Adient, one of the world’s largest automotive seating suppliers, sponsored the 12th annual JetToy Challenge at Cobo Center in Detroit. More than 500 students from Southeast Michigan made balloon-powered toy cars, competing in distance, accuracy, weight carrying and timed events.
Students were part of SAE International’s “A World in Motion” (AWIM) program, which brings together science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for a hands-on learning experience. Engineers volunteer their time in classrooms teaching STEM lessons to students in grades fourth through sixth.
“The program introduces students to the world of science and technology,” said Russ Burgei, Adient’s vice president of engineering and program lead for AWIM. “The students are developing skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking that can be used in the real world.”
Adient joined the SAE program in 2008 and started the first-ever district-wide AWIM program in the world. Now, the annual JetToy Challenge is open to schools in Southeast Michigan and through special invitation for those from different states and countries.
“By supporting project-based learning within our community, we hope to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM fields, hopefully at Adient,” said Burgei.
