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COMMUNITY RELATIONS 101 • 18 "We're expanding our Algebra Academy and offering it to more students," Severson adds. The company is working with the university and instructors to offer a second session at the end of summer to provide a jumpstart at the beginning of the school year. In addition to the Algebra Academy, Graniterock hosts an Annual Construction Career Day. The most recent event was Many of Graniterock's outreach efforts are tied to education, such as its Algebra held May 3 at the A.R. Wilson Academy. In cooperation with California State University-Monterey Bay, it hosts area middle schoolers for a five-day algebra session which has helped improve the students Quarry in Aromas. High school students from San Benito and test scores by more than 25 percent. Santa Cruz County high schools 2.Target efforts in key areas. visited the operation. After a quarry tour, they "You have to set your priorities," Severson stopped at 13 different stations where Graniteradvises. "We are really focusing on education, ock employees talked about various industryparticularly with some urgent needs such as the related careers. They shared insights into careers algebra area and kids who are in that crucial in trucking, automation, engineering, sales and middle school stage where they can really excel or, marketing, and green building, among other posometimes, they stumble." tential occupations. Graniterock's late president and CEO, Bruce "They hear how we got our jobs what they Woolpert, was passionate about educational need to study in school, and what kind of great issues and helped launch an annual Algebra careers they can find out there," Severson says. Academy, which hosts middle school students "And they don't all have to go through a four-year from around the area for a multi-day event at the school." company's headquarters. In 2011, he noted that as many as 90 percent of high school graduates 3. Engage the community. entering a local college required some form of reIn addition to education-related events, Granitemedial math. Woolpert worked with Graniterock rock participates in many fundraising events for assistant general counsel Kevin Jeffery and a team local organizations. "In general, we've found that of professors from California State Universitythe more you are able to engage the community Monterey Bay to develop the program. and hinge the success of the event on the commuGraniterock provides the class materials, stinity's involvement, the better you're going to be," pends for teaching assistants, and snacks for the Severson says. students, while the university provides instrucFor example, the company sponsors a Rock tors, teaching assistants, and the curriculum. and Run in the Quarry event to benefit a school CSU Professor Hongde Hu led the most recent that sits just outside the gates of one of its academy, which was held over Christmas break. operations. Severson explains that company of"It gives them momentum for when they go back ficials visit the school before classes end in the to their regular classroom," he says. In fact, one spring and again in the fall when the new school of the students' middle school teachers notes that year begins. "We give students free applications a comparison of pre-course and post-course asand lead them in a field stretch day to urge them sessments shows that student scores improved by to come out," he says. "Kids are free, but for 25.8 percent. every entry that they sign up, they get all the Graniterock_AGRM0613.indd 18 5/19/13 12:31 PM