DETROIT, Sept. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Wayne State University has been named the recipient of a $186,469 award from the Toyota USA Foundation. The award will allow the university to add a second six-week Math Corps summer camp that will give junior and senior high school students in the Detroit area the chance to participate in an intensive and rigorous mathematics study program. The Toyota award will provide funding for an additional 200 students to take part in this successful summer program developed and directed by Wayne State University faculty members.
"We are very excited to be the catalyst that will allow this outstanding university to double the size of its successful math education outreach program," said Patricia Pineda, Group Vice President, Corporate Communications and General Counsel, of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "Programs like this are especially important here in America's "Motor City," where so many well paying jobs require high math, science and engineering skills, which these students will now have the chance to enhance."
"Math Corps is a unique program for young people, combining an academic curriculum with a 'people building' curriculum. The program's popularity among Detroit students is largely due to the sense of fulfillment participants feel as a result of their academic successes and as they reach new levels of self esteem and confidence to become leaders among their peers," said Michael Acheson, Chairman, Board of Visitors, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wayne State University. "All great youth programs need great financial partners and we are proud that the Toyota USA Foundation is joining us as we move forward, working to build future leaders for Detroit."
Housed on Wayne State's campus, the second Math Corps Summer Camp will replicate the initial program established in 1992. In the camp, participants are organized into 12 teams, each consisting of 10 middle grade students at the same level, one university student team leader and five high school students, who also serve as teaching assistants and mentors for the younger participants. During the morning session, the middle school students receive a variety of formal math lessons delivered by volunteer Wayne State University professors and K-12 teachers assisted by University undergraduates and the high school students. During the afternoon, while the middle school students take part in a variety of hands-on math activities, 80 high school students attend two accelerated mathematics courses, at least one of which is at the college level.
Middle school participants are selected for the program based on a written essay as well as exhibiting a desire to succeed. High school students are chosen based on their academic record, dedication to learning, communication skills and a desire to assist others.
In addition to Wayne State, other organizations receiving Toyota USA Foundation awards were Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NY; The Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, VA; and Science Buddies, Carmel, CA.
The Toyota USA Foundation is a $40 million charitable endowment created to support innovative education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States, with special emphasis in the areas of mathematics and science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation.