Georgia Northwestern Technical College President Craig McDaniel received a Kia “key to the future” during a special event held at the Kia Georgia Training Center in West Point, Ga., according to a press release.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. donated 20 of the all-new Kia Sorentos to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The colleges receiving the cars were chosen based on the size of enrollment in their automotive programs.

“KMMG deeply appreciates the support we continue to receive from the State of Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue, Commissioner Ron Jackson and the entire Technical College System Board of Directors,” said KMMG President and CEO Byung Mo Ahn. “The donation of these vehicles is just one expression of our deep appreciation for all that Georgia’s technical college system has done to support our success.”'

“The Technical College System of Georgia has been an important partner for Kia Motors Manufacturing from the very beginning,” said Mr. K.S. Kim, senior vice president of KMMG, during the presentation ceremony. “Many of the technical colleges have provided support for our endeavor, and most especially Georgia Quick Start has been critical to our success, as they have developed and delivered workforce training that is the new global benchmark in our industry of advanced automotive manufacturing.

“The donation of these vehicles is just one expression of our deep appreciation for all that Georgia’s technical college system has done to support our success,” Mr. Kim added. “We consider the keys to these Kia Sorentos to also be the keys to the future for technical college students across the great state of Georgia.”

Kia first announced it was going to build an automotive manufacturing facility in Georgia in 2006. The Kia Georgia Training Center, operated jointly by Kia and Georgia Quick Start, opened its doors in 2008, and since then, KMMG has hired more than 1,700 team members who began producing the best-selling, award-winning Sorento last November.

Commissioner Ron Jackson received the donation on behalf of the TCSG. “Students across the state will have the opportunity to experience some of the most sophisticated automotive technology on the market today,” Jackson said. “KMMG’s generous donation will help prepare our graduates with the knowledge and experience to compete in the world of advanced automotive manufacturing.”

Georgia Northwestern Technical College had a total of 112 automotive students enrolled in fiscal year 2010. Of those students, 106 were enrolled in Automotive Technology, 4 in Automotive Fundamentals, and 2 in Automotive Engine Repair Technician.

“The donation of the Kia Sorento will allow our students the opportunity to train on the latest in automobile technology. We are very grateful for the generosity shown by Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia,” commented President Craig McDaniel.