Robot Delivers GM Foundation Gift to Support Kettering University Specialty Programs

On Saturday, September 22 at the 13th Annual Kettering Kickoff FIRST Robotics competition, a $110,000 check from the General Motors (GM) Foundation was delivered to Kettering University President Robert McMahan by a colorful robot called “Admiral”.

Admiral was hand built by students at Grand Blanc High School and it captured the attention of over 800 onlookers as it delivered the $110,000 gift to President McMahan. Provided by Gerald Johnson, the $110,000 will help Kettering University to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and business careers in addition to selecting women and minority students.

GM’s Johnson, Craig Marriott and Bob Dziurda interacted with President McMahan, Kettering students and others during the gift presentation. The grant will support several programs at the University.

The GM Foundation gift will be categorized into students’ organizations/job skills and diversity initiatives. The grant will support the following programs:

• Academically Interested Minds (AIM) – a five-week residential summer program for students of color to help them move from high school to college.
• Lives Improve Through Engineering (LITE) - Kettering University’s two-week residential program to promote engineering skills among 11th grade girls. It also includes the introduction on the implementation of math, science and technology to solve human issues.
• Discover U – a pre-college program includes an eight-day “discover” programs and hands-on workshops focused on high school girls in grades 9-12. It has been established to fix the under-representation of women in engineering and the sciences at the professional and collegiate levels.
• Kettering Awareness Program will introduce specific high schools’ guidance counselors to the University, cooperative education, STEM degree fields, and experiential learning opportunities. This program will target 45 guidance counselors at country’s targeted institutions near automotive and manufacturing facilities.
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics was created for high school students in grades 9-12. Three FIRST Robotics will be hosted by Kettering on an annual basis. Additionally, it also supports Metal Muscle.

Kettering’s SAE Collegiate Design Competition teams include Clean Snowmobile, Formula, and Mini Baja.

“Admiral” was featured during the check presentation ceremony courtesy of Grand Blanc High School’s EngiNERDs Team.

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