For Immediate Release 

 
GE Aviation Joins Forces with United Way of Asheville and 
Buncombe County and Buncombe County Schools to Create 
STEM Kits for Local Students 
 
Contact: 
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County 
Tiffany Narron, Content Manager 
tiffany.narron@unitedwayabc.org  
 
February 12, 2019,​ ​Asheville, NC​ - 200 STEM Kits will be distributed to students in 4th and 7th grade in 
Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools this winter, including Oakley Elementary, Montford North Star 
Academy, and Owen Middle. United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County joined forces with GE Aviation 
and Buncombe County Schools to create these kits as educational take-home activities to engage and 
educate students and parents.  
 
“We knew there was a focus on STEM during school as well as in out-of-school activities and wanted to 
develop a supplemental STEM kit so that students and their families could do fun activities together at 
home,” shares United Way’s V ​ olunteer Engagement Director Michelle Bennett​. “We aren't experts in STEM or 
education, our job is to engage volunteers and others around community impact through volunteerism, 
which is why we paired both GE Aviation and Buncombe County Schools to develop this needed project.” 
 
Two different kits were created by GE Aviation with grade-level standard feedback from ​K-12 Science 
Specialist for Buncombe County Schools Brian Maccarelli​ and​ K-12 Math Specialist Stefanie Buckner​. One 
kit contains a map of North Carolina with challenge questions, allowing students to map routes to specific 
locations and use math to calculate distance traveled. The second project is a makeshift car kit where 
students take on the task of learning to engineer a rubber band-powered vehicle using small wooden wheels, 
dowel rods, and rubber bands using the scientific method to hypothesize the effects of wheel size on 
distance traveled by the vehicle. Within each kit, students will also receive a profile card, featuring a GE 
Aviation employee, sharing their name, title, and a deeper understanding of how their role helps support the 
production of airplane parts. 
  
“We’re hoping this gives the kids some ideas about the types of things that they can do in an industry that’s 
focused on tech,” shares ​Sarah Congleton, Lead Production Quality Specialist at GE Aviation in Asheville a ​ s 
she and S​ tefanie Buckner, K-12 Math Specialist for Buncombe County Schools​ sit analyzing the map of 
N.C. while walking through questions in the kit. Buckner adds, “I don’t think our students realize what we 
have here or what opportunities exist for them to be able to stay and thrive in this area. That’s also really 
helpful for parents to understand the major manufacturing that happens here and the great job opportunities 
within this field.” 
 
This project will join one of the many opportunities that United Way’s volunteer center, Hands On 
Asheville-Buncombe, facilitates for businesses and teams under the banner of Business United. Through 
Business United, United Way is able to do two things; address community needs and help local businesses 
manage their own philanthropic and employee engagement goals.  
 
“Studies show that employee retention is improved through workplace satisfaction which includes 
community engagement and volunteer activity,” said M ​ ichelle Bennett​. Business United experiences are 
designed to include engagement goals like building camaraderie and team-building among participants. 
Projects often take place at the workplace providing education about a community issue alongside an 
activity that everyone is able to work on together, producing a tangible product that helps fill a community 
need.  
 
Recent Business United opportunities have included creating snack packs for middle school students facing 
food insecurity, personal care kits for homeless students, care kits for families facing domestic violence, and 
more. STEM Kit creation will now be a part of these project offerings for companies looking for unique ways 
to stay informed on community issues and help make a collective impact. 
 
About United Way’s Volunteer Center, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe 
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, the volunteer center of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, 
makes it easy to get involved in meaningful volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations in Asheville 
and Buncombe County. Annually, Hands On connects more than 3,000 people to hundreds of opportunities. 
For more information, visit handsonasheville.org or contact us at (828) 255-0696.