Company History

In 1999, Goodyear held its first day-long event to enlighten and enrich area students in the field of engineering, and two decades later, that tradition continues to expand through Goodyear's STEM Career Day, creating opportunities for students interested in pursuing such careers to learn about them.

STEM Career Day is designed to inspire and open doors for students who may not have had the chance to immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Goodyear creates these opportunities by introducing students to STEM in their formative years and incorporating dedicated STEM professionals who encourage them to pursue opportunities in the field.

"All of us at Goodyear take great pride in our long history of encouraging young people to pursue careers in the STEM fields, which are core to our business and our ability to continually innovate our products and services," said Chris Helsel, chief technology officer. "Our outstanding STEM professionals of today are dedicated to inspiring and motivating the STEM professionals of tomorrow."

A history of promoting STEM

Goodyear's 20-year history with STEM education began in 1999 with the title Goodyear Engineering Career Day for Young Women and was created to inspire young women to consider careers in engineering. 

Nearly 300 middle school and high school students would enter the doors of the former Goodyear Hall to attend this event each year, where female Goodyear employees and volunteers from other companies presented sessions on engineering disciplines.

"Goodyear Engineering Career Day for Young Women was created to introduce engineering to female students and motivate them to pursue a career in this field," said Brandy Moorhead, director, global off-highway product development. "It's essential to introduce young women to engineering, because they often don't know what their options are."

By 2012, the number of student attendees grew to 1,000, and Goodyear broadened its engineering education program to include a wider audience. The program was renamed Goodyear Engineering Career Day to encompass male students interested in pursuing a career in engineering.

Three years later, Goodyear extended its scope even further to incorporate all careers in the field of STEM, not just engineering. As a result, the event was renamed to Goodyear STEM Career Day and restructured to introduce students to various STEM careers, which brings in approximately 1,500 students each year.

For Akron associates, supporting STEM education is not just a day-long event. The company has multiple programs, including associate outreach to local schools and an Engineering Explorer Post for high school students, to introduce students to the STEM field and develop their skills for a future career.