$1 Million Lexmark Gift to Support STEM Education
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 12, 2011) − Lexmark International, Inc. recently presented a $1 million gift to the University of Kentucky in support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach initiatives, in celebration of the company's 20-year anniversary. UK will match the gift to renovate the Northside Library building on Russell Cave Road, next to the UK Department of Biology's Ecological Research Facility.
“The renovated building will house a training facility to provide professional development to Kentucky science and math teachers, a new lab for fieldwork-based ecology education, and a shared meeting room for community outreach,” said UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy. “Our math and science outreach operations will benefit from much-needed storage and work space, as well as a large area to assemble the educational materials that help science teachers encourage inquiry-based learning among Kentucky students.”
UK's Partnership Institute for Math and Science Education Reform (PIMSER) P-12 Math and Science Outreach Unit staff will be housed in the building. The unit will conduct teacher training workshops on site. The UK Department of Biology will benefit from a new lab near the outdoor ecological research ponds already on site. The building is slated to be up and running by August 2012. Lexmark announced the gift at a press conference March 29.
“Whether it’s through volunteer hours, monetary contributions or in-kind donations, we believe it’s imperative to give back to the communities that have long shown their support to Lexmark,” said Paul Rooke, Lexmark president and chief executive officer. “Not only are we committed to recognizing educators and enriching the lives of students in the areas of STEM, we are focused on building the pipeline of future engineers and innovators that enable companies like Lexmark to succeed in today’s competitive and fast-moving technology marketplace.”
President Lee T. Todd Jr. said the gift reflects a long-standing relationship with Lexmark and a shared vision of STEM education excellence.
“Lexmark and the University of Kentucky share a commitment to education in science, technology, engineering and math,” Todd said. “This generous gift will help to ensure our ongoing support of educational excellence at all levels for these important disciplines that fuel innovation and a brighter future for the Commonwealth.”
Lexmark made additional investments in STEM education through a $250,000 planned endowment to to the University of Colorado, establishing a scholarship fund for students in the College of Engineering & Applied Science. The scholarship recognizes Paul J. Curlander, Lexmark’s executive chairman and chairman of the Board of Directors, for his many years of service to Lexmark. Additionally, a $100,000 planned donation to a local magnet high school in Cebu, Philippines, will create the Lexmark Science and eResearch Lab, which will focus on technology research and education. Finally, a teacher recognition program will highlight and reward outstanding science, technology and math teachers. Lexmark will model its program after a successful Perceptive Software recognition program in Kansas, and extend it to Kentucky, Colorado and the Philippines. Selected teachers will receive a $1,000 cash award to further math and science education in their classrooms.
MEDIA CONTACT: Hayley Lynch, (859) 257-1754, ext. 228; hayley.lynch@uky.edu
