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Hendrick, Get Set. Go! is back and better than ever.

The grant initiative, which enters its second year of investing in STEM-based educational projects, kicked off Friday, March 18 in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Reigning NASCAR champion and driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Kyle Larson joined teammates from local Atlanta Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships at Harmony Elementary School in Buford, Georgia, to kick off the first of four stops on the 2022 Hendrick, Get Set. Go! tour.

“Our entire Hendrick team was so impressed with the staff and faculty at Harmony Elementary School today. We’re so proud to be able to help build a technology program there and see what they’ve done, and to see how excited the students are. Thank you to Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com team for coming and making this event possible for the kids and the teachers. There are some super passionate people in this school, and today was an amazing way to show how much we appreciate them and all that they do,” said Ryan Regnier, Atlanta market area vice president of Hendrick Automotive Group.

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Selected schools will be awarded $25,000 to say “Go!” to an education project that expands access and interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, and future careers to students from all backgrounds. HGSG events use the excitement of racing to engage students, and introduce them to the high-tech side of the sport and even the automotive industry.

Events are hosted in areas close to a race track and Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships, and Atlanta is home to nine of our stores. Teammates at Mall of Georgia MINI nominated Harmony Elementary School based on the strong relationship they have already built with the school.

“We are so honored to present Harmony Elementary School with this gift,” said John Secondo, general manager of Mall of Georgia MINI. “What makes this school so deserving is that they already have extracurricular STEM clubs for students of every grade level. They will easily put this money into action to serve their students.”

Proud of what the school has to offer, Principal Jonathan Day introduced Larson and our teammates to a few of the most popular STEM-based programs at Harmony Elementary and the science, technology, engineering and math curriculums that will benefit from the Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant.

And what better way to kick off this special visit with some racing… drone racing, that is!

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Fourth and fifth-grade students took last year’s 10-time Cup Series race winner to their simulator room where Larson flexed his racing talent and competed in a drone race with the young scholars.

Once the drone competition was complete, six finalists in the district’s upcoming science fair showed off their entries to the race car driver.

After experiencing firsthand how much the Buford, Georgia-based school invests in STEM education, the highlight of the day was awarding Harmony Elementary School the $25,000 Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant that they can use to update drone equipment, create an on-site STEM innovation lab and form a robotics camp to engage students over the summer break.

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“Kyle’s visit was a great opportunity for us to highlight the hard work of Harmony’s students and staff. It was so exciting to watch our students show Kyle and our partners what they have learned through our work integrating AI and STEM,” said school Principal Jonathan Day. “Hendrick Automotive Group’s $25,000 donation through the Hendrick, Get Set. Go! program will enable Harmony’s students to take their learning to the next level. It was a great day at Harmony!”

In 2022, Hendrick, Get Set. Go! is hosting four events and donating $100,000 in total grant money. Harmony Elementary School is the first to receive the $25,000 grant.

 
Categories: Hendrick Cares, News