Goodyear gives out scholarships, grants

AKRON (April 30, 2015) — During its 16th annual STEM Career Day event April 18 in Akron, Goodyear awarded scholarships to 15 area high school students and $11,000 in grants to six local schools.

The tire maker welcomed more than 1,556 students in grades six through 12 to the day-long event — held at the University of Akron — where it issued a challenge to participants to design a Rube Goldberg Machine using science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles to fill a Goodyear blimp.

Three Ohio high schools won grants via the challenge:

• First place, Black River High School in Sullivan — $4,000

• Second place, Buckeye High School in Medina — $3,000

• Third place, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in Broadview Heights — $1,500

In addition, three middle schools were named winners:

• First place, Catalyst Homeschool Academy in Macedonia — $1,000

• Second place, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School in Broadview Heights — $1,000

• Third place, Edison Middle School in Massillon — $500

Individual scholarships were awarded to: Nathan Peterman and Monica Feltman of Revere High School, Richfield; Sean Umstot of Waterloo High School, Atwater; Lisa Twarog of North Royalton High School, North Royalton; Zack Li of Copley High School, Copley; Alexander Karwowski of Highland High School, Medina; Brian Auffenberg of Wadsworth High School, Wadsworth; Deanna Chapa of Hoover High School, North Canton; Alex Willey of Heath High School, Heath; Alexander Vetrick of Buckeye High School, Medina; Benjamin Robinson of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Cuyahoga Falls; Louise Beckstrom of Aurora High School, Aurora; Charles Cilensek of Mentor High School, Mentor; Miranda Hughes of Southeast High School, Ravenna; and Chancelor Sunkle of Washington High School, Massillon.

In addition to exploring the campus, students interacted with representatives from more than 50 local organizations, who hosted hands-on STEM-based activities throughout the day, Goodyear said.

One of these hands-on activities was a zombie apocalypse-themed challenge requiring use of engineering acumen to design and build a mechanical system. The system students built allowed them to pick up “supplies” while remaining out of reach of the “undead.”

“It is important that we encourage our young people to pursue careers in science and technology,” said Joe Zekoski, chief technical officer, Goodyear.

“That's the reason why 300 Goodyear volunteers — most of them associates at our Innovation Center in Akron — work so hard to plan this event. Looking at the creativity demonstrated by so many of the students, I am confident they have bright careers ahead of them.”