AKRON — Imagination is the heart of ingenuity, enthusiasm the foundation for a successful career. So Goodyear is doing its best to encourage both within the next generation of engineers.

On Feb. 17, the tire maker, in cooperation with University of Akron, celebrated the ways in which science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are improving lives every day.

During the first of two Goodyear-sponsored STEM Career Day events, more than 600 high school students from the Northeast Ohio area had the chance to explore educational and career opportunities with college students and professionals.

"Our annual STEM Career Day is key in attracting students to STEM career fields," said Brandy Moorhead, Goodyear's director of tire and mold engineering. "Goodyear engineers serve as mentors and guides for these local students, focusing on their talents and helping to further develop them in preparation for a successful career."

Held at the University of Akron, the event helped to kick off National Engineers Week, which runs Feb. 18-24. Students in grades nine through 12 had the chance to participate in hands-on activities, showcase their problem-solving abilities and compete for grant funding by designing and building Rube Goldberg machines.

Winners of the Rube Goldberg competition were:

• First Place — Lake High School, $2,500 grant and a visit to Goodyear's global headquarters.
• Second place — Green High School, $2,000 grant.
• Third place — Maple Heights High School, $1,000 grant

Goodyear is planning a second STEM Career Day for April 21 at Firestone Community Learning Center, a high school within the Akron Public School District.

The event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will be open to Akron-area middle school students as well as their teachers.

Additional information about Goodyear's efforts to promote STEM careers is available at goodyear.com/careerday.