Novelis Aluminum Corporation recently donated $7,000 to support a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) summer camp in the College of Science at Eastern Kentucky University. The camp, a new initiative of the college that targets high school students, will be launched in the summer of 2018.
“STEM is everywhere and shapes our everyday experiences,” said Dr. Tom Otieno, dean of the College of Science. “It is imperative for the College of Science to help prepare our youth for the highly technological society in which we live. We will be doing that through a STEM summer camp for high school students.”
Novelis made an additional donation of $5,000 to support recycling initiatives at EKU.
“As a result of Novelis’ generous gift to EKU’s recycling program, we will be able to further improve our recycling infrastructure on campus so that we can recover even more recyclables,” said Patrick McKee, sustainability manager at Eastern.
The Novelis plant in nearby Berea, Kentucky, is one of the world’s largest plants dedicated to aluminum can recycling.
The check presentation ceremony was held in the New Science Building on EKU’s campus on Sept. 14, and was attended by faculty and staff of the College of Science, as well as students from Madison Southern High School, who were on campus to participate in the celebration of Science and Mathematics Week activities. Representing Novelis from the Berea location were Monica Johnson, human resources leader, and Tammy Peyton, environmental health and safety assistant.
“It is befitting that the check presentation was part of the celebration of Science and Mathematics Week activities since the donation is for the support STEM education,” Otieno said.
Peyton explained that the gifts reflect Novelis’ commitment to the Madison County community.
“The goal of our STEM donation is to invest in future generations by encouraging the development of engineers and scientists through supporting math and science education,” she said, “whereas the goal of our recycling initiative contribution is to continue to support sustainability in the community and support EKU in its efforts to improve its recycling program.”
The presentation of the checks was followed by a tour of the state-of-the-art Science Building.
Novelis, whose global headquarters is located in Atlanta, Georgia,is the leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum.