Kosice, April 12, 2006 - Today the President of U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o. David H. Lohr and new elected Kosice mayor Frantisek Knapik officially opened a workshop for manual training classes at the Podjavorinska Elementary School in Lunik IX in Kosice. David H. Lohr handed over 10 accumulator drills and 30 pairs of safety glasses to the young students.

"It is necessary to build the relation between crafts and safety right from a young age", said the U. S. Steel Kosice President. "I am confident that creative work with material will enable the Romany students to gain skills needed for their future jobs. I believe that they will create useful things for the household at this school workshop, and they will learn to appreciate their own work and follow safety principles," he added.

"I welcome this investment of U. S. Steel Kosice right here in this city part. Young people will be able to acquire proper working habits and new skills, which help them to involve themselves better to the practical life," said Franisek Knapik.

Principal Ms. Soter explained that the Elementary School was starting manual training again after five years. Thanks to U. S. Steel Kosice´s support the school could purchase some working materials and tools - soft and hard wood, colored plastic, screwdrivers, saws and drills. Because Safety comes first at the company, in addition to safety glasses U. S. Steel Kosice also donated 150 dustcoats to the young students. These coats were intended for the boys, but the girls also did not go unnoticed. The gift also included 170 aprons and headscarves that will be used at their Cookery lessons. The dustcoats and aprons had been sewn by the Romany dressmaker's shop in Družstevna pri Hornade, which U. S. Steel Kosice supported at its setting up in 2004 and its renovation in 2005.

President David H. Lohr was also interested in the young students´ personal creativity presented in artistic and composition works. In front of the workshop entrance there is an exhibition devoted to the topic of Safety, where the young students expressed their thanks to the Company for its opening and gift of protective clothing.

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Further information:

Jan Baca
Director Public Affairs
U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o.
Tel.: +421 55 673 4476
Fax: +421 55 673 0330
E-mail: jbacask.uss.com