FLINT, Mich. – It’s hard to make a check-passing ceremony unique, but give credit to the General Motors Foundation and Kettering University for the old college try.

Employing one of the high school Michigan FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition robots from the 2012 Roundball Rumble competition, the foundation sent its grant by mechanical courier from GM Manufacturing Manager Gerald Johnson to Kettering President Robert McMahan.

More than 800 students and mentors from 42 FIRST teams were on hand for the annual Kettering Kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 22, watched as Admiral, a robot built and programmed by the EngiNERDs, a GM-sponsored FIRST Robotics team from Grand Blanc High School, took the check across the court, including navigating a balance beam that was one of the obstacles from the competition.

It was a fitting way for Kettering President Robert McMahan to receive the check, which will be used by the university to raise awareness about the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curricula, particularly among minorities and women.

“Education is a key focus area for the GM Foundation,” said Johnson, a Kettering graduate who attended the event on behalf of the GM Foundation. “The GM Foundation’s University Grants help students succeed in pursuing their goals in post-secondary education by providing resources to advance curricula supporting innovation, technology and manufacturing.”

About the GM 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.

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