Nissan Puts the “World in Motion” Through 24 Years of School-Based Partnership with SAE International’s STEM Program for K-8 Youth
Through a long-term partnership with Nissan Motor Company, SAE International—the global engineering association—has successfully reached over 5,000 students in deserving communities with its A World in Motion (AWIM) science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education program for K-8 students.
AWIM is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings STEM education to life in K-8 classrooms. Interdisciplinary in nature and benchmarked to national standards, the AWIM program incorporates STEM learning experiences through hands-on activities that reinforce classroom STEM learning, including primary school, elementary school and middle school challenges.
Since its first pledge in 1993, Nissan has been a continuous supporter of the SAE Foundation and the AWIM program delivering the AWIM program to classrooms and bringing together teachers, industry STEM volunteers (Nissan employees) and students with a strong emphasis on participation throughout Nissan communities. By the end of the current grant year, this partnership with Nissan and SAE will have reached over 5,000 students in these communities across five states (Arizona, Michigan, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee). Students emerge from AWIM having learned foundational problem solving and analytical skills they need to be successful throughout their education and beyond.
“Reaching students at the earliest possible age is key to keeping young learners engaged in STEM subjects,” stated Rebecca Vest, Nissan Vice President of Corporate Development and Social Responsibility. “Nissan is committed to supporting education in communities where our employees live and work, and we are particularly interested in investing in STEM education, which is vital in the automotive industry.”
“AWIM eliminates several barriers to achievement. Because STEM classrooms offer students opportunities to explore and create using a wide variety of materials and resources, this type of class requires additional materials and resources, which is sometimes difficult to acquire on a public school budget,” said Mary Decker, MEd, Curriculum and Professional Learning Supervisor of Franklin Special School District, Franklin, TN.
A case study was recently released highlighting the value of AWIM and its impact on K-8 students, as well as Nissan’s involvement in the program.
More information about AWIM’s PreK-8 STEM curriculum can be found here.
Additionally, the SAE Foundation has announced the 2018 Industry Leadership Award Recipient to be Nissan’s Chief Performance Officer, José Muñoz. This honor will be awarded at the SAE Foundation Annual Celebration in May 2018.
Learn more about the SAE Foundation, including how to donate to to support STEM programs like AWIM on the Annual Day of Giving.
About SAE International
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 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. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.