Michelin North America, Inc., invests $30,000 in Lexington One Educational Foundation for district’s VEX robotics teams
October 20, 2021
On Tuesday evening at the Lexington School District One Board of Trustees meeting, the Educational Foundation announced a $30,000 commitment from Michelin North America, Inc., to support robotics education. Foundation Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn shared the exciting news and thanked the corporate leaders from Michelin for their continued commitment to investing in Lexington District One students’ STEM education through such a generous financial donation.
The Michelin gift will be a three-year investment to support Lexington School District One VEX robotics teams through select team sponsorship. Currently there are seven such teams at the middle and high school levels in Lexington District One that focus on and compete in VEX robotics competitions.
Chris Rice, chair of the Lexington One Educational Foundation, also thanked and praised Michelin for its continued commitment to STEM education via the gift, “Our Educational Foundation board members are so very appreciative of philanthropic corporate partners like Michelin who provide financial support to enhance our students’ educational experiences that lead to future careers. Robotics teams are invaluable in developing future engineers, coders, robotics technicians and other employees who have marketable skills needed in the manufacturing industry and other fields.”
Mrs. Washburn agreed, “We are so very fortunate and appreciative of Michelin’s continued generosity in supporting Lexington School District One via the Educational Foundation in so many ways. This continued partnership is a terrific example of a locally-based, international corporation having an immensely positive impact on our students through its financial investments in their education.”
Lisa Hayes, former Michelin North America, Inc., Lexington, SC Site Director, shared her thoughts about the donation, “Having just completed a 3-year, $30,000 donation to the foundation for the district’s robotics teams and seeing the impact of that donation on the students, we at Michelin’s Lexington Site wanted to take it to the next level. That is why we are investing another $30,000 in the VEX Robotics Teams. As we see more automation and robotics in our everyday lives, we must prepare by ensuring our students are ready and able to take us into the future.”
This recent gift solidifies a six-year, $60,000 investment that Michelin North America, Inc., and the Lexington, SC site will have made in the Educational Foundation to support robotics education in Lexington District One. The seven Lexington District One school robotics teams that will benefit via support this school year include Lexington Technology Center/Lexington High (combined team), River Bluff High, White Knoll High, Beechwood Middle, Lexington Middle, Pleasant Hill Middle, and White Knoll Middle.
Michelin is committed to fostering strong community relations. In addition to financial support, Michelin employees have been volunteering in various ways in the district for more than 10 years, including working with middle school robotics teams. Partnering with 12 schools across South Carolina, the Michelin Challenge Education program provides support to public Title 1 elementary schools in the form of tutors, mentors, lunch buddies and financial contributions. In Lexington, Michelin supports Red Bank Elementary and Saxe Gotha Elementary.
Lexington District One students participating on the school VEX robotics teams will develop and sharpen their STEM and SEL skills through invaluable hands-on experiences, which will ultimately strengthen their marketable job skills for the future.
About Lexington County School District One Educational Foundation
Established in 1994 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Lexington One Educational Foundation is a source of growth and support for Lexington County School District One. Our mission is to support the district’s educational programs and enrich the quality of life in our community by raising and managing funds. Annually, the Foundation works to build partnerships with individuals and corporations in order to benefit our students, teachers, and schools. We plant seeds in our district that bloom into amazing educational opportunities for our students! To learn more about our mission and how to give, visit our website: www.lexington1.net/Ed-Foundation.
About Michelin North America, Inc.
Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its customers’ mobility, and sustainably designing and distributing the most innovative tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America has approximately 23,000 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com)
