CONCORD, N.C. -- Kyle Larson continues to use his off time from racing to give back to communities all over the country through Hendrick Automotive Group’s Hendrick, Get Set. Go! initiative.
While in the Atlanta area for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Larson stopped by Buford High School in Buford, Georgia, to help gift the school $10,000 toward their STEM program. Students, teachers and staff all attended the event on July 12 to accept the donation to a brand-new computer science lab.
Larson and Hendrick Automotive Group partnered with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford to ensure Buford High School’s computer lab was completed. The school already had a relationship with the Georgia-based dealership through sponsorships and campaigns with athletics and scholarship programs. Larson appeared virtually for the presentation and spoke of the importance of STEM programs and how technology is essential for any career path.
“For many years, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, Hendrick CDJR Duluth, and Mall of Georgia Mazda have partnered together to support the students and staff of Buford High School,” said Mark Christian, director of service operations for Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford. “From athletics sponsorships to $2,500 annual college scholarships, our dealerships have rallied around Buford’s students to assure they have the tools they need to succeed.”
Georgia will require certain technology and project-based learning standards by 2024. The new computer lab will allow students to get ahead of that curve and will give access to a formal computer science program that can teach students advance technological skills. Knowing these skillsets gives the students an advantage as they look into technological careers.
“We have to motivate students to embrace computer science and to not be intimidated by it, and this Hendrick, Get Set. Go! grant is going to help us do just that,” said Autumn Sutton, a computer science teacher at Buford High School.
The presentation marks the fifth time Larson and Hendrick Automotive Group donated a $10,000 to a high school’s STEM program. To learn more about Hendrick, Get Set. Go!, click here. Afterward the event, attendees from the school and the local Hendrick dealerships enjoyed an afternoon at Andretti Indoor Karting.
“We greatly appreciate the support from Hendrick Automotive Group, and we are thankful for what the Hendrick, Get Set. Go! program will mean for our students and Computer Science Department,” said Keith Johnson, associate principal at Buford High School.