Akebono Brake Corporation has recently become a Silver Partner sponsor of Kettering University’s Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team for the 2015/2016 season. Akebono made a monetary contribution to the team in the amount of $2,500, with the intent of also donating brake components for next season’s car.

“We are proud to support Kettering’s Formula SAE team for the 2015/2016 season,” says Eric Roszman, vice president, research and development, Akebono. “This partnership will further strengthen our relationship with Kettering, and allow us to be more involved in the community by helping young engineers reach their goals.”

On Tuesday, April 21, Jennifer Carlson, corporate marketing communications manager, and Jason Lewis, senior test engineer, Wheel End Products, attended the university’s annual Formula SAE banquet at the Detroit Athletic Club in downtown Detroit, where they were presented with a team photo in appreciation of Akebono’s sponsorship.

The monetary donation will help fund the team’s efforts in building next season’s formula car, along with assisting in other expenses associated with attending Formula SAE competitions held across the United States. The team finished second in fuel efficiency and sixteenth overall at the Formula SAE Michigan competition, which was held at the Michigan International Speedway, May 13-16 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Kettering University, founded in 1919, is located in Flint, Michigan. Its Formula SAE team finished tenth overall at the Lincoln, Nebraska competition last year. For more information about Formula SAE, visit http://students.sae.org/cds/formulaseries/.