MADISON – Students in Society of Women Engineers at Bob Jones High School experienced a hands-on, real-world venture with the help of STI Electronics.

The aspiring engineers toured the STI Electronics facility and completed a soldering class that included building a functional, electronic Christmas tree. The Bob Jones students and teacher sponsor Jessye Gaines visited the Madison facility on Dec. 5.

STI Electronics offers offer advanced engineering and analytical lab support; training materials and services; consulting; microelectronics assembly; prototyping; and electronic and industrial distribution for the electronics manufacturing industry. (Facebook/STI Electronics)

At STI, Society of Women Engineers members used the company’s state-of-the-art training lab. Each student had a workstation desk with an industry-standard soldering gun and rolls of solder, lab lighting, printed circuit boards or PCBs, supplies and anti-static worktop.

An instructor with STI gave the students step-by-step instructions, both as printed handouts and in lecture. Each student had PCBs shaped like Christmas trees. They painstakingly applied components on the end of each ‘branch’ to act as Christmas lights.

In their final step, they connected four PCBs back to back to form a three-dimensional, freestanding Christmas tree, covered in blinking lights. For a video of the Bob Jones students in soldering class, visit youtu.be/AVLPfeK9WHk.

STI began its operations in 1982 in San Dimas, Calif. but relocated to Madison in 1993. Jim D. Raby, a professional engineer, founded STI; he has 55-plus years of experience in the industry, including development of NASA and Department of Defense Soldering Schools.

During the past 25 years, STI, which started as a small family business with Jim, Ellen and David Raby, has grown to more than 50 employees.

STI was chosen in 1998, 1999, 2008 and 2009 as one of the fastest growing companies in the country by “INC 500” magazine. Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce selected STI as Small Business of the Year in the Business Services Category in 2000.

In addition, STI was a finalist for “Alabama Manufacturer of the Year” in 2008 as awarded by Alabama Technology Network and Business Council of Alabama.

STI Electronics’ address is 261 Palmer Road in Madison. For more information, call 256-461-9191 or visit stielectronicsinc.com.