FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.,
Jan. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to support
education and prepare U.S. students for later academic success, Hyundai Motor America today
announced it will expand its partnership with MIND Research Institute with a
$1.0 million commitment. These funds
will support the Hyundai ST Math Initiative, benefiting approximately 50
additional schools by 2018. This would
bring the total to over 100 public schools across the U.S. that are
participating in the Hyundai ST Math Initiative.
The Hyundai ST Math
Initiative (Hyundai Math Labs)
was launched in 2011 in partnership with MIND. It brings the research-proven ST
Math® program developed by MIND to thousands of students across the
country. The goal of the initiative is
to help increase high school graduation rates.
Research shows that proficiency in early math skills is proven to be the
number one predictor of later academic success and high school graduation.
"As a car manufacturer
driven by innovation, we are keenly aware of the important role that a STEM
education will play in our youth's ability to excel academically and tackle the
complex challenges of tomorrow," said Mike O'Brien, Vice President of
Corporate and Product Planning at Hyundai Motor America and
Chairman of the Hyundai ST Math Initiative Advisory Board. "At Hyundai, we believe it is our
responsibility to contribute to the preparation of our country's future leaders
and we are committed to providing the resources they need to succeed. With this latest pledge, this brings our
total commitment to ST Math for public schools across the U.S. to just over
$2.0 million."
The ST Math program,
developed for elementary and secondary schools, takes a distinctive visual
approach to math and problem-solving.
The program helps students gain a deeper understanding of math concepts
through computer-based puzzles featuring JiJi the penguin. Students associate JiJi with challenges,
learning and the thrill of success. Every time a child demonstrates
understanding of a math concept, JiJi crosses the screen, signaling success and
leading the student to the next more challenging puzzle.
Hyundai has invested over
$1.0 million to date in its efforts to improve academic success in STEM fields
by funding this math program at schools nationwide. More than 17,000 students and 825 teachers
from across 51 schools in Chicago, East Los Angeles, Fountain Valley, Calif.,
New York, Philadelphia, Pinellas, Fla., Spring, Texas and Washington, D.C. have
benefited from Hyundai's investment.
Hyundai's latest donation of $1.0 million to MIND will allow for as many
as 50 additional K-6 schools nationwide to join the program.
"Hyundai continues to be a
tremendous partner for MIND Research Institute and an influential advocate for
STEM education," said Matthew Peterson, CEO & co-founder of MIND
Research Institute. "We're grateful
for Hyundai's commitment to equipping students with the early math skills that
are essential for future innovation."
The Hyundai ST Math Initiative has
seen promising results, most notably in its recent investment in the District
of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). With
Hyundai's help in funding ST Math, DCPS saw triple growth in math proficiency
compared to other DCPS schools, according to an analysis conducted by the
district and MIND.
The analysis evaluated DC
Comprehensive Assessment System math scores of 1,135 third, fourth and fifth
graders at 17 DCPS schools fully implementing ST Math for two years. Findings showed that those schools experienced
a 19 point gain in percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced in
math since 2012. DCPS schools that had similar 2012 math performance but didn't
use ST Math experienced a 5.2 percentage point gain over the two years. These results mirror an analysis done in
2013, where growth among ST Math schools was also triple the rate of non-ST
Math schools in DC.
The Hyundai ST Math
Initiative is led by an advisory board made up of Hyundai and MIND executives,
including Mike O'Brien and Zafar Brooks, Hyundai Director of Corporate Social
Responsibility and Diversity Inclusion, along with MIND executives. Together, Hyundai and MIND are working to
ensure the effort has the greatest potential impact on meeting the program's
goals. STEM education is part of
Hyundai's larger CSR strategy, which consists of four pillars: children's
health (pediatric cancer), education, volunteerism and arts & culture.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered
in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea.
Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor
America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide.
All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance
program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle
limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty
and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link
Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link
telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for
one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision
Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly
Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.
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