Gov. Hutchinson, ARDOT, ANRC take part in GCRC event

Garver has long believed that supporting STEM programs in schools across the country leads to the development of the next generation of engineers. For the Garver Chain Reaction Challenge Event at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the Arkansas Department of Transportation, and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission shared in that interest.

Hutchinson delivered encouragement to students from eight central Arkansas middle schools before the event held in the Capitol rotunda.

“Arkansas needs engineers,” Hutchinson told the students. “Women engineers, men engineers, we need engineers.”

Scott Bennett, Director of ARDOT, and Ryan Benefield from the Arkansas National Resources Commission, served as judges.

“I think the coolest thing was seeing the kids working together as a team,” Bennett said.

To help celebrate its centennial, Garver is providing STEM kits and monetary donations to 100 schools across the country. By participating in the Garver Chain Reaction Challenge, students are using the STEM kits to create Rube Goldberg-style chain reaction contraptions, while being introduced to core engineering concepts like gravity, motion, and force, while promoting creativity and problem-solving skills.

To learn more, visit our centennial celebration page.