For more information contact Bryan
Armstrong, KCTCS (859) 246-3146, ext. 1208
Rick Hesterburg, TMMK (502) 868-2135
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (June 12, 2003) – Students enrolled in automotive technology programs at seven colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) will benefit from donations of automobiles by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK).
TMMK is releasing the vehicles to the colleges between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, June 13, at its plant in Georgetown. The following colleges will pick up vehicles, which students will work on as they train for careers in automotive technology:
The donated vehicles were built during trial phases for new models. Since they were made, Toyota has used them for transportation in and around the Georgetown plant.
“We appreciate the generosity shown by Toyota in supporting our colleges’ automotive technology programs,” said Michael B. McCall, KCTCS president. “It is an example of our ongoing partnership, which is benefiting communities and changing the lives of students across Kentucky.”
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, recognized as the KCTCS Benefactor of the Year in 2001, is the largest donor to the KCTCS Foundation with contributions exceeding $500,000.
In 2001, Toyota provided 41 robots and six programmable logic units that were distributed to 14 community and technical colleges for instructional use by faculty and staff. The company donated $150,000 to support the Kentucky Manufacturing Skills Standards and Lean Thinking Initiative in 2000.
“TMMK has a very strong relationship with KCTCS,” said Tom Zawacki, general manager at TMMK and chairman of the board of the KCTCS Foundation, Inc.
“KCTCS has developed a number of initiatives to help in a variety of programs at TMMK such as skilled trades, lean manufacturing curriculum, and other practical education initiatives. We also support KCTCS in a number of ways, one of which is vehicle donations for their educational training program.”
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KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information on KCTCS, visit www.kctcs.edu.
TMMK is Toyota's largest North American manufacturing plant with the capacity of producing 500,000 vehicles and engines annually. The Georgetown plant is celebrating its 15th year of production and recently built its 5 millionth vehicle. TMMK builds the Camry and Avalon sedans, and will begin production of the Camry Solara in July. The Camry has been America's number one selling sedan for five of the last six years.
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