Fayette students build skills in project for Panasonic

The human resources department at Panasonic in Peachtree City commissioned students in Fayette County schools' "Reaching Educational and Career Heights" (REACH) program to produce a paperweight promoting the company's new motto. REACH is a program for students with developmental disabilities ages 18-21 that helps them get into the workforce and become independent, productive citizens. Students spend one to two days a week working alongside employees at partner businesses. Patrys Wiid, a human resources employee at Panasonic, commissioned the students to assemble paperweights featuring the new motto: TOGETHER (Trust, Openness, Go, Encouragement, Teamwork, Honesty, Engagement, Respect). Each student signed the paperweights he or she assembled, approximately 400 in all. Panasonic held a thank-you ceremony where the students had lunch with executives and toured the facility. "They set up a wonderful experience for our students. The students had the opportunity to get into the cars and see all of the new, cool products Panasonic makes for the car industries in the USA," says REACH counselor Amor Kok.