AVL Announces Winner of Third Annual Gordon Millar Award

PLYMOUTH, Mich., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Foundation has been named winner of the third annual SAE Foundation Gordon Millar Award. Karen Nicklin, manager of Educational Initiatives, accepted the award on behalf of the GM Foundation.

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The award, which is funded by AVL, is given in special recognition of an individual or organization that best demonstrates continuous philanthropic support of the SAE Foundation Mission to encourage and increase student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

"This award recognizes the altruism of an incredible organization in helping create the engineers of tomorrow by energizing students today," Don Manvel, Chairman, AVL Americas, said. "Beyond the Foundation's very generous monetary donations, the Foundation also gives students hands-on experiences that further their environmental studies and cultural experiences within their communities."

"Education is a significant focus area for the GM Foundation and preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators has never been more important," said Nicklin. "This prestigious validation underscores our continued commitment to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and those in the automotive industry."

Over the past decade, the GM Foundation has donated more than $315 million in grants to support nonprofit organizations. GM and the GM Foundation provide sustained support for programs that reinforce math and science skills among metro Detroit schoolchildren, including the SAE Foundation's A World in Motion (AWIM) initiative. In 2012, GM volunteers mentored nearly 8,500 students through the AWIM program.

Gordon Millar has been a member of SAE International since 1949 and is currently an SAE Fellow. He served as SAE President in 1984. Throughout his career with SAE International, he has made a number of contributions to strengthen the organization, including recommending and implementing a new process for bringing in the new SAE Presidential nominee that gives him or her a full year to learn Board activities and better prepare for the term as president. In addition, Millar championed the recognition of SAE International as a participating body with curriculum responsibility for several automotive engineering programs, and he continues to be a strong supporter of the Aero Design competition in SAE International's Collegiate Design Series.

About the General Motors Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates.  Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM.  The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

About SAE Foundation
The SAE Foundation is the charitable arm of SAE International that strives to encourage and increase student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and math through many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series. SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development.

About AVL
Founded in 1948, AVL is the world's largest independent company for development, simulation and testing technology of powertrains (hybrid, combustion engines, transmission, electric drive, batteries and software) for passenger cars, trucks and large engines. AVL's Technology Leadership Center has become a mainstay at the SAE World Congress, and annually hosts some of the industry's best and brightest in discussions critical to our industry's future. AVL's North American Headquarters are located in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Michigan. For more information, contact Chris Barecki, AVL Americas Marketing Manager, at [email protected] or 734.738.8778.

SOURCE AVL