Students of Ashoka Universal School, Nashik to participate in the "2009 JetToy Olympics" in Detroit

Ashoka Universal School among those where "AWIM" was sponsored by Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited. under CSR.

Nashik April 7, 2009: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., SAEINDIA, ARAI and Ashoka Universal School, announced that the three-member team of Aditya Londhe, Varun Kasat and Pallak Nimani from Ashoka Universal School, Nashik, who had won the recently held AWIM National Olympics in Chennai, has been invited by SAE International to participate in the 2009 JetToy Olympics to be held in Detroit on April 22, 2009. The Jet Toy Olympics is in its third year and approximately 500 elementary school students will gather to create and race balloon-powered toy cars. During this exciting competition, students learn to work as a team, apply scientific design concepts and explore the principles of jet propulsion, friction, and air resistance.

Ashoka Universal School, Nashik, is among the schools where 'AWIM' was sponsored by Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. under CSR activity. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., A.S. has thus far trained 1800+ students, 46 teachers in 16 schools at Nashik and Igatpuri along with 36 M&M volunteers, who act as facilitators responsible for spreading this movement in and around Nashik. Mahindra, in association with SAEINDIA has also conducted two workshops at Nashik to train teachers and volunteers. Volunteers have invested about 1940 manhours. The AWIM programme is being run by SAEINDIA in 60 schools across India and about 10,000 students have been trained till date.

Mahindra, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, in association with the SAEINDIA has brought SAE International's AWIM – A World In Motion programme to Nashik. Under this initiative, Students from Standards V and VI can learn the application of Science and Engineering with FUN. SAE International's A World In Motion is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to life for students K-12, incorporating the laws and lessons of physics, motion, flight and electronics into age-appropriate hands-on activities.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector and Past President SAEINDIA said, "Mahindra has always focused on education as one its core corporate social responsibility areas as it firmly believes that education is an enabler that leads to a better quality of life. It is with this thought that we commenced our association with AWIM. AWIM's innovative, fun and challenging tools will inspire young students who form the foundation of India's technological leadership of the future. I am glad to know that three young students from Nashik have the opportunity to prove their mettle on a global forum and I am confident that they will come back with flying colours. My best wishes to them.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nitin Ranade, Vice President-Vehicle Systems, Automotive Sector, said, "AWIM – Its a movement to catch the fantasy of the youngsters and motivate them to express their creativity through Automobiles as hobby now and hopefully as a profession in future"

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of Ashoka Universal School, Mr. Ashoka Katariya said, "Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is achieved". We consider "JET TOY CHALLENGE OLYMPICS" a golden opportunity to show a technical spark at a very young age. Our students have proved that they can think beyond academics and represent India and Nashik at the international level. It is aptly in tune with our endeavour to make the Ashokites 'Global Citizens of tomorrow '.Our emphasis in the school has always been on ' Practical & Need Based Education' wherein such competitions of SAEINDIA and MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD., has given a strong platform for it. My Team wishes all the very best to our proud national winners- Ms.Pallak Nimani, Mst.Aditya Londhe, Mst.Varun Kasat who are ready to take off at international level. We salute our genius!!!

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kamal C. Vora, Secretary of SAEINDIA and Head ARAI Academy, said, "Like all other sectors, the automotive industry relies on new generation of qualified young engineers. This new generation of engineers must be able to demonstrate their commitment and learn how to design & build a vehicle successfully in a team. For this, Society of Automotive Engineers has initiated Events like BAJA SAE and FORMULA SAE. He further added, For schools, SAEINDIA has initiated A World in Motion Program (AWIM), where children learn concepts like inertia, friction and laws of motion effortlessly while making their dream cars, whereas the teachers get a chance to network with engineering professionals and industry for a meaningful interaction. The students are provided with a kit containing raw materials to build cars and they are taught to design, build them and experiment with them. In this process, students explore science, engineering and design.

ARAI also supports these programme as a part of Human Resource Development for the Industry."

Details about the 2009 JetToy Oylmpics can be obtained from www.awim.org

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords