Volvo partners with the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors to make significant investment in STEM education in county

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Pulaski County Middle School Principal Rebecah Smith (front left) and STEM instructor Heather Arnold hold a $24,000 “check” representing the donation made by Volvo Trucks North America to the school’s STEM program following a ceremony today at the school. Also pictured (from left) are School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Siers, Frankie Marchand, Vice President and General Manager of Volvo’s NRV Plant, School Board Chairman Timmy Hurst and County Administrator Jonathan Sweet. (Mike Williams/The Patriot)

~ A Joint Gift of $24,000.00 given to Advance Experiential Learning Opportunities within the Pulaski County Middle School’s STEM and Technology Lab ~

Pulaski County is pleased to announce that Volvo Trucks has partnered with the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors to provide a gift in the amount of $24,000.00 to the Pulaski County Middle School for the purpose of purchasing new teaching equipment and technology to further outfit the STEM and Technology Lab within the newly constructed school.

“Investing in the development of a STEM lab at the new Pulaski County Middle School is more than a corporate commitment, it is an investment in the students and in new technologies and career pathways right here in Pulaski County,” said Franky Marchand, Vice President and General Manager, Volvo Trucks New River Valley Plant. “Our desire is to energize the creativity of today’s students in a STEM lab environment within the Middle School. We believe engaging scientific discovery with increased technological knowledge will lead to advantages in the student’s lives and in their future careers.  We are excited to be involved with the County in this STEM and Technology Lab project.”

“Volvo’s generosity and partnership with the Board of Supervisors will help accelerate the availability of the latest teaching technologies in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields for our middle school-aged students who may be at the critical crossroad of interest in pursuing a future in STEM,” stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator.  “Having a well-equipped state-of-the-art technology lab within our middle school significantly enhances the experiential learning opportunities for our students and provides a foundation of understanding, appreciation and enjoyment for STEM subjects that will give our Pulaski County students a head-start in preparing for the 21st Century jobs of the future.  We are thankful Volvo is willing to help us make such a meaningful investment in our children’s education and further demonstrate their sincere commitment to our community.”

Pulaski County Public Schools provide qualifying high school students, through their STEM Academy, five career pathways: Engineering and Technology, Production, Therapeutic Services, Construction, Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security. Student learning and achievement are enhanced through the integration of core academics, a STEM-focused curriculum, applied technology, and increased participation in career and technical student organization leadership events.  The overall goals of the Pulaski County STEM Academy are to provide students with 21st century, STEM-enriched technological skills and the knowledge necessary to succeed in postsecondary education and in the world of work.  The Pulaski County STEM Academy is designed to give students in grades nine through twelve the opportunity to explore several career paths while incorporating Virginia’s Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth.

“One of the bright spots of being an educator in Pulaski County is the support we receive from our local industries.  Each year, our Industry and Community Partners find ways to support student learning in creative ways.  Today we are celebrating one of these partnerships with a donation to our PCMS Robotics Lab,” stated Megan Atkinson, Director of CTE, Pulaski County Public Schools.  “We plan to purchase robotics kits so that every Tech Ed student gets a chance to work on a developmentally appropriate robotic system.  As they transition from 6th to7th and on to 8th grade, they’ll be challenged with a new experience that develops critical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving.  We are so grateful for our community partners and their dedication to the future workforce of Pulaski County.”

Volvo Trucks North America’s operations and products are guided by the company’s three core values: Quality, Safety and Environmental Care. The Volvo VNR, VNL, VNX, VHD and VAH trucks are assembled at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia.  The New River Valley Plant is certified to ISO50001 energy standards. Both plants are certified to ISO14001 environmental and ISO9001 quality standards.  The Volvo Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines and employs about 110,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells its products in more than 190 markets.