NS helps Chicago students engineer a strong start to the school year

Driving the News: Norfolk Southern team members joined students at Simeon Career Academy for a hands-on bridge building activity and to announce a renewed $100,000 investment in STEM education—part of our ongoing commitment to supporting Chicago’s youth and strengthening community engagement through the CREATE Program.

Event highlights:

• Attended by school leadership, faculty, local elected officials, and NS team members
• Students built model bridges with guidance from NS and CREATE engineering professionals
• NS donated backpacks filled with school supplies and additional items on the teachers’ wish list to support students as they start a new year

Norfolk Southern, Simeon Career Academy, and local leaders who helped run the program and judge the competition.

“We’re proud to support STEM education in Chicago through our investment in the CREATE program and help students see the possibilities of engineering in transportation fields,” said Herbert Smith, Regional Vice President State Relations, Norfolk Southern. “This kind of hands-on experience is how we build connections—and futures.”

NS Regional Vice President Herbert Smith addresses students, faculty, and local officials at Simeon Career Academy, reinforcing NS support via the CREATE program.

About CREATE: The CREATE Program is a public-private partnership working since 2003 to improve how passengers and goods move through Chicago’s rail network. With one in four U.S. freight trains passing through the city, CREATE is modernizing infrastructure to meet growing demand while enhancing safety, efficiency, and community engagement.

With the help of railroads and partners, like Norfolk Southern, the program has invested over $1.1 million in STEM education across Chicago over the past 5 years. This year, CREATE announced $200,000 in grants for the 2025–2026 school year, with Norfolk Southern contributing $100,000 to support the initiative, bringing our total investment over time to $320,000.

Simeon Career Academy students who won the contest.