Kettering University has been awarded a $20,000 Community Impact Grant from General Motors to support robotics center programming that expands hands-on STEAM education opportunities for students in Flint and Genesee County.
The funding will support hands-on training for students and mentors involved in the university’s eight robotics teams, as well as participants in the 2026 Intro to Computer-Aided Fabrication course. Programming will include experiential learning with robotics and aerial drone technologies, providing students with direct opportunities to design, operate, and test advanced systems used in modern industries.
The grant also supports drone-focused activities that reflect growing real-world applications, including industrial inspection, logistics, and remote data collection, fields where automation and risk reduction are increasingly critical.
“Kettering’s robotics and drone programs are built around applied learning. Our students don’t just study technology, they use it,” said Kim Shumaker, Director of Kettering’s Robotics Outreach & Robotics Center. “Grants like these help ensure more students can access meaningful, hands-on STEAM experiences that connect directly to future careers.”
The award is part of a broader $300,000 Community Impact Grant investment distributed to nine Genesee County nonprofit organizations. Through the program, General Motors is supporting youth education and community-focused groups, including the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint, Factory Two, and the Flint Children’s Museum, to advance STEAM education and road safety initiatives across the region.
“Local nonprofits can do their best work when they have support from local businesses, and we’re thrilled to contribute to their amazing and tireless efforts,” said Theo Lavergne, General Motors Flint Assembly plant executive director, in a statement issued by the company.
GM’s Community Impact Grants are selected in collaboration with local General Motors and United Auto Workers leaders and are designed to strengthen educational access, workforce development, and community well-being across the Flint area.
Beyond the grant funding, General Motors reports that its Flint-area employees contributed nearly $225,000 in personal donations and more than 10,500 volunteer hours to local causes in 2025 through GM Cares.
“I love this program because it helps bring our communities together,” Lavergne said, “It supports growth and learning, and allows our team members to see the direct impact that their hands, minds, and hearts have in the areas where we live and work.”