Goodyear's 20-Year Dedication to STEM Education Celebrated with Upcoming Events

AKRON, Ohio, April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1999, Goodyear (NASDAQ: GT) held its first day-long event to enlighten and enrich area students in the field of engineering, and two decades later, that tradition continues to expand through Goodyear's STEM Career Day, creating opportunities for students interested in pursuing such careers to learn about them.

STEM Career Day is designed to inspire and open doors for students who may not have had the chance to immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Goodyear creates these opportunities by introducing students to STEM in their formative years and incorporating dedicated STEM professionals who encourage them to pursue opportunities in the field.

"All of us at Goodyear take great pride in our long history of encouraging young people to pursue careers in the STEM fields, which are core to our business and our ability to continually innovate our products and services," said Chris Helsel, senior vice president and chief technology officer. "Our outstanding STEM professionals of today are dedicated to inspiring and motivating the STEM professionals of tomorrow."

Goodyear STEM Career Day 2019

Goodyear's STEM Career Day is celebrated in two annual events—one for high school students and one for middle school students. The high school event is held at and co-sponsored by the University of Akron and attracts approximately 500 students each year, and the middle school event is held at Akron Public School Firestone Community Learning Center and engages about 1,000 students each year.

This year's high school STEM Career Day will take place on Saturday, April 6, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Here, students will experience a free roaming expo-style event with a Rube Goldberg Challenge™, in which the winners will receive grant awards. There will also be tours of the University of Akron campus, mentoring with local professionals, and students and speakers discussing various topics. Additionally, several scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors.

The middle school event will take place on Saturday, May 4, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Here, students will get a glimpse into the future of mobility, as well as attend a career fair, classroom interactive activities administered by local organizations and a group hands-on activity. Visit www.goodyear.com/careerday/ for more information on the events, including middle school student registration. The deadline to register is April 10.

Goodyear's history of promoting STEM

Goodyear's 20-year history with STEM education began in 1999 with the title "Goodyear Engineering Career Day for Young Women" and was created to inspire young women to consider careers in engineering.

Nearly 300 middle school and high school students would enter the doors of the former Goodyear Hall to attend this event each year, where female Goodyear employees and volunteers from other companies presented sessions on engineering disciplines.

"Goodyear Engineering Career Day for Young Women was created to introduce engineering to female students and motivate them to pursue a career in this field," said Brandy Moorhead, director, global off-highway product development. "It's essential to introduce young women to engineering, because they often don't know what their options are."

By 2012, the number of student attendees grew to 1,000, and Goodyear broadened its engineering education program to include a wider audience. The program was renamed "Goodyear Engineering Career Day" to encompass male students interested in pursuing a career in engineering.

Three years later, Goodyear extended its scope even further to incorporate all careers in the field of STEM, not just engineering. As a result, the event was renamed to Goodyear STEM Career Day and restructured to introduce students to various STEM careers, which brings in approximately 1,500 students each year.

For Goodyear's Akron associates, supporting STEM education is not just a day-long event. The company has multiple programs, including associate outreach to local schools and an Engineering Explorer Post for high school students, to introduce students to the STEM field and develop their skills for a future career.

A global commitment to STEM

Goodyear's dedication to STEM goes beyond the United States. In December 2018, Goodyear associates in Luxembourg launched the Goodyear STEM Student Challenge, in which all participating students between ages 14 and 21 are required to design a machine similar to a Rube Goldberg Machine™.

A total of 86 students registered for the challenge involving a project to move a load of model tires with an inflatable Goodyear Blimp. The event will culminate in July 2019 with a live demo day, where the top 10 teams will be able to demonstrate their machines for final judging at the Lycée Edward Steichen in Clervaux, Luxembourg.

In addition to the STEM Student Challenge, Goodyear associates in Luxembourg have participated in the bi-annual Luxembourg Science Festival to promote science and research to students. There, more than 200 students from 12 different schools participated in the Goodyear workshop, learning about tire components and various Goodyear concept tires. Goodyear will again participate in the festival in November 2019.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

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