Time Warner Cable, which launched its Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) initiative with President Obama in 2009, returned to the White House to launch a new segment of its $100 million campaign to inspire the next generation of problem solvers by connecting young people to the wonders of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The “STEM in Sports” campaign will offer parents, coaches and other adults the opportunity to get kids interested in STEM by highlighting the roles these subjects play in sports.
“Time Warner Cable applauds President Obama for his Educate to Innovate initiative, which raises awareness of STEM as vital to the country’s continued economic growth,” said Glenn Britt, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable. “More than 50 percent of the fastest-growing occupations in this country require math or science skills. CAMM is inspiring young people to become interested in these important subject areas, and our STEM in Sports campaign will broaden the appeal of this initiative even further.”
Professional football player Victor Cruz, who joined Time Warner Cable executives at today’s White House Science Fair, will appear in a new Connect a Million Minds public service announcement to explain how math and science are important in football, and critical to students’ future success.
“On and off the field, science and math are a winning combination,” said Cruz. “I’m personally committed to helping the next generation succeed, and letting them know that the path to success is taking an interest in these important subjects, even though they may be hard. It is an honor to be at the White House representing Time Warner Cable and I’m thrilled to be part of the Connect a Million Minds campaign.”
In addition to public service announcements, the connectamillionminds.com website will feature a new STEM in Sports microsite. The microsite will feature videos of athletes discussing how STEM subjects impact their sports. It will also have downloadable educational materials that provide parents and coaches with ideas on how to infuse STEM learning into sports. In addition to Cruz, athletes that have agreed to participate in the STEM in Sports campaign include Ian Poulter, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon.
Time Warner Cable will also hold STEM in Sports trivia contests in which Cruz, through his @TeamVic Twitter handle, will ask fun sport questions related to STEM.
The Victor Cruz public service announcement can be viewed through this link:
The White House Science Fair can be viewed live via the following link: http://1.usa.gov/17CfV8M
The White House and Time Warner Cable also invited Greyson McCluskey, a 16 year old resident of Indian Trail, N.C., to participate in the White House Science Fair. Greyson was the national winner of Wouldn’t It Be Cool If… , a 2012 contest presented by Time Warner Cable and i.am FIRST, founded by artist, entertainer and entrepreneur will.i.am. The contest challenged youths to dream up the coolest thing to make their lives, community or the world more awesome, and then explain how STEM could help bring their idea to life. Greyson’s wining idea was the Baby Safe Rider, a mechanism for car seats that would detect the onset of high temperatures in babies as a way to address the rising incidents of vehicular hyperthermia fatalities.