Toyota gives $1 million to Georgetown College to support scholarships for STEM students


Dr. Rosemary Allen, Georgetown College Provost, Academic Dean; Dr. Granetta Blevins, Chair, Board of Trustees; Wil James, President, TMMK; Mrs. Carolyn Green and Dr. M. Dwaine Greene, President of Georgetown College.(Photo by Paul Atkinson
Dr. Rosemary Allen, Georgetown College Provost, Academic Dean; Dr. Granetta Blevins, Chair, Board of Trustees; Wil James, President, TMMK; Mrs. Carolyn Green and Dr. M. Dwaine Greene, President of Georgetown College.(Photo by Paul Atkinson

As Yogi Berra put it, “the future ain’t what it used to be.” The same could be said for manufacturing, which is why Toyota continues to invest in the people and institutions at the center of the industry’s future.

The latest, a $1-million grant to Georgetown College from Toyota Motor North America, Inc., was announced today at an event on Georgetown College’s campus. The contribution will directly support education programs for students preparing for careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), with an emphasis on future educators who will teach in a STEM-focused field.

The Georgetown college neighbors Toyota’s largest manufacturing plant, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK). Over the last 30 years, Toyota has partnered with Georgetown College on other scholarship initiatives, giving more than $1.5 million prior to Friday’s announcement.

Annually, Toyota’s Georgetown plant provides over $171,000 in direct scholarships to Kentucky students attending colleges and universities across the state. 

“At Toyota, we believe investing in education is an investment in our future, for our community and our company,” said Wil James, president of TMMK. “Partnering with institutions like Georgetown College to advance STEM opportunities won’t just have an impact on how we make cars in the future; we believe it will help shape the future of mobility for our society.”

Toyota is currently one of Kentucky’s largest employers with around 8,000 full-time employees. In 2017, the plant will become the home of Toyota’s North American production engineering headquarters, which will bring 600 engineers under roof in Georgetown.

In academic year 2016-2017, Georgetown College will have an estimated 350 students pursuing degrees in STEM-focused fields. With support from Toyota’s grant, approximately $6 million will be awarded in direct aid scholarship funding to students in these fields of study. Each year, Georgetown College provides approximately $17 million in total direct aid scholarships to students.

“This generous gift from Toyota Motor North America affirms and will enable Georgetown College to strengthen its commitment to STEM programs already underway,” said the school’s President, Dr. M. Dwaine Greene, during Friday’s announcement. “I am thrilled that, with keen insight, Toyota has seen in Georgetown College not only an institution with an excellent reputation in the liberal arts, but an institution which also does superb work in the sciences and other STEM fields. We are grateful to Toyota for being part of the vision and future of Georgetown College.”

To create a multiplier effect, Toyota’s funding emphasizes providing opportunities for future STEM teachers.  Since July 1, 2010, 136 students who have completed Georgetown College education programs are certified to teach in a STEM field and are working as educators in Kentucky public schools. Thirty-nine of these educators are certified to teach in more than one STEM field.

“Toyota’s gift of $1 million is important to the College in providing direct aid scholarship support to students in STEM fields and those who will teach STEM courses in public schools,” said Dr. Rosemary Allen, Provost and Dean of the College. “Because graduates have a Kentucky teaching certification, they stay in Kentucky.”
Representing the Georgetown College faculty at today’s announcement was Dr. Tracy Livingston, Chair of the Department of Biology. “While this gift is specifically for support of our students, it also supports our faculty,” she said. “Toyota’s investment in our students affirms the work we do as professors. I must admit, that feels very good.”

Georgetown attracts students for the academic programs of biology, chemistry, bio-chemistry, environmental sciences, engineering arts, physics, mathematics, computational sciences, and education. The high quality of preparation students receive has earned the College an outstanding reputation from educators, employers, and graduate schools across the country.

Each year, approximately 75 percent of Georgetown College undergraduate students are from
Kentucky, including 80 or so students from Scott County, where TMMK is located, and around 170 from surrounding counties.

“We are demonstrating today that the public, for profit, and private, not-for-profit partnership does work,” said Dr. Granetta Blevins, Chair of the college’s Board of Trustees. “It works to benefit not only our two institutions, but the greater communities in which we exist.”

From Georgetown College
 


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