by Judy Frank
posted March 20, 2009
Officials from Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations, LLC, gathered at Calvin Donaldson Elementary School Friday afternoon to announce the launching of a five-year, $5.28 million philanthropic commitment designed to serve as a catalyst for educational enrichment in the state of Tennessee.
The company's "Partners in Education" program will include funding for Fisk University, Hamilton County Public Schools, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Tennessee State University (TSU), The University of Memphis (U of M), The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga (UTC) and the University of Tennessee - Knoxville (UTK).
The program will also leverage and support the Volkswagen Group's relationship with Chattanooga State Community College, the lead institution for workforce training at the company's new plant in Chattanooga, officials said.
State and local politicians, who turned out in force for the announcement, were openly delighted by the automaker’s educational initiative in the Volunteer State.
Since Volkswagen announced in July that it had selected Chattanooga as the site of a new plant, Gov. Phil Bredesen told the assembled crowd, “People in this community stood a little bit taller.”
But the state cannot continue to attract companies such as Volkswagen unless it creates the kind of educational system, kindergarten through higher education, that it takes to prepare young people in Tennessee to compete in a world economy, the governor added.
"Today's announcement of 'Partners in Education' demonstrates the willingness of Volkswagen Group of America to partner with K-12 and higher education in Tennessee to help prepare our young people for the highly skilled jobs of the future," Gov. Bredesen said. "We've worked hard to raise academic standards and make education more relevant to the demands of the modern workplace, and this initiative is the type of partnership that is good for business and vital to the future of our state's economy."
Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, assured the crowd that the company is just as committed to building the new plant here today as it was the day the decision was announced.
“We are not moving one inch from this commitment,” he vowed. “Sometimes it is good to have good German stubbornness.”
"This is a truly joyous occasion. We have already made a significant contribution to education in Virginia, our corporate home. Today we're making a significant commitment to education in our new home," said Mr. Jacoby. "We're not just building a plant. We're building a partnership. We're putting down roots in Chattanooga."
Dr. Horst Neumann, a member of the Board of Management Volkswagen AG for Human Resources and Organization; Frank Fischer, CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations also were on hand to help unveil the philanthropic initiative.
"We are employers, but we are also neighbors. That means pitching in and doing our part to make life better for the entire community," said Dr. Neumann. "Our corporate philosophy demands that it is not enough to merely have an interest in education. We have an obligation to turn interest into action. If we're going to create first-rate minds, we have to create first-rate schools."
"Our $5.28 million, five-year education program is a comprehensive project that will serve as a catalyst for improvement," said Mr. Fischer. "Our program will benefit students from kindergarten through high school; college undergraduates and graduate students; and scholars and researchers at the state's premier research institutions."
Local officials including Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and County Mayor Claude Ramsey also helped Volkswagen commemorate the "Partners in Education" program.
"Here in Hamilton County, we share Volkswagen's commitment to preparing young people for high-skill, high-wage jobs," said County Mayor Ramsey. "Thank you for engaging with us to support our public schools just as you are partnering with our whole community to create thousands of new jobs."
"For decades, Chattanoogans have utilized public-private partnerships to transform our community into one of the best mid-sized cities in the country," said Mayor Littlefield. "I'm thankful that Volkswagen is joining that great tradition even before they have finished work on their new auto assembly facility."
Partners in Education Program
Volkswagen Group of America's "Partners in Education" program began with partnerships with Virginia schools and is designed to create a comprehensive education initiative for academic institutions.
With the expansion into Tennessee, the partnership with primary and secondary schools, universities and a leading national laboratory will positively impact students throughout their educational experience and throughout the state.
Hamilton County Public Schools
A multi-year, multi-faceted partnership with Hamilton County Public Schools will support a summer teacher training institute, providing teachers with appropriate training to keep pace with the state's new, more rigorous educational standards.
Additional funds will help Calvin Donaldson Elementary School renovate a building that is currently unusable into working student labs.
Finally, the company will help support preparation for the ACT college exam, helping improve Hamilton County students' performance on standardized college admission exams.
"We appreciate the support and investment Volkswagen is making in Hamilton County Schools. With this investment they are showing the need for an educated workforce and emphasizing that a quality education is necessary for a prosperous future," said Superintendent Dr. Jim Scales. "These grants will focus on training teachers, helping high school students gain the skills needed to succeed in the workforce and college and enhance our environmental science magnet program. All of these programs are integral to our future success, and we thank Volkswagen for their commitment to quality educational programs in Hamilton County."
Chattanooga State
Volkswagen's partnerships with educational institutions began with Chattanooga State Community College, the lead institution for workforce training at the Chattanooga Volkswagen Plant. The training planned for the Volkswagen Training Academy in Chattanooga will consist of standardized global training found in Germany and throughout the Volkswagen Group worldwide; and Chattanooga State will partner with Volkswagen to develop a customized curriculum.
