Toyota Says Thanks a Million to Future STEM Scholars

Georgetown, Ky. April 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ -- 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, Ky., 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.

To create a multiplier effect, Toyota’s funding emphasizes providing opportunities for future STEM teachers.

“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.”

About Georgetown College 
The mission of Georgetown College is to prepare students to engage in their life’s pursuits with thoughtfulness and skill by providing an exceptional educational experience in a vibrant Christian community. Distinguished by its emphasis on outstanding teaching and mentoring, the College offers excellent academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and professions.

About Toyota 
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands.  Over the past 50 years, we’ve built more than 30 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 44,000 people (more than 34,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.5 million in the U.S.) in 2015 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.  
 
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment.  As part of this commitment, we share the company’s extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Media Contacts

Toyota:
Rick Hesterberg 859-351-4780
Ashley Chatham 859-473-3709
 
Georgetown College: 
Jim Allison 859-806-6003
Heather Saxon 859-576-9220