EverFi Joins Zach Veach and Group One Thousand One to Build a STEM Platform

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

SONOMA, California — At this time last season at Sonoma Raceway, Andretti Autosport and Group One Thousand One reached an agreement with Zach Veach of Stockdale, Ohio on a full-time Verizon IndyCar Series deal. Fast forward to Friday morning’s press conference, where Veach and Group One Thousand One announced an exciting partnership expansion with EverFi, Inc., which will allow both entities to share their passion for education on a technology level across multiple markets.

EverFi is a digital education company based in Washington D.C., and is the leading education technology company, providing learners of all ages a real world experiences. Their mission is helping students to obtain critical skills and become successful people in life, notably in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) departments.

Veach said being able to work with both companies is a special opportunity for him because he’ll be able to partake in helping young students expand their educational boundaries, and share his passion along the way.

“It’s incredibly special. We wouldn’t be able to do this without the folks at EverFi and Group One Thousand One. We’re extremely thankful to have this opportunity,” said Veach.

“I look back at how much developing happens, the educational system, as you’re trying to get through high school, figure out that one decision where you haven’t really had responsibilities your whole life, you’re 18, decide what you want to do for the rest of your life.

“I’m hoping this kind of program gives kids more of an insight on the many different career paths that STEM is going to be a part of. If anything, just get their feet wet, maybe create new race engineers or even race drivers. I mean, so much goes into this from so many different backgrounds. We all come to this single point because we’re passionate about something. I think creating passion in young students is the most important thing we can be doing.”

President of EverFi’s Sports & Entertainment Group Brian Cooley said this program helps students understand the importance of STEM, and taking advantage of career opportunities in technical fields.

For the 23-year-old, he’s the only athlete involved in motorsports that has a STEM-based course, joining other athletes such as Charles Barkley, Alex Ovechkin, and other NFL and NBA athletes to be a part of the evolution in tech education.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Group One Thousand One’s support and it’s phenomenal to be able to partner with Zach. He’s a bright young star in auto racing, and actually the very first auto racing athlete, in any circuit, who has his own STEM-based course in schools today,” said Cooley.

“We’re going to be bringing this program to many schools across the country, starting in five markets, including many students from in and around the Sonoma area as well as the San Francisco Bay Area. This is really the first foray into auto sports for us, and we’re excited to be partnering with a gentleman as sharp and innovative as Zach.”

EverFi’s goal with their partnership with Veach and Group 1001 is hoping students will learn about these careers from Veach’s program, and having a progressive and rich future in those fields.

Group One Thousand One’s CEO Dan Towriss, who’s also a world-class philanthropist, said this deal emulates the company’s goal of empowering individual success with sports and education, and satisfied with Veach’s progress in his rookie campaign in INDYCAR.

“We were here just a year ago announcing Zach’s deal. It was very exciting. We’re excited to be here today to expand that endeavor. We couldn’t be happier with how that sponsorship has unfolded with just who Zach is, the success that he’s had so far in racing,” said Towriss.

“Then also proud to be partnered with Brian Cooley and EverFi. When we saw the platform, what they can do in the educational sector, what they’re able to offer kids, we saw it as a great partnership to bring Zach and EverFi together with the goal of empowering children, empowering kids, to succeed.”

Veach said after making the announcement of joining Andretti Autosport with the Group One Thousand One sponsorship, he had met Cooley before meeting Towriss, and described how he’s always been passionate about helping kids, specifically looking to get their foot in the door in STEM education after being fortunate of having teachers that saw his vision of becoming racing driver, and provided lesson plans for the man who currently sits 15th in points.

“I’ve always been passionate about trying to help kids, especially as they’re making their way through the education program. I remember I was very lucky to have a couple special teachers when I was about 12 and 13 years old. They took my interest in motorsports and go-kart racing and used it for a couple different lesson plans to kind of help me get my mind swung around something,” said Veach.

“I kind of started thinking back to that, how in the race car and everything that we have here, all this has been put together by people that have had great careers in fields that involve STEM. I feel if we can create excitement around motorsports, around STEM itself, it’s going to give kids more of an option to see the different futures they can possibly have, as well as getting kids developed into becoming more serious race fans.”

In a season where he’s shown a late-season stride, highlighted with four top-10s in the last five races and making his first Firestone Fast Six at the last race in Portland, Veach said his approach has been so much on driving in INDYCAR, it has brought a different learning curve that he hopes with EverFi, other students can have a similar learning approach, now that his weekends become easier.

“It’s been fantastic. It’s something you can never really expect until you find yourself 16 races into a 17-race season really. Community is such a big thing that we wanted to focus on. I’m so happy to get this program rolling, especially at the end of my rookie year,” said Veach.

“This year has been a little more invested into the driving side than the outreach programs just because this is a new chapter, it’s so much learning to be competitive in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“Luckily every single weekend it keeps getting easier and easier. I’m hoping we can grab another Fast Six this weekend and finish on the podium if not go for a win. It’s such a methodical approach this year, just learning. I’m hoping that’s the same approach kids will get to have with EverFi.”