Kia Georgia Is Driving the Future of STEM

Courtesy of Kia Georgia

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers have always been important for innovation and economic progress, but over the past few decades, there’s been a decline in young people interested in STEM fields. Troup County-based Kia Georgia is Kia’s first manufacturing site in North America and they’re aiming to ramp up student interest in STEM by partnering with SAE International, a global association of aerospace, commercial vehicle, and ground vehicle engineers and technical experts. SAE International operates an award-winning STEM program for students called A World In Motion® (AWIM®) supported by generous donations through the SAE Foundation. Over the past 13 years, Kia Georgia has contributed more than $4 million to support AWIM program implementation. Kia Georgia began supporting the AWIM program in Troup County schools and has expanded into several other districts. 

SAE International’s A World In Motion Program

SAE’s AWIM is a hands-on learning program that introduces STEM concepts to preschool through 12th-grade students with practical, experiential learning activities led by teachers and assisted by industry volunteers to foster knowledge and skills for their futures. By making STEM concepts accessible and engaging for young learners, AWIM is preparing them for future careers in STEM fields. 

Courtesy of Kia Georgia

“This was the first time I saw total engagement and collaboration among all of my student groups! My students worked with a goal in mind, which was to present our Pinball Design for other families to play at STEAM night,” says Haley Pugh, a third-grade teacher. “They took great pride in their work and were able to apply their science ideas to a real-world task.” 

The JetToy Competition

Over 100,000 local students have been impacted by AWIM to date, starting in 2012, when Kia Georgia began supporting the program. Each year, the AWIM program culminates in the SAE International A World In Motion (AWIM) JetToy Competition, an annual event that draws over 300 fifth graders from around the region to the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center. The JetToy Competition challenges students to design, build and test JetToy vehicles, competing for the longest time of travel, farthest distance traveled and the greatest accuracy within a target. 

For more information about Kia Georgia, visit kiageorgia.com.