Bosch, Bosch Community Fund award $270,000 to Michigan State University programs

- Grants earmarked for Engineering CoRe Experience (Cornerstone & Residential) and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Success programs - STEM Success program benefits students in Detroit Public Schools, Farmington Public Schools and Plymouth/Canton Community Schools EAST LANSING, Mich. – Bosch and the Bosch Community Fund have continued their support of Michigan State University (MSU) with $200,000 in grants for the university’s Engineering CoRe (Cornerstone and Residential) Experience, which is designed to engage first-year engineering students in experiential learning opportunities, inside and outside of the classroom. Bosch’s corporate human resources department provided $70,000, while the Bosch Community Fund awarded a $130,000 grant. In addition, the Bosch Community Fund provided a $70,000 grant to support the university’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Success program to develop high school students’ foundational math skills before entering undergraduate programs. “Since 2012, our collaboration with MSU has focused on promoting innovation and fostering an environment where students will stay engaged in STEM disciplines,” said Max Straub, CFO and executive vice president for Robert Bosch, LLC, and chair of the Bosch Community Fund. “The CoRe Experience and STEM Success programs impact students at various stages in their academic pursuits, which we hope will spark interest in pursuing STEM careers.” CoRe Experience Part of MSU’s College of Engineering, CoRe integrates first-year engineering academics with an engineering living-learning community to support the academic, professional and personal growth of first-year engineering students. Bosch’s $200,000 contribution will support CoRe as it engages more than 1,700 students in hands-on design projects to discover how to function in a collaborative, team-based, diverse setting and show the importance of engineering as well as the positive impact engineers have on a society. MSU Engineering Dean Leo Kempel said contributions by Robert Bosch LLC and the Bosch Community Fund to invest in early STEM programs are both insightful and needed. “This strong partnership helps high schools and MSU focus on fundamental readiness for college-bound and first-year students who have an interest in engineering or other STEM professions,” Kempel said. “We are grateful that our corporate partners are willing to invest in supporting these early engineering students as they begin their paths to careers as engineers.” “To succeed in engineering, students must both make the grade in the classroom and choose to apply their skills, knowledge and effort to solve the important problems of today and tomorrow,” explained CoRe director S. Patrick Walton. “Support and participation from Bosch, a global and innovative company, only increases CoRe’s opportunities to engage early engineering students in experiences that will shape their educations and, ultimately, their careers.” STEM Success In 2014, the MSU Department of Mathematics launched its STEM Success program to help students who don’t receive the pre-college math and science education needed to pursue undergraduate STEM-related degrees. Eligible students can enroll in two courses, the Math Bridge Program and Explorations of Chemistry, to help with the transition from high school to MSU entry-level courses. The Bosch Community Fund grant will support STEM Success efforts in Detroit Public Schools, Farmington Public Schools and Plymouth/Canton Community Schools. “Preparing students to enter STEM careers is a critical component to ensure we have a qualified future workforce. And it’s never too early to start the preparations,” said Pavel Sikorskii, senior teaching specialist and co-director of undergraduate studies in MSU’s Department of Mathematics. “It’s reassuring to see companies such as Bosch show an interest and be active in reaching out and engaging students. By working together, we can combine all our resources to encourage the pursuit of STEM careers.” The renewed partnership was celebrated on Friday, April 22, when officials from MSU and Bosch dedicated the redesigned fourth-floor lobby in East Wilson Hall. About the Bosch Community Fund The Bosch Community Fund, a U.S.-based foundation established in September 2011, awards more than $3.5 million annually in grants to various 501(c)(3) organizations and educational institutions. The BCF focuses primarily on the enrichment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and the advancement of environmental sustainability initiatives. About Bosch Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs some 28,700 associates in more than 100 locations, as of April 1, 2015. In 2014, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $11.3 billion in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca. The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 375,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2015). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of more than $77 billion (70 billion euros) in 2015. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2015, Bosch applied for some 5,400 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com and twitter.com/BoschPresse. About the Michigan State University College of Engineering The Michigan State University College of Engineering has nine academic programs serving more than 5,000 undergraduate and 600 graduate students. Since 2006, the college’s annual research expenditures have risen to $50 million with a focus on innovation in automotive, composite materials, energy, health care technologies, pavement preservation, and security. The college is the home of two new academic departments -- the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering. A new $60 million Bio Engineering Facility will open in 2016 for shared interdisciplinary research. Additional information is available online at: www.egr.msu.edu. About the Michigan State University College of Natural Science The Michigan State University College of Natural Science promotes excellence in research, teaching, and public service across the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences. The college is home to 29 departments and programs and averages $28 million in research expenditures annually while providing world-class educational opportunities to more than 5,000 undergraduate majors and nearly 1,000 graduate students. There are approximately 325 faculty and staff associated with NatSci and more than 45,000 living alumni worldwide. Additional information is available online at: www.NatSci.msu.edu.