The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $999,997 Cooperative Agreement under its STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to develop an experiential learning-based pilot program focused on emerging microelectronics fields. This program, called "BEGINNINGS: EMPOWERING MINDS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, RESEARCH, AND CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN EMERGING MICROELECTRONICS (EMERGE-MICRO)", aims to establish a pipeline for diverse 2-year community college students to earn associate's and bachelor's degrees in microelectronic engineering. Through this initiative, RIT will collaborate with Monroe Community College and Finger Lakes Community College, as well as industry partners GlobalFoundries and Micron Technology, to provide participants with cleanroom-based research experiences, co-op work placements, and tailored mentorship at RIT. The program is designed to cultivate a highly-skilled and adaptable semiconductor workforce to support the growing U.S. microchip manufacturing industry. The project will undergo external evaluation, and successful interventions will be disseminated for broader national implementation beyond the project's end date of June 30, 2027.