Elementary school students visiting from Jiaxing City, China, and San Bernardino, California, watch an Ergomotion adjustable base being assembled.
Santa Barbara, California-based Ergomotion and its parent company Keeson Technologies, headquartered in Jiaxing City, China, helped host 14 Chinese elementary school students on a visit to the United States. In partnership with nearby Norton Elementary School in San Bernardino, California, students from both countries participated in an intensive two-week educational program focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects.
The group of fourth and fifth graders learned about computer-aided design and 3-D printing and went on multiple field trips to places such as the California Science Center and the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. They also paid a visit to the Ergomotion distribution plant outside Santa Barbara. While there, they had a tour, got a taste of international shipping logistics and examined the inside workings of an adjustable base.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for these bright young students to expand their STEM knowledge and interact with their peers in the U.S,” said Johnny Griggs, Ergomotion chief operating officer. “The students asked some great questions, but I think we learned as much from them as they learned from us. Our staff really enjoyed working with them.”
The program idea was hatched two years ago when Emily Hanson, Ergomotion’s purchasing and logistics manager, visited the Keeson factory in China with her mother, a teacher at Norton. When Jack Tang, Keeson chief executive officer, heard about Norton’s focus on STEM education, he was so impressed he decided to help fund the trip for the Chinese students, all of whom have a family member working for Keeson.
