The company hosted the annual oratorical contest and recognition event as part its celebration of Black History Month, honoring the traditions and contributions of African-Americans to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company
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Eastman recognized 15 local high school students, their families and educators during a luncheon today at The Eastman Lodge in Kingsport, Tenn.
“It’s important for us to celebrate and recognize the achievements that African-Americans have made in STEAM fields, and to bring a greater awareness to the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in education today,” said David Golden, Eastman’s senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. “At Eastman, we have an increasingly diverse, global team of talented and dedicated people working together to innovate for the future and create a brighter tomorrow. We need students to be excited enough about these subjects and to choose careers that will give them unlimited opportunities in companies like Eastman.”
Winning the contest and a $1,000 cash prize was Katheryn Luckadoo, a sophomore at Volunteer high school in Church Hill, Tenn. Katheryn will present her essay at Eastman’s Black History Month community event featuring Dr. Mae Jemison. The event will be held on Feb. 4, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Toy F. Reid Center, and is open to the public.
The contest was conceived to give area students the opportunity to learn more about the contributions of African-Americans in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) fields and display their creativity and presentation skills. 52 local high school students submitted essays for consideration, and the top five finalists were provided the opportunity to orate during the luncheon.
“The number of responses we had this year is amazing,” says Eastman team member Elaine Washington, a member of Eastman’s Black History Month committee organizing the event. “We received double the essays compared to last year. It’s exciting to see all these students learning more about African-American contributions to STEAM, and the contest offered a perfect opportunity for Eastman to partner with area educators and engage with students in a meaningful and enriching way.”
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Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2014 revenues of approximately $9.5 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 15,000 people around the world. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
KEYWORDS: Education, Diversity and Human Resources, Eastman, black history month, STEAM Education, East Tennessee, oratorical contest
