AKRON, Ohio, April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifteen high school students won college scholarships and another 50 shared in grants for their schools at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's 16^th Annual STEM Career Day event. The scholarships and grants totaled more than $40,000.

Goodyear had issued a challenge to students in grades six through 12 – try your hand at designing a clever Rube Goldberg™ Machine utilizing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles, to fill a Goodyear blimp. The challenge offered up to $4,000 to the high school group that produced the most innovative concept.

The company welcomed more than 1,556 students, accompanied by parents and teachers to The University of Akron for the day-long event on April 18. In addition to exploring the campus, students interacted with representatives from more than 50 local organizations, who hosted hands-on STEM-based activities throughout the day. One of these hands-on activities was a zombie apocalypse-themed challenge requiring use of engineering acumen to design and build a mechanical system. The system students built allowed them to pick up "supplies" while remaining out of reach of the "undead."

"It is important that we encourage our young people to pursue careers in science and technology. That's the reason why 300 Goodyear volunteers – most of them associates at our Innovation Center in Akron – work so hard to plan this event," said Chief Technical Officer Joe Zekoski. "Looking at the creativity demonstrated by so many of the students, I am confident they have bright careers ahead of them."

The following high schools won grants via the Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge:

• First place, receiving $4,000, Black River High School, Sullivan, Ohio.
• Second place, receiving $3,000, Buckeye High School, Medina, Ohio.
• Third place, receiving $1,500, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, Broadview Heights, Ohio.

The following middle schools won grants via the Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge:

• First place, receiving $1,000, was Catalyst Homeschool Academy, Macedonia, Ohio.
• Second place, receiving $1,000, was Brecksville Broadview Heights Middle School, Broadview Heights, Ohio.
• Third place, receiving $500, was Edison Middle School, Massillon, Ohio.

First place winners, Catalyst Homeschool Academy and Black River High School, had their machines on-site for the event and had the opportunity to demonstrate their work to Goodyear Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Kramer.

The following students were recipients of Goodyear scholarships to the university of their choice:

• Nathan Peterman of Revere High School, Richfield, Ohio,
• Sean Umstot of Waterloo High School, Atwater, Ohio,
• Lisa Twarog of North Royalton High School, North Royalton, Ohio,
• Zack Li of Copley High School, Copley, Ohio, and
• Alexander Karwowski of Highland High School, Medina, Ohio.

The following students accepted Goodyear/University of Akron scholarships:

• Brian Auffenberg of Wadsworth High School, Wadsworth, Ohio,
• Deanna Chapa of Hoover High School, North Canton, Ohio,
• Alex Willey of Heath High School, Heath, Ohio,
• Alexander Vetrick of Buckeye High School, Medina, Ohio, and
• Monica Feltman of Revere High School, Richfield, Ohio.

The recipient of the Goodyear/Case Western Reserve University scholarship was Benjamin Robinson of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

The recipients of the Goodyear/Cleveland State University scholarships are Louise Beckstrom of Aurora High School, Aurora, Ohio; and Charles Cilensek of Mentor High School, Mentor, Ohio.

Miranda Hughes of Southeast High School, Ravenna, Ohio; and Chancelor Sunkle of Washington High School, Massillon, Ohio, received Goodyear Women's Initiatives in Leadership/University of Akron scholarships.

To learn more about Goodyear's STEM Career Day, visit www.goodyear.com/careerday.

Goodyear (NASDAQ: GT) is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs about 67,000 people and manufactures its products in 50 facilities in 22 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear or its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company