Aisin donates to Michigan Science Center

In its continuing effort to invest in the future, and support education in science and engineering, Aisin has committed to donating $100,000 over the next three years to the Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) in Detroit.

Aisin joins Toyota and Denso in the recent effort to raise funds for Mi-Sci, a unique, fun and dynamic hands-on museum offering programs that inspire children to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology and math.

"Collectively, Aisin, Denso and Toyota will be making an important statement about our unified commitment to science education and the youth of Detroit," said TEMA's Bruce Brownlee. "The science center is a major force behind the next generation of Michigan's engineers, scientists, and innovators. We're glad to partner with Aisin and Denso in this important effort."

 

 

Here to There

By Dennis Robbins

So, what do you want to be when you grow up? How will you get there? What if you don’t have a plan? Will you become successful? And how will you define that success?

For generations, these have been valid questions asked of students as they prepare to leave high school and enter the "real" world. So far as we know, the answers are not found in any text book.

In recent years, Aisin External Affairs has supported a variety of activities of the Livonia Public Schools, including FIRST Robotics and, most recently, the "Here to There" program.

The program introduces high school juniors and seniors to people in their community --people who also dealt with the anxiety of pre career issues and found answers.

As students sit in a classroom (Here), and consider their future (There), many wonder how or if they’ll reach their goal. Here to There brings working adults into the classroom where they can explain how they arrived at their current occupation and status in life.

Two one hour sessions with three adults per class were held at Franklin High School earlier this year. I was joined by a nurse and a civil engineer. We all shared similar stories in that the road most often taken was not straight, or even what was originally imagined. In some cases, it wasn't even paved. Yet, despite differences in our occupations, a common thread was present – we all took opportunities or chances with our lives and continued to forge ahead and move towards what we thought would be a brighter future.

The students listened and asked a lot of questions related to success. Most realized that to be successful (regardless of their personal definition of success), they must work daily at the task of learning and helping themselves move forward. Sometimes the road is clear and other times the goal must be redefined or reconsidered. Occasionally the direction takes a detour, but forward movement is always necessary.

The students listened to my story of how I came into my occupation at Aisin, and life before Aisin. I hope they understood that it wasn’t a clear or defined path for me, but a series of opportunities that surfaced and allowed me to try different things.

Our goals were to help the students maintain their forward movement and look toward their future. Programs like Here to There will help ensure our efforts will be successful, so the kids can be, too.