Ford Motor Company and Kettering University celebrated a growing partnership aimed at producing the next generation of multi-skilled engineers for the workforce on Aug. 22.

The day commemorated Ford’s support for Kettering, including the announcement of a major contribution from the Ford Motor Company Fund to the new FIRST Robotics Community Center at Kettering University.

Ford representatives presented a $50,000 check in the FIRST Community Center that will go toward purchasing some of the state-of-the-art equipment, tools and technology in the center’s machine shop to which FIRST teams housed in the facility will have access.

“Ford and the Ford Motor Company Fund are extremely supportive of programs like FIRST Robotics that get students excited about careers in science, technology and engineering fields,” said Raj Nair '87, Group Vice President, Global Product Development, at Ford. “Our support for Kettering University’s programs is also done with a strategic eye on the future needs of industry – Kettering has allowed us over the past year to support programs like FIRST, the SAE competition teams and power electronics research. These programs are supporting high school and college students as they develop varied and well-rounded skillsets and also supporting cutting-edge vehicle research that will help shape the future of industry.”

Raj Nair '87 presents a check to support the FIRST Robotics Community Center at Kettering University on Aug. 22.

Over the past year, Ford Motor Company and the Ford Motor Company Fund have provided more than $100,000 worth of support for various Kettering University programs, including a donation of a 2013 Ford F-250 truck to Kettering’s SAE competition teams and a donation of a Ford Focus Electric to the Advanced Power Electronics Lab (APEL) and Dr. Kevin Bai, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The FIRST Robotics Community Center, slated to open in late September, will give high school students from as many as eight FIRST Robotics teams the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art facility. More importantly, they will have unprecedented access to Kettering’s campus and faculty, students and staff as mentors.

“The FIRST Robotics Community Center at Kettering University will make FIRST participation more accessible for high school students of all backgrounds, and Ford’s contribution today will help make it possible for us to provide those students with a range of amazing opportunities and experiences that will truly prepare them to pursue a wide range of careers,” said Kettering University President Robert K. McMahan. “The support we have received from Ford and the Ford Motor Company Fund has been tremendous, and it has also been strategic and forward-thinking. Through this support, Ford not only recognizes that there is critical need to educate more knowledgeable and creative engineers who possess a wide range of skills - but more importantly that have actively demonstrated that they are willing to support outstanding programs that do just that.”

Raj Nair '87 with members of Kettering University's SAE teams and a Ford F-250 that was donated by Ford for the teams to travel to competitions.

About Ford Motor Company: Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.