HONORING BEN LARRY AS A DISTINGUISED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HONORING BEN LARRY AS A DISTINGUISED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 35 (Friday, February 21, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E147] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING BEN LARRY AS A DISTINGUISED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH ______ HON. DARREN SOTO of florida in the house of representatives Friday, February 21, 2025 Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Ben Larry is the director of human resources for SkyWater Technology in Florida. Ben has been a human resources professional for 34 years. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Ben earned a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas. Ben also earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Tougaloo College. Ben is a Veteran of the United States Navy. In addition to his role in human resources, Mr Larry is recognized as a dedicated advocate for workforce development and community relations/ involvement in Osceola County, especially for underserved students and communities He has given several SkyWater career opportunity presentations to the faculty, staff, students, and parents at a STEM elementary school, a STEM middle school, a STEM high school, and other middle and high schools across Kissimmee to get kids interested and excited about careers as engineers and technicians in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. In 2022, Ben partnered with NeoCity Academy to create an internship program for NeoCity Academy students. The idea is to give students exposure to working at SkyWater and in the semiconductor industry as engineers. SkyWater continues to hire three to four NeoCity Academy students each summer to work on meaningful and impactful projects. Beginning in 2021, Mr Larry and other SkyWater leaders partnered with Valencia College to help enhance Valencia's mechatronics and robotics curriculum and helped them create their Associate of Arts program in semiconductor engineering. Ben and the SkyWater leaders also helped Valencia create their mock clean room. Mr. Larry also partners with Valencia College to offer internships for Valencia's mechatronics and robotics student graduates. This has resulted in SkyWater hiring three graduates to date from Valencia's programs as full-time technicians. In addition to Valencia College, Mr. Larry partners with the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, and Florida Polytechnic University to hire students for internship opportunities. These internships have allowed SkyWater to hire five graduates from these institutions as full-time engineers and technicians. From a community relations and involvement perspective, Mr. Larry and other Skywater employees have participated in over 15 Osceola County community events over the past four years. Three Kings Day, Viva Osceola, and Juneteenth, to name a few. Mr. Larry serves on the board of Career Source Central Florida, representing Osceola County. He is also a 2023 graduate of Leadership Osceola. Lastly, Mr Larry is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. ____________________