Growing Our Future through Students

Growing Our Future through Students

Summer Hill student letter-writing contestants with Indira Williams, school principal (top left), Romaine Martin II (second from left) and Cheryl Yanoschak.

Employees at the Zytel® plant in Richmond, Va., take engagement seriously, both inside and outside the plant.

Not only is their involvement in plant activities helping the operation be successful, it is helping prepare students at Summer Hill Elementary School to be successful in life. In addition to providing monetary support through the DuPont Community Fund (DCF), Zytel® employees participate in career day activities and provide student mentoring.

Employees recently provided the opportunity for students to tour the plant.  They learned how an industrial operation works and what it takes to be able to work at one.  The students received an inspirational talk from Merlyn Villery, Zytel® polymer specialist, and were treated to pizza for lunch. The students were selected based on their excellent work in a letter-writing contest conducted as part of the plant’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

Summer Hill students eagerly await their tour while attending an orientation.

The plant also announced a new partnership with the school that will focus on employee volunteers assisting with the school’s Garden Task Force initiative, a program that features an on-site greenhouse and garden. This enhances the support Richmond Zytel® has already provided the school through its volunteerism as well as a DCF donation provided last year. The DCF grant went toward sponsoring Math Honors and Mind Games programs, which stress excellence in advanced mathematics, science and critical thinking. The funds allowed increased participation and supplies not accounted for in the school’s budget.

“We have a great partnership with Summer Hill Elementary School,” said Cheryl Yanoschak, Richmond Zytel® plant manager. “But our employees are always looking for continuous improvement and we just knew that there was more we could do to engage further with our adopted school.  We are thrilled to be a part of helping to grow the future through the students.”

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