Presents Award for $186,469 in August 18 Ceremony

The Wayne State University Math Corps program will recognize the achievements of students at this year’s graduation ceremonies, scheduled to take place on Friday, August 18th.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Toyota USA Foundation, this year’s program doubled in size, adding a second six-week Math Corps Summer camp which gives middle and high school students in the Detroit area the chance to participate in an intensive and rigorous mathematics study program. This year’s graduation ceremony will include a check presentation from the Toyota USA Foundation.

“We are very excited to be the catalyst that allows 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.”

The Toyota award provided funding for an additional 200 students to take part in this successful summer program developed and directed by Wayne State University faculty members.

“Math Corps is a unique program for young people, combining an academic curriculum with a ‘people building’ approach. 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 main campus, the second Math Corps Summer Camp replicates 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 Wayne State faculty members, K-12 teachers, college students and high school students. During the afternoon, while the middle school students take part in a variety of hands-on, high school students attend accelerated mathematics courses, one of which is at the college level.

Middle school participants are selected for the program based on a written essay and any other evidence showing desire to succeed, willingness to work hard and need. High school students are chosen based on their academic record, dedication to learning, communication skills and a desire to assist others.

The Toyota USA Foundation is a $42 million charitable endowment created to support education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade students and their teachers in the United States. The Foundation’s emphasis is on supporting mathematics and science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.