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38 PCB007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2023 As we jump into 2023, we should adopt a "new year, new me" mentality. But have you ever thought how changing to a "new you" could come through volunteering? We just fin- ished up IPC APEX EXPO 2023, where we had many opportunities to give back to our com- munities. From STEM events to standards groups, there are many ways to grow as indi- viduals while helping others in the manufac- turing space. Integrating volunteering into your post-show plan is vital in both pushing the manufacturing space forward and creat- ing a spark in the next generation of problem solvers. Standards groups provide the building blocks of change within the industry. Without standards, com- panies are limited in showcasing their product's acceptability to cus- tomers. Standards reassure custom- ers that the product they need is high quality and approved by profession- als. As the organization that mar- kets these standards, IPC guides the creation and revision of standards by committees of industry experts for the industry. is process allows for input based on problems and solutions that occur in their every- day jobs. IPC standards provide the industry and world with common ground. Sometimes these standards groups are formed not just from the work- force. As the IPC Education Foun- dation has shown, students are wel- come and encouraged to join IPC standards groups. By allowing them to join standards groups, students find this opportunity to be a valuable tool in launching their careers. Stu- dents within standards groups are Step Up and Volunteer The New Chapter Feature Column by Hannah Nelson, VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY/IPC STUDENT DIRECTOR Hannah Nelson (center) with her high school FIRST robotics team.