COLUMBUS, ID--June 16, 2012: Cummins Inc. announced the launch of a new initiative today to motivate and inspire students to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The new initiative kicks off this weekend with a grassroots effort called the "Brickworld Build Team."
“Our Brickworld STEM initiative will help connect Cummins engineers with STEM students and their families through interactive play and discovery”
The Brickworld Build Team consists of middle school STEM students and teachers from three Chicagoland area schools and Cummins engineers coming together to build a 4-foot by 3-foot by 2-foot LEGOŽ replica of Cummins newest and largest high-horsepower diesel engine -- the QSK95. The replica engine will be built with approximately 30,000 LEGOs on Saturday, June 16, at Brickworld, a LEGOŽ enthusiast convention taking place at the Westin Chicago North Shore hotel.
"Our Brickworld STEM initiative will help connect Cummins engineers with STEM students and their families through interactive play and discovery," said Richard Whitney, global employment brand leader at Cummins. "We know that engineers of all ages love playing with LEGOŽ models so we created this program as a unique way to connect STEM students with our engineer role models."
Students currently learning about fundamental problem-solving and critical-thinking skills taught in STEM curriculum will use their understanding to build 40 different LEGOŽ modules that combine to create the replica engine. Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a leading provider of STEM education curricular programs, partnered with Cummins to help connect the students and teachers to the event. Additionally, the Cummins Interactive Play Area at Brickworld includes areas of free form LEGOŽ bricks where families and children can collaborate together to build their own unique creations.
"Although we design and develop power technology every day, we still like to have fun and give back based on our talents, not just our time," said Whitney. "The replica engine will also be built at our world headquarters in Columbus, Indiana, on college campuses and at diversity career fairs throughout the year."
LEGO, the LEGO logo and the Minifigure are trademarks of The LEGO Group.
About Cummins
Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, (USA) Cummins employs approximately 44,000 people worldwide and serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of more than 600 company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 6,500 dealer locations. Cummins earned $1.85 billion on sales of $18.0 billion in 2011. Press releases can be found on the Web at Cummins.
