The Vintage Car Rally Association has donated once again to Skyuka Hall in Chattanooga, Tenn., to support its new STEAM Lab. This time the donation was $42,172, making the total contribution to the school and its STEAM program almost $100,000. The first grant from the late Rex Gardner’s visionary association was to start the program in 2018. Great Race director Jeff Stumb, his wife Karen and their son Hudson represented VCRA at the check presentation ceremony this week at the school. Hudson is a student at Skyuka. Here is the press release from the school about the gift and the program:
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 3, 2020) – Today, Skyuka Hall accepted $42,172 from the Vintage Car Rally Association (VCRA), headquartered in Grove, Okla., which awarded the funds to the independent school in Chattanooga to support their STEAM Lab, a program for instructing students in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. VCRA’s Race4Autism raises funds each year to support schools and organizations that improve the lives of children living with autism.
Skyuka Hall began its relationship with the VCRA in 2018 when they awarded the school with a $46,575 donation which made it possible for Skyuka Hall to launch its first STEAM program which provided STEAM labs for both the lower school and for middle and high school students.
“The generous donation we have received today will allow us to continue to build on the initial investment the VCRA made in our STEAM program in 2018 by funding additional learning systems, technology and other equipment to ensure the program continues to grow and be a success. By learning STEAM disciplines, our students have been able to develop a well-integrated knowledge base that will benefit not only our students’ future careers but the quality of their learning and daily life,” said Dr. Josh Yother, head of Skyuka Hall.
Skyuka Hall is designed for students with learning differences and serves all students who thrive in an individualized learning environment. The school also serves students who are living with autism, which is why VCRA chose the school to receive this award.
“The donation that we received this year was awarded after the passing of Rex Gardner, founder and director of the VCRA. He was not only an advocate of the school, but passionate about improving educational programs such as STEAM as he had a grandson with autism and understood the impact that STEAM programs have on not only autistic students, but on all students,” said Lynne Forato, Development Director at Skyuka Hall.
Skyuka Hall parent Jeff Stumb, official representative for the national nonprofit VCRA, was instrumental in connecting the school and the association. The timed endurance rallies of the VCRA and Great Race involve a weeklong competition of pre-1974 antique and classic cars while also raising money through the VCRA Race4Autism.
