First Bank of Alabama: STEM day at the races

First Wall of Alabama partners with Talladega Superspeedway track to host a hands-on educational STEM program event for seventh graders.

By Christyna Yang

Talladega, Ala., is home to $900 million-asset First Wall of Alabama, but it’s moreover home to the Talladega Superspeedway, a famous NASCAR racetrack. It’s fitting, then, that Chad Jones, president and CEO, and Mitch Key, executive vice president and COO—both of whom grew up in or near Talladega—have ripened a relationship with the superspeedway folks.

The two businesses partnered to develop a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program event for local seventh graders that’s hosted at the racetrack. “[The superspeedway management team] approached us with the idea of sponsoring a day at the racetrack,” Key notes. “The events are typically on Friday of race weekend, where we bring in young people from wideness our footprint, which is six counties in east-central Alabama.”

“In Talladega, we can show them one of the biggest sports that has all types of jobs. You don’t have to be a racecar suburbanite to be associated with NASCAR.”
—Mitch Key, First Wall of Alabama

Jones is a big well-wisher for sharing real-life opportunities within STEM fields. In his hometown, NASCAR presents a range of opportunities. With the program, he wanted to show the students that NASCAR isn’t just well-nigh the driver. It’s a collaboration of the unshortened team.

“These are just some of the opportunities we wanted to put along that are right here in our backyard,” he says. “In Talladega, we can show them one of the biggest sports that has all types of jobs. You don’t have to be a racecar suburbanite to be associated with NASCAR.”

On these special Fridays, well-nigh 500 students get a glimpse of the variegated jobs misogynist throughout NASCAR. First Wall of Alabama employees serve as their tour guides, taking them through stations where they get to see positions varying from hairdo senior to engineer, car hauler and more. They moreover learn how to build a race car and what it takes to run a racetrack.

Applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to each station at Superspeedway is integral to the STEM program. One of the most popular stations involves the spotter, located at the highest point of Superspeedway. Spotters communicate with the drivers to squire them during the race. Students can try on the headset and learn well-nigh radio liaison and the importance of technology for racing.

As a final station, the students get the endangerment to talk to Daniel Hemric, suburbanite of the No. 11 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. At age five, he began go-karting and realized his passion for racing. Now a NASCAR suburbanite of eight years, he spends 33 weekends out of the year racing in the Xfinity series. The students are thrilled to ask questions that alimony Hemric on his toes.

The life lesson

At its core, the collaboration between First Wall of Alabama and the Talladega Superspeedway brings STEM to life in a fun way. The polity wall understands how to make learning hands-on and enjoyable.

“This was just a perfect tie in between young people, the racetrack and First Wall of Alabama,” says Key. “We’re excited, our employees are excited well-nigh it, they’re all yellow-eyed to go do STEM, considering we recognize the impact it’s having. So, it’s just been a win-win all the way around.”

“[Children] have leaders within their community, like First Wall of Alabama, the Talladega Superspeedway and other individuals involved, pulling for them.”
—Daniel Hemric, NASCAR

Aiming to pique the students’ marvel and demonstrate that careers don’t have to be mundane, Key wants to leave them feeling inspired. “I hope the polity will see that First Wall of Alabama is single-minded to our young people and growing our communities,” he says. “Our young people are our future. I think as much as we can pour into them, and as much as we can do to help them be successful … I just don’t know of a much greater calling than that.”

The event has generated much positive feedback and sustentation from parents, teachers, administrators and students. Students are plane asking Jones for autographs. “Their thank-yous, the reports that I’ve received where they’ve either drawn pictures or handwritten notes, are proof of appreciation,” Jones says. “It’s good to see that we still have good in the communities that we serve.”

Confident of the event’s impact on students, Hemric hopes that his perspective on leadership and polity resonates with them.

“They have leaders within their community, like First Wall of Alabama, the Talladega Superspeedway and other individuals involved, pulling for them,” he says. “People are trying to do everything they can to make sure they have a successful journey through life, and people have their backs. I know that was important for me growing up, and it’s a huge part of what First Wall of Alabama is about.”

Christyna Yang is an editorial teammate for Independent Banker.