Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia pledges $1.2 million to the SAE Foundation to support STEM Education

WARRENDALE, Pa. (April 23, 2015) – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) has awarded $1.2 Million to the SAE Foundation in support of its efforts to advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education through SAE International’s award-winning A World In Motion^® (AWIM) program and ensure the technical competency of the future talent pool. The SAE Foundation’s relentless pursuit of innovative, effective STEM education is made possible by corporations like Kia Motors – innovation and continuous improvement are key components of the Kia brand’s core values and A World In Motion exemplifies this in its curriculum design and delivery, as well as, its’ ability to create the next generation of innovators.

“On behalf of all KMMG team members, we are excited to continue our partnership with SAE and for even more local students in Harris and Chambers Counties to join students in Troup County who have been benefitting from this fantastic program,” said Randy Jackson, KMMG’s senior vice president of human resources and administration. “This curriculum is making a big impact, and as a learning organization, Kia understands that the students of today will be our workforce of tomorrow.”

By investing in SAE’s AWIM program over the next three years, Kia is ensuring that students in both Georgia and Alabama are not only prepared to be potential employees, but that they will also enrich their communities by being excellent problem solvers and analytical thinkers: innovators who provide practical solutions to everyday problems.

“Kia understands that A World In Motion’s carefully crafted curriculum based on the Engineering Design Experience secures a learning process that instills problem solving and the skills of working in teams, communication, analytical thinking and data analysis that will facilitate lifetime learning and career success,” commented Lori Gatmaitan, Director, SAE Foundation.

About KMMG

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. With an annual capacity of 360,000 units, KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia, and began mass production on Nov. 16, 2009. KMMG is home to the Sorento CUV and the Optima mid-size sedan, two of the brand’s top selling models in the U.S.

About SAE Foundation

The SAE Foundation, the charitable arm of SAE International, encourages and increases student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It funds awards and scholarships as well as full continuum of K-16 STEM educational programs, including A World In Motion^®, F1 in Schools, and the Collegiate Design Series™. SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 148,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. Contact: Shawn Andreassi, SAE International, 1-724-772-8522 or pr@sae.org

About AWIM 
SAE International’s A World In Motion^® (AWIM) program is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to life in the classroom for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Benchmarked to the national education standards, AWIM incorporates the laws of physics, motion, flight and electronics into age-appropriate hands on activities that reinforce classroom STEM curriculum.

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