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Progressive Local Company Collaborates with Cal-State University Monterey Bay to Help Rolling Hills Middle School Students Make the Most of their Holidays

Graniterock is hosting over 50 middle school students for an innovative, week-long Algebra Academy at its Corporate Office in Watsonville. As part of its continuing community outreach program, Graniterock has, for several years, partnered with Rolling Hills Middle School to provide support, tutoring, and mentoring in a number of different academic areas including; math, science, English, and art.

Both the Company and the school wanted to elevate their partnership in a way that inspired Rolling Hills students placing them on a path toward higher academic achievement. Graniterock and Rolling Hills found a willing collaborator in the Cal-State University Monterey Bay Math Department, which has achieved national recognition for its work with community grade school students.

Last fall, Graniterock President and CEO, Bruce W. Woolpert, and Assistant General Counsel, Kevin Jeffery, introduced Rolling Hills principal Rick Ito to CSUMB Math Department Chair Dr. Hongde Hu and Community Relations Officer Jennifer Martinez. After a series of brainstorming sessions, this Team decided the best way they could support Rolling Hills students was to conduct an intensive six-day, hands-on “academy,” focused on algebra. Educators at CSUMB and Rolling Hills agreed that accelerating the students’ understanding of algebra would provide them with the skills and confidence to succeed in math in high school and college.

The Algebra Academy is sponsored by Graniterock and will be hosted at the Graniterock Corporate Office in Watsonville, California, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As part of the Academy, the students will also spend Friday taking a tour of the CSUMB campus and working in the university’s math department classrooms.

Graniterock will host a graduation ceremony and luncheon for the Algebra Academy on Saturday, January 8, 2011, commencing at 11:30 a.m. Representatives of CSUMB, the Pajaro Valley School District and Graniterock will be on hand to congratulate the students and their families.

In an effort to help improve and grow this program over time, CSUMB and the school district plan to track the math performance of the Algebra Academy students in future years.

Graniterock has been headquartered in Watsonville, California, since its founding in 1900. The Company’s employees work in branch locations in South San Francisco, Redwood City, San Jose, Salinas, Monterey, Oakland, Watsonville, Felton, Cupertino, and Santa Cruz. Graniterock supplies construction materials including ready-mix concrete, hot mix asphalt, building materials, landscaping supplies, rock, sand and gravel. The Company’s Pavex Construction Division is a significant regional heavy engineering contractor building roadways, airports and private commercial and residential projects. Graniterock received the 1992 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the 1994 Governor’s Golden State Quality Award.

For more information, contact:
Kevin Jeffery, 831.768.2103
Keith Severson, 831.768.2063