MICHauto Wraps Up Discover Auto Program for the School Year, Connects with 500 Students Statewide

In a three-part series with MICHauto partner, Square One Education Network, Hella, Omron, and Brose each hosted their own, unique tours with engaging presentations from young professionals, technology demonstrations, and live Q&As, affording students the opportunity to ask questions about potential career pathways in automotive.

Omron featured a video tour of their innovation lab as well, allowing students to see the technology in action and view the facility where they could one day work. All three companies did a great job engaging with students and the participants’ stories and backgrounds resonated with the students. For instance, during Brose’s event, Roxanne Bazinski talked about how her passion for math and art came together in a way that she did not think was possible when she started her job as an automotive parts designer. The series with Square One was well attended with students and teachers from Detroit, Macomb, Kalamazoo, Grand Ledge, Ann Arbor, Grayling, and the Upper Peninsula.

Barb Land, executive director of Square One said, “The Discover Auto series provides our students and teachers with authentic, real-world insight into the exciting and diverse career pathways of the future. These virtual tours and the chance to interact with industry professionals really help to illustrate the great job opportunities within the automotive industry.”

The final Discover Auto of the year was with MICHauto partner, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), featuring Omron. Several PLTW classes, including Cybersecurity and Introduction to Engineering Design, logged on for the event from St. Clair High School, Swartz Creek High School, and Farmington Hills High School. The students enjoyed seeing the technology they’re learning about in class actually being tested in Omron’s innovation lab tour. The teachers even gained valuable information from the tour when discussing Omron’s free continued e-learning resources.

Lyndsey Lindsay, director of school engagement for PLTW in Michigan stated, “Through the MICHauto Discover Auto Tour with Omron, students were able to connect directly into the industry and see careers in automotive and mobility as exciting and viable career choices for PLTW students.”

Thank you to our partners, Square One Education Network and Project Lead the Way, and our investors, Hella, Omron, and Brose, for helping make the virtual Discover Auto program so successful. The shift to a more virtual world has allowed us to reach students that we would not have been able to engage with previously due to location. Therefore, we plan to continue the virtual platform in the fall. To learn more about the Discover Auto program, contact Jenny Orletski-Dehne at jorletski@michauto.org.

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