Hendrick Automotive Group, Hendrick Motorsports and Kyle Larson kicked off Charlotte race weekend with a very special Hendrick, Get Set. Go! event in our own backyard. For the first time in the program’s inaugural year, we were able to share the science of racing with students in the best setting possible – the campus of Hendrick Motorsports!
The Hendrick, Get Set. Go! program uses the excitement of racing to get students from all backgrounds interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and provides immediate funding for educational projects that will bring them to the STEM starting line. Selected schools are awarded $10,000 to say “Go!” to an education initiative that will expand access to STEM fields and future careers, and given a hands-on experience to engage students in the STEM principles of racing.
This week’s event was the sixth award of the season. But it was the first one in the same market as our Charlotte headquarters, so it was an extra special day for all involved - especially our partner school Berryhill.
“When we heard that our students from Berryhill were invited to attend the check presentation for the Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant, we knew immediately we wanted them to visit Hendrick Motorsports. We are so lucky to have the campus and facility in our own backyard. It was an incredible experience for the kids to be able to see first hand a behind the scenes look into a day at Hendrick Motorsports,” said Brooke Ballard, Hendrick Cares lead at Hendrick Luxury Auto Mall.
Berryhill School is a local Title I Pre-K-8 school that has been part of Hendrick Automotive Group’s corporate outreach program since 2015. Our Audi Northlake, Hendrick Lexus Northlake, Mercedes-Benz of Northlake and Hendrick BMW Northlake stores make up the Hendrick Luxury Auto Mall at Northlake, and have been some of the biggest supporters of their partner schools through our Hendrick Cares program. The dealerships support Berryhill with financial and in-kind donations, teacher appreciation events, mentorship opportunities and career readiness programs in their stores. So when it came time to select a school for the Charlotte Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant, Berryhill was a natural choice.
“Hendrick, Get Set. Go! really captures the essence of our Corporate Outreach program, Hendrick Cares, and it’s amazing to see a school that we have partnered with since 2015 win this very deserving grant. How exciting that these students can experience their first fieldtrip in middle school with us at Hendrick Motorsports. COVID may have set back their out-of-classroom trips, but this one is a great way to start,” said Chad Lamprey, general manager of Hendrick Lexus Northlake.
Students started their day with a special Q&A session with Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevy. He shared some of the exciting technology and scientific principles behind racing, and how he was interested in all 3 subjects from an early age in school. Especially the racing!
“To be able to meet and talk to Kyle Larson was the icing on the cake of the day! He is so down to earth and relatable to the students that they felt comfortable enough to ask a lot of questions (even his blu cheese preferences!). He honestly came across more like your older brother’s cool friend than a celebrity/household name. For eighth graders, it was also meaningful to hear him encourage them to stay in school! He shared that in school he was drawn to science and math and both of those subjects help him today as a race car driver,” said Ballard.
Students enjoyed a full tour of the race shops and museums on campus, ran pit crew drills and even got to see the pit crew practice to see action! But the highlight of the day was awarding Berryhill School the $10,000 Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant that they can use to fund future STEM-based field trips and hands on learning opportunities for their students.
“It means so much to our school that our students are able to have experiences like this. Since Hendrick wrapped its arms around our school in 2015, we have never been the same,” said Melanie Bell, a counselor at Berryhill School.
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