"We are honored to be a trusted partner with Volkswagen in this crucial responsibility of developing a world-class workforce, which will insure Volkswagen's success, and the success of our community," commented Chattanooga State President James L. Catanzaro.
Fisk University
At Fisk University, the partnership will support high-achieving students who are engaged in community service by establishing a Volkswagen fellowship in which students combine elements such as environmental studies, service learning projects and global business projects.
"An education at Fisk emphasizes serving others as well as self-development. This initiative represents a holistic approach to educational enrichment for Tennessee's students. It is fundamentally grounded in our collective interest to develop engaged students with more opportunity across the educational spectrum," said Fisk President Hazel O'Leary.
"This gift will benefit exceptional students, many of whom might not otherwise be able to attend Fisk without this investment. Those students will have an impact on their communities for years to come in the areas of environmental studies, service learning projects, and global business. We are grateful to Volkswagen Group of America for its generosity and look forward to a long and productive relationship with our partner schools."
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory will establish a Volkswagen Scholars Program for upper division and post-graduate students interested in careers in the automotive industry. The program will be run through Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a non-profit organization that works closely with Oak Ridge National Labs in the management of many of its student internship and post-graduate fellowship programs.
"The Volkswagen Scholars Program at ORNL will give students access to some of the finest scientific facilities, equipment, and staff mentors in the world," said ORNL Director Thom Mason. "It will boost these students' career potential and strengthen the automotive industry workforce. We are very pleased to be one of the leaders in this exciting initiative."
Tennessee State University
At Tennessee State University, funds will provide student scholarships and faculty support in the Colleges of Business and Engineering. Also, they will support an endowed chair for Supply Chain Management, student scholarships and K-12 pre-engineering math and science programs.
"Tennessee State University is pleased to partner with Volkswagen Group of America," said President of Tennessee State University Dr. Melvin N. Johnson. "This generous gift will provide funding for scholarships and innovative programs that will help TSU attract talented and motivated students. By partnering with Volkswagen Group of America, TSU will continue its legacy of making success stories possible.
"There is no better way to invest in the state of Tennessee than to provide students with educational opportunities that will not only change their lives but will also change the structure of the communities in which they reside," Dr. Johnson added. "Together, TSU and Volkswagen Group of America will engage in shaping the direction of the next generation of leaders."
University of Memphis
The partnership with the University of Memphis will support an initiative to recruit, retain, and prepare the next generation of specialists in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This program links schools with local businesses and reaches down to the kindergarten level to encourage interest in STEM subject areas.
"We are very grateful to Volkswagen Group of America for this most generous gift," said Dr. Shirley Raines, president of the University of Memphis. "As the University of Memphis actively promotes mathematics and the physical science, this gift will enable our distinguished professors and researchers to partner with middle and high school teachers to energize a new generation of students.
Dr. Ralph Faudree, provost of the University, said, "The University of Memphis has an active group of faculty that have been involved in providing enhancement opportunities for middle school and high school students interested in STEM careers, and in training teachers in these areas. These funds will allow the faculty expand and enrich the existing programs, to create many new opportunities, and to seek additional local, state, and federal funding for programs to support more students entering STEM careers."
The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
The partnership with UTC will support the new Volkswagen Competitive Challenge fund, giving financial support to students for team projects, as well as support for faculty research, travel, recruitment and outreach. Funding at UTC will focus particularly on engineering, international studies, and computer and environmental science.
"Our entire community has been energized by the announcement that Volkswagen is coming to Chattanooga, and we at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are proud to have been involved in the recruitment effort," said Roger Brown, Chancellor of UTC. "In the short time since the announcement, Volkswagen has shown a commitment to being a true corporate neighbor and partner in this community. The establishment of the Volkswagen Competitive Challenge Fund at UTC demonstrates Volkswagen's belief in education, and we are very appreciative for this opportunity for our faculty and students."
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville
At the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, the Volkswagen Engagement Endowment Fund will provide student aid and faculty support in several different areas. These categories include supply chain logistics, mechanical engineering and environmental engineering.
"We are excited that Volkswagen has made this investment in higher education, and we look forward to engaging with them," said UT-Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. "From supply chain logistics to mechanical and environmental engineering, our strengths complement Volkswagen's needs. This partnership will benefit UT-Knoxville students and faculty, VW employees and customers, and the citizens of our state."
The Tennessee initiative complements Volkswagen Group of America's $2.1 million pilot "Partners in Education" program in Virginia, which is specifically meant to support schools in the home region of the U.S. corporate headquarters. The donations provide financial, educational and other needed resources to Fairfax County Public Schools, Northern Virginia Community College, the D.C.-based Excel Institute, George Mason University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia.
Volkswagen Group of America Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's third largest automaker and the largest carmaker in Europe. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company's headquarters are in Herndon, Va.
Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are competitive and set world standards in their respective classes.
The company has approximately 2,500 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through an 800-strong dealer network. With increasing popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018.
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