BROOKLYN, Mich. (May 4, 2016) —Tuesday was a night of recognition at Michigan International Speedway as the track and MIS Cares awarded scholarships to 14 local high students, technology grants to six school districts and named the first-ever winner of the Michael J. Carpenter Award.
Ron Kyser won the inaugural Michael J. Carpenter Award. It is an award for Individuals who volunteer for non-profit service organizations providing volunteer services during race weekend.
Kyser has volunteered at Michigan International Speedway for the Guests Services department seasonally for eight years. He volunteers for Greenford Christian Church in Greenford, Ohio. Kyser takes his position very seriously and once said it was simple to take care of the guests, because they’re his guests too. He goes above and beyond to care for guests in the MISCamping.com Graves Family Campground by providing extraordinary delivery of ordinary services.
Additionally, Kyser organizes either a coloring contest, trivia contest or a scavenger hunt each race weekend for the kids in Graves. He also coordinates gift baskets as prizes, of which, he solicits himself.
As part of an ongoing initiative to promote learning among students at all education levels, MIS Cares and the NASCAR Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to six school districts in Jackson and Lenawee Counties. The grants will aid in upgrading the technology in the media center or library of the schools.
- Addison Elementary School received a technology grant for 25 Chromebooks as part of an overall goal to achieve 1:1 technology by 2018. The Chromebooks will be available to almost 400 students grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.
- Concord Elementary School wants students to have access to Kindles in the classroom and on the bus. The grant will cover the cost of more than 50 Kindles with the goal of helping all students to read at or above grade-level.
- da Vinci High School recently developed a music program titled Music Production and Technology. With its grant da Vinci will provide the necessary computer equipment and software to have a successful music program.
- “Make, Create and Innovate with a Makerspace in the Library” is the title of Frost Elementary School’s project. The school will purchase six Apple iPad Airs, an LED Smart HDTV, an Osmo Gaming System, Lego and K’nex kits and more. This interactive space will allow students to gather to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials.
- To impact over 800 students, pre-K through fifth grade, Madison Elementary School will use the grant to provide a portable SMARTBoard package to the school’s media center. The goal of this grant is to help students achieve the proper reading level for their grade and to help get them excited about reading through technology.
- Project-based learning is important to Michigan Center Schools. Many times students are asked to solve problems creatively, often in teams. The grant will be used to create a “Maker Space” that includes three 3D printers, eight Makey Makey Kits, eight Wonderbot Dash & Dot programs and more. All of the technology requested will be available to all schools in the district to utilize.
As part of an ongoing initiative to promote learning among students at all educational levels, MIS Cares awarded $1,000 scholarships to seven students from both Lenawee and Jackson Counties.
Recipients include:
Student High School University Major
Ashlee Bartlett Home Schooled Spring Arbor Chemistry
Regan Bernstein Columbia Central Michigan Biomedical Engineering
Quentin Blonde Concord Michigan State Electrical Technology
Kayla Burmis Hanover-Horton Michigan State Applied Engineering
Nnamdi Enwereuzo Lenawee Christian Michigan Chemical Engineering
Brooke Huizenga Lumen Christi Michigan Chemistry/Biology
Tiffany Jones Northwest Lansing CC Dental Hygiene
Kyle Lakatos Sand Creek Michigan Mechanical Engineering
Aubrey Masters Sand Creek Western Michigan Interior Design
Thomas Plummer Columbia Central Michigan Mechanical Engineering
Rachel Rudd Columbia Central Michigan BSN/Nurse Practitioner
Grace Skinner Home Schooled Grand Valley State Graphic Design
Austin Thompson Onsted Michigan Actuarial Mathematics & Statistics
Wyatt Wagoner Tecumseh Michigan Technological Mechanical Engineering
The scholarship was open to any graduating senior in Jackson or Lenawee County who was entering a STEAM-related (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) field at a college or university in Michigan.
Thanks to several local organizations, MIS Cares raised $7,500 of the $14,000 through a scholarship match challenge. Orbitform, Christoff & Sons Floor Covering Inc., Country Market, CP Federal Credit Union, R.W. Mercer Co., OmniSource, Childrenz Challenge, Iott Insurance, Michigan Community Credit Union, Signal 88 Security and Spring Arbor University each donated $500, and TAC Manufacturing and the Dryden Family Foundation each provided $1,000 towards the MIS Cares Scholarship Program.
As a donor advised fund of The NASCAR Foundation, the mission of MIS Cares is to assist and inspire youth within our community. The NASCAR Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit entity.
MIS focuses on charity through the program MIS Cares. MIS and its sister company Americrown combined donated a total of $916,566.82 to local service groups and organizations through cash donations, work programs, grants and sponsorships, as well as tickets and merchandise that clubs raffle to raise money in 2015.
Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is NASCAR’s fastest racetrack. It has been the love of NASCAR racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike for nearly 50 years.
PHOTO: MIS Cares awarded scholarships to 14 local high students, technology grants to six school districts and named the first-ever winner of the Michael J. Carpenter Award. The scholarship winners stand on pit road after receiving their big checks. Photo from left: (Row 1) Quentin Blonde, Grace Skinner, Ashlee Bartlett, Aubrey Masters, Kayla Burmis and Brooke Huizenga. (Row 2) Kyle Lakatos, Wyatt Wagoner, Austin Thompson, Tiffany Jones, Thomas Plummer, Rachel Rudd and Nnamdi Enwereuzo. (Photo by Michigan International Speedway.)
