First Eight Schools To Receive Volkswagen eLabs Named

April 26, 2017 by Volkswagen

• Urban, Suburban and Rural Schools in first wave of science labs

Chattanooga, Tenn. (25 April 2017) — Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations (Volkswagen Chattanooga) and the State of Tennessee have named the first eight Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE) schools to receive science laboratory equipment as part of the Volkswagen eLabs initiative.

Administered by the Public Education Foundation (PEF), Volkswagen eLabs will provide students access to digital fabrication tools including automated manufacturing equipment, programmable microcomputers, renewable energy kits, 3D printers, robotics, laser cutters, and other emergent technologies that will empower them to engage in authentic problem solving.

'I'd like to congratulate each of the schools that are a part of this first group of Volkswagen eLab partnerships,' said Nicole Koesling, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Volkswagen Chattanooga. 'Volkswagen has a long history of fostering hands-on learning, especially in the science, technology and engineering disciplines. We are proud to be working with all of our partners to be a catalyst for learning with our local schools,' she said.

The eight schools chosen are:

•Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences

•Dalewood Middle School

•East Hamilton Middle High School

•The Howard School

•Hunter Middle School

•Normal Park Museum Magnet

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•Red Bank Middle & High Schools (participating together)

•Sale Creek Middle/High School

'We are so pleased for the eight Hamilton County Schools that have been chosen to receive Volkswagen eLabs,' TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. 'Education is a top priority for the State of Tennessee and with the tools that the Volkswagen eLabs will provide, these schools will be able to better educate our future workforce through this innovative program. I want to thank our partners at Volkswagen for providing this program to these eight schools and I look forward to seeing what can be accomplished through the Volkswagen eLabs.'

HCDE Interim Superintendent Dr. Kirk Kelly is looking forward to seeing the completed Volkswagen eLabs in the eight schools. 'Volkswagen Chattanooga's generous grant to fund Volkswagen eLabs is a perfect fit with our focus on ensuring our students are future ready,' Dr. Kelly said. 'We are so thankful to have Volkswagen as a partner in education with both the Mechatronics Akademie and now the Volkswagen eLabs. HCDE students will lead the way in the 21st century workforce.'

The program will be administered in partnership with the Public Education Foundation (PEF) an independent, nonprofit organization that provides training, research and resources to teachers, principals and schools in Hamilton County. PEF Director of Innovative Learning Michael Stone will help schools equip their Volkswagen eLabs, as well as design and lead the professional learning of the educators in the schools with labs.

'We've been truly inspired by the quantity and quality of the proposals we received and the extraordinary educators we met as we made the extremely difficult decisions of selecting the eight schools. Given the enormous interest in Volkswagen eLabs, we're really glad that we will be able to select eight additional schools next year,' said PEF President Dr. Dan Challener.

'Imagine: In just a few short months, students across Hamilton County will begin using an amazing set of new tools to solve authentic problems and design and manufacture new things. This is extraordinary—and further proof of the great things that can happen when businesses, not-for-profit organizations, government, and community members create partnerships with our public schools.'

Twenty HCDE middle and high schools applied for funds to create Volkswagen eLabs in their schools. The proposals were evaluated using the panel review process established by the National Science Foundation.

Of the 20, 11 schools were identified as unanimous finalists. After extensive site visits at each school by representatives from the panel review committee, eight schools were chosen to receive Volkswagen eLabs in this first round.

'One of the best ways we can invest in our state's future is to invest in education, and increasing educational opportunities has been a large part of Tennessee's story in recent years,' said Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen. 'The creation of these eLabs will keep our state on the path forward, providing innovative opportunities for our students to learn and grow as they prepare for their futures.'

The eight chosen schools were required to identify a team of four teachers including a Volkswagen eLab Specialist who will serve on the Volkswagen eLab Innovation Team to ensure each Volkswagen eLab is used to its maximum capacity.

The VW eLab awardees were selected by representatives from Volkswagen Chattanooga, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Hamilton County Department of Education, and Public Education Foundation.

Hamilton County middle & high school will be able to apply for funds in 2018 to be chosen for the remaining eight Volkswagen eLabs. By opening 16 Volkswagen eLabs over the course of the next 15 months, Hamilton County schools will lead the nation in digital fabrication in formal education settings.

About Volkswagen Chattanooga

The Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations, LLC (Volkswagen Chattanooga) manufacturing facility began production in April 2011 and currently builds the all-new Passat sedan, specifically designed for the North American market and winner of the 2012 Motor Trend Magazine Car of the Year award. In July of 2014, it was announced that Volkswagen Chattanooga would build a new midsize sport utility vehicle, the Volkswagen Atlas, set to debut in 2017. Volkswagen Chattanooga currently employs 3200 team members. Volkswagen Chattanooga is the first car factory worldwide with a LEED Platinum certification. It is also certified to international standards for energy management (ISO 50001), environmental management (ISO 14001) and quality management (ISO 9001).