Hemlock Public School District hosted an electrifying Lunch & Learn on October 31, 2025, transforming the Lockwood STEM Center into a hands-on hub for mobility, energy, and ag-tech innovation. Students, educators, and community partners connected directly with leaders advancing the future of transportation and power.
The program featured presentations and demonstrations from Rivian, the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, Consumers Energy, BarrelCharge, and Shaffner Brothers Farms—showcasing everything from EV platforms and grid readiness to portable charging and precision agriculture. Thanks to Mike from Garber and Matt from Rick Ford, guests explored an electric car show on site, while Matt Shaffner led a crowd-favorite agricultural drone demonstration.
“This is what the Lockwood STEM Center is built for—bringing real tools, real experts, and real questions into the same room,” said Laura Trombley, Director of the Lockwood STEM Center. “When students can handle the hardware, interrogate the data, and talk directly with engineers and entrepreneurs, career pathways stop being abstract and start becoming actionable.”
“Partnerships like today show how a small town can move big ideas,” said Thomas Lockwood, Director of Friendship and STEM Leader. “Electrification isn’t just a trend—it’s an opportunity space where our kids can design, build, and lead.”
“I’ve watched videos about EVs, but seeing the platform up close—and asking the Rivian engineer why they chose that battery layout—made it click,” said one student attendee. “Now I’m thinking about internships I never would’ve considered.”
“Days like this prove a small town can move big ideas,” added Dr. Don Killingbeck, Superintendent of Hemlock Public School District. “Our students didn’t just hear about the future—they touched it, tested it, and asked the kind of questions industry wants to hire.”
Highlights included:
EV Technology & Careers: Emerging roles in software, battery systems, charging infrastructure, and fleet operations.
Energy & Infrastructure: Utility experts on grid planning, home/workplace charging, and safety.
Portable/Off-Grid Charging: New models for rural mobility and event support.
Ag-Tech in Action: Drones, data, and electrified equipment driving yield, efficiency, and sustainability.
About the Lockwood STEM Center
Hemlock Public School District’s Lockwood STEM Center is a regional hub where students collaborate with industry and higher-education partners to solve authentic challenges in engineering, robotics, computer science, ag-tech, and advanced manufacturing.
The Lockwood STEM Center’s Lunch & Learn series is designed to bring industry, higher education, government, and K–12 together in the same room — building relationships that lead to internships, mentorship, talent pipelines, and real-world relevance for curriculum in areas like robotics, energy systems, computer science, and advanced manufacturing. “This is what the Lockwood STEM Center is for,” Trombley said. “We connect our kids directly to what’s next.”
For more information about this year’s Lunch & Learn, or to explore future partnership opportunities with the Lockwood STEM Center and Hemlock Public School District, please visit the event registration page provided at the time of the program: