May 2018 May 2018 | Page 38

NEWS Club Car’s STEM Day Inspires Students with Stimulating Team Focused Learning Club Car, an Ingersoll-Rand brand, known globally for manufacturing small-wheel, zero emissions golf, consumer and utility vehicles, is delivering an altogether new vehicle, one intended to inspire and help educate the next generation workforce. For five years, Club Car has been collab- orating with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and EdVenture, a not- for-profit educational institution, to host “STEM Day at Club Car.” Club Car hosted 47 local middle school students from AR Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School and Guin- yard Butler Middle School at its Augusta plant. Students learned about manufacturing techniques including how to develop planes and parachutes’ efficient flight 38 WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM paths through a wind tunnel. They also participated in team-focused educational activities in the areas of science, technol- ogy, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. “It’s inspiring for students to walk the floor of our manufacturing plant while it’s in operation and to attend educa- tional sessions to envision what a future career path can entail,” said Tyrone Ellis, vice president, integrated supply chain, Club Car. “Our employees have embraced mentoring and are committed to the students’ future, and even though our intention is to give back, we are getting so much from being a part of the program.” The Club Car’s STEM event is part of a broader vision of the GaDOE and its Career, Technical Agricultural Education (CTAE). Educators like Dr. John Pritchett