Fort Valley State University News May 11, 2011 FVSU and Toyota team up for diversity project<http://past.fvsu.edu/news/fvsu-and-toyota-team-diversity-project> One of America's leading automakers is assisting in the preparation of future educators at Fort Valley State University. Toyota Motor Company is funding a $500,000, five-year grant through yearly subcontracts to FVSU, and three high schools, through its "Enhancing Diversity in Agricultural Education" Program. The initiative is designed to recruit and retain minority agricultural educators who typically don't pursue careers in the industry. The grant, awarded last year, covers scholarships and travel expenses to the annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention. Three high schools, designated as Georgia FFA Toyota Diversity Project Schools, and FVSU received a visit recently from Toyota and national FFA officials who came for a progress report. Students participating in the program attend Northeast High School in Macon, Macon County High School in Montezuma and Northside High School in Warner Robin. "All of us at Toyota and the FFA who visited the participating schools last month were very impressed with the progress made by the students and with the impact of the first year," said Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy and community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales. Dr. Curtis Borne, a professor of agricultural education at FVSU who oversees the grant's annual evaluation, spoke briefly about its impact. "Not only are the students excited, but the administrators at those three high schools are excited," Borne said. Last year 22 high school students, two FVSU students, parents and school officials attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The grant paid the expenses of 38 attendees. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.