In the 25-year history of the Society of Automotive Engineering Foundation’s Industry Leadership Award, it has never been given to a woman. Until now. The 2013 Industry Leadership Award went to General Motors’ Mary Barra, senior VP of Global Product Development, in recognition of her contributions to global engineering in automotive.
To celebrate the award, GM and Barra have announced that they will be giving the first production run of the 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport, due to begin soon, to the SAE Foundation to be auctioned at an upcoming Barrett-Jackson event later this year. The proceeds will be used for the SAE Foundation’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics student outreach programs while the lucky auction winner will drive away with the first Cadillac Vsport, including a performance driving school package, as well as the first Cadillac to feature an eight-speed automatic transmission.
“The SAE Foundation’s STEM educational programs are vital to ensuring we ignite the passion for math and science in young students who will be the future leaders of the automobile industry,” said Barra. “At a recent SAE a World in Motion third-grade skimmer project I was especially gratified to see students having so much fun applying key principles of math and science. So it is fitting to support SAE’s programs by donating a vehicle that embodies what is possible when ingenuity meets engineering excellence.”
The GM Foundation has supported the SAE Foundation’s STEM outreach for years, both financially and by providing mentors and volunteers for the program’s K-12 school programs.
