Williams named Spark! Star for STEM support

Garver and the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Arkansas have been dedicated partners in introducing STEM concepts to students across the region for years.

That mutual interest was recognized earlier this month when Garver Chairman Emeritus Dan Williams was named a 2019 Spark! Star. Williams was honored during a recent gala held at the museum along with eight others who have proven to be regular supporters of the advancement of STEM learning.

“The Museum of Discovery has been an integral part of this community’s ability to teach necessary STEM skills, and we’ve been honored to play a small role in that over the years,” Williams said. “This year, the museum helped lay the foundation for the Garver Chain Reaction Challenge, which introduced STEM concepts to more than 14,000 students across our footprint.”

Since its inception in 2015 GarverGives, the firm’s corporate-giving arm that emphasizes contributions to STEM organizations, has contributed more than $17,500 to the museum. Employees from Garver’s North Little Rock office have also served as annual volunteers and supporters of Tinkerfest, an event put on at the museum that includes more than 40 hands-on, interactive activities.

This year, Garver took its Chain Reaction Challenge to the event. Students were given the opportunity to create complicated contraptions out of ordinary items like wood planks, balls, and dominoes. It mirrored the challenge that Garver held with students from across its 12-state footprint earlier this year to celebrate the company’s centennial. Garver donated funds and STEM kits to 100 schools and challenged students to create Rube Goldberg-style chain reaction contraptions as a way to introduce core STEM concepts and inspire the next generation of engineers.

To learn more about the Garver Chain Reaction Challenge, visit GarverUSA.com/GCRC.