting the Academy under its portfolio of microelectronics programs called MOMENTUM, which “opens doors to microelectronics education and training, sparks interest in high-tech careers, and accelerates talent pipelines.”
Students and parents can learn more about the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Academy and submit an interest form at regionalopportunityinc.org/me-academy.
