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Durham District School Board High School Students First in Canada to Experience Automaker's New R.A.C.E. Program

WHITBY, ON, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Mazda pumped up high schoolers on Monday, June 2 with its highly acclaimed North American educational outreach program presented to 600 Durham District School Board 10-12 graders at Sinclair Secondary School.  Designed to encourage high school students to consider studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject areas, Mazda's Racing Accelerates Creative Education (R.A.C.E.) program engaged Durham students from six different high schools.

The engineering-based automotive manufacturer developed the R.A.C.E. educational program to demonstrate the many real-world, exciting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) applications used throughout the automobile industry. The curriculum of this turn-key, interactive learning forum was also designed to motivate and engage the next generation of STEM superstars.

The company's racing arm, Mazda Motorsports, is taking the lead with the R.A.C.E. program, which has already been seen by nearly 4,500 students in the U.S.  The goal is to reach more than a dozen schools across North America as the Motorsports team travels to events on the 2014 race circuit. This was the first time Mazda had brought its R.A.C.E. program to Canada.  As part of the curriculum, Mazda provided the following teaching aids at the Sinclair Secondary School event:

• Mazda's TUDOR United Sports Car Championship SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel Prototype show car (identical in appearance to the actual racecar that'll compete at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, July 11-13).
• A powerful, fully illustrated presentation that shows the importance of each one of the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the role they play in motorsports and the auto industry.
• Kyle Kimball, Mazda's Manager of Motorsports and the company's factory race car driver/engineer Joel Miller provided real-life examples of what it takes to race at the highest level of the sport.

"We are honored, and our students were thrilled, to have hosted this first Canadian stop at the Durham District School Board," said Martyn Beckett, Director of Education, Durham District School Board (DDSB).  "Science, technology, engineering and math initiatives provide opportunities for students and staff to be creative, imaginative, and innovative.  We thank Mazda for providing DDSB schools with the R.A.C.E. program, which drives home the message that there are many exciting and challenging career paths available to them through the STEM disciplines.  Giving students the opportunity to see creative and innovative real-life problem solving is a critical component of inspiring student success."

John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports, added,  "We are convinced that our R.A.C.E. program demonstrates in an interesting, fun and engaging way how science, technology, engineering and mathematics are central to the success of Mazda on the race track and in the marketplace. More important, by showing them examples of how exciting problem solving can be in the STEM arena, we believe we left many DDSB high school students even more motivated to always be curious and open minded."

Mazda is focusing on high school students for its R.A.C.E. program as they are armed with enough learning to be able to explore the STEM potential around them.  Cars are the most technologically sophisticated products owned by the average consumer and there are numerous applications within the STEM arena.  According to a new study by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor, MI, the integration of technology into the motor vehicle is creating an unprecedented demand for workers with high-tech skills, making this one of the most exciting industries in which to be employed.

Additional participating schools included Ajax High School, Brock High School, G.L. Roberts Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Durham Continuing Education, and R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

About the Durham District School Board

The Durham District School Board is responsible for public education in the rural settings of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog Townships and the urban settings of Ajax, Whitby, Pickering and Oshawa.  The Board employs 7,000 teaching and educational service staff.  With 128 elementary and secondary schools and learning centres, the Board accommodates more than 65,000 regular day students and thousands more who take advantage of a wide variety of continuing education and adult credit courses.  More information can be found on the Board's website at www.ddsb.ca and can be followed on Twitter @DurhamDSB.

About Mazda Canada Inc.

Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 165 dealerships. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca

SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc.