MONTGOMERY, Ala. – September 12, 2024 – Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) is expanding its Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence (HIRE) program into Selma City Schools through a $60,000 grant making the program possible.

The goal of HIRE: Selma is to expand and enhance competitive robotics programs at six schools (five elementary and one middle) in Selma and to seed the next generation of a technically proficient workforce. The six included schools each previously had one VEX-IQ competition team; HIRE: Selma will expand each school to two teams and provide updated robotics equipment and additional support for teachers and students.

On September 10-11, 2024, students and teachers from Selma City Schools participated in an event to launch the HIRE: Selma program and receive the training needed to bring the program into Selma schools. HIRE is funded by HMMA and implemented by Auburn University’s Southeastern Center of Robotics Education (SCORE).

“We are so appreciative of being named a Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence (HIRE) recipient,” said Anne Williamson, District STEAM & Instructional Technology Specialist – Selma City Schools. “Robotics programs focus on empowering scholars to solve problems. Scholars develop critical thinking and collaboration skills as they use their content knowledge to solve real-world problems. Scholars will develop problem-solving and teamwork skills that will be vital to their future personally and professionally while having fun!”

Since 2019, HMMA has partnered with SCORE to bring robotics into local publics schools through the Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence (HIRE). After creating robotics programs in all the Montgomery Public Schools, HMMA expanded the program to include Autauga County students in 2023, and now Selma City students as well.

“HMMA’s HIRE program has been a tremendous success in Montgomery Public Schools and Autauga County Schools,” said Scott Posey, Public Relations Manager – HMMA. “Expanding the program to Selma City Schools is a great next step in preparing area students with the STEM-based skills they need to take advantage of the many career opportunities that are available at HMMA and in other advanced manufacturing industries.”

The expansion of HIRE into Selma City Schools and the related donation brings HMMA’s total investment in local robotics education to more than $500,000.