Last night, MichAuto attended the ribbon cutting for the expansion of the Lockwood STEM Center in Hemlock, Michigan. Witnessing the community turn out for such a special event was something to see.
Michigan’s future and our automotive industry depend on and are driven by the tech talent that we grow, develop, and retain in our state. Our young people must develop tech and interpersonal skills that will serve them well. Our goal is to help them and enable their ability to build lives and careers in Michigan and in our companies and communities. We also are fortunate to have MichAuto investors, like Nexteer Automotive and Michigan Tech University, who have been critical to the growth of centers like Lockwood. Their presence can be seen and felt in Hemlock.
Educators Tom and Dana Lockwood had a vision several years ago to build a lab and center for the students and community to have a positive and safe environment where our young people can learn coding, design, machining, and fabrication. It is a place where students can determine if a STEM career is right for them. MichAuto, in partnership with the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, has been working to support the center with funding for equipment and curriculum development. The center serves five school districts and is the heartbeat for the FIRST Robotics teams in those schools.
Hemlock’s Gray Matter Robotics team was founded in 2015. As the STEM program grew, the need for a dedicated space became more apparent. Then, the Lockwood STEM Center was built in 2020, and now the expansion is here. The teams are growing, and the new addition of the STEM Labs, which includes a LEGO Lab, an Electronics Lab, a 3D Printing Lab, and a Computing and Design Lab, highlights their commitment to equipping students with the skills essential for the future.
It was a special evening attended by students, educators, parents, and friends from around the community. There were also some very important company partners from The Merrill Technologies Group, Pumford Construction, Saginaw Control and Engineering, and Kerkau Manufacturing Electronics present at the event.
MichAuto is committed to the mission of promoting, retaining, and growing our signature industry and the talent needed for the industry and the growth of our state. We are grateful for the partners who support special places like the Lockwood STEM Center which further our mission.