Thousands of Students Descend on NAIAS for a Day of Hands-On Learning

DETROIT, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) announced today that attendance for Wednesday, Jan. 18 was 59,301 attendees.

"I had the opportunity to greet the students and witness the enthusiasm they exhibited to be at the show and see them immerse themselves in future mobility technologies that are shaping our industry was truly inspiring," said Sam Slaughter, 2017 NAIAS Chairman.

Through NAIAS Education Day, now in its 13^th year, over 4,000 students from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, received a customized experience based on the classes that are attending. These young individuals had the opportunity to become further engaged by taking part in pre-and post-show lesson plans, brief tours hosted by experts in their fields of interest, hands-on activities, and attending fascinating career-based presentations throughout the day.

Tomorrow NAIAS and the PNC Foundation will welcome more than 400 Detroit Public Schools (DPS) pre-K students to the show Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, for Preschool Education Day. PNC is hosting the pre-K students in support of Grow Up Great, its $350 million, multi-year bilingual initiative in early childhood education.

"PNC's support of NAIAS Preschool Education Day reflects our strong corporate commitment to early childhood education in Detroit and communities served by PNC," said Ric DeVore, speaking on behalf of the PNC Foundation. "Over the past seven years, PNC has brought more than 2,300 DPS preschool students to this world-class show in an effort to spark an interest in math and science at an early age."

Preschool Education Day will begin with a welcome from Ric DeVore, PNC regional president for Detroit and Southeast Michigan, followed by hands-on educational activities focusing on science, technology, reading, engineering arts and mathematics (STREAM) education. Designed to spark curiosity and foster imagination, the activities will include a coloring contest, an Arts and Scraps project, and a group photo and a number of other age-appropriate workshops on the show floor.

"This event gives us the opportunity to reach the very youngest members of our community to create a better understanding of the auto industry and to build awareness of the place they might someday hold in that industry," added Slaughter.

Stay up-to-date on NAIAS happenings and events planned throughout the week by visiting the NAIAS website.

The auto show continues through Sunday, Jan. 22. Public Show ticket prices are $13 for adults, $7 for seniors and children 7-12 (6 and under free when accompanied by parent or guardian).

Auto show information and recommendations for experiencing Detroit while in town can be found at naias.com.

About the North American International Auto Show
Now in its 29th year as an international event, the NAIAS is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world, providing unparalleled access to the automotive products, technologies, people and ideas that matter most – up close and in one place. Administered by executive director Rod Alberts, the NAIAS is one of the largest media events in North America, and the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world. For more information, visit naias.com.

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2017 NAIAS Dates:
The Gallery – Saturday, January 7, 2017
AutoMobili-D – Sunday-Thursday, January 8-12, 2017
Press Preview – Monday-Tuesday, January 9-10, 2017
Industry Preview – Wednesday-Thursday, January 11-12, 2017
Charity Preview – Friday, January 13, 2017
Public Show – Saturday-Sunday, January 14-22, 2017

SOURCE North American International Auto Show