Honeywell Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Inspiration at Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 teachers from around the world are gearing up to take the trip of a lifetime to Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy (HESA) – the 'game-changing' experience celebrating its 10^th anniversary of inspiring teachers who, in turn, inspire students to pursue STEM education and careers.

Created in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC), Honeywell (NYSE:HON) developed the award-winning scholarship program to help middle school math and science teachers become more effective educators in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). During the past ten years, Honeywell has awarded scholarships to 2,176 teachers from 55 countries and 52 U.S. states and territories.

Since 2004, educators have shared their experiences and knowledge to more than 2 million students, inspiring many to pursue STEM education and careers. From winning grants from local and federal governments, to entering students in international and NASA educational projects, to creating STEM-focused after school programs, the impact of the program is continuing beyond the classroom. To help mark the program's decade-long run, 10 HESA alumni have been selected, one representing each year, to be the guests-of-honor at the graduation ceremony on June 23.

"HESA inspired me and in turn touched my students in a unique way. Years later, I was thrilled when I learned that the young engineer at Kennedy Space Center speaking about his wonderful job was one of my former students," said David Auerbach, HESA 2006 alumni and a middle school teacher from Canaan, New Hampshire.

This year, 204 teachers from 27 countries, including 144 from 43 U.S. states and territories, will attend one of two five-day programs offered over consecutive weeks from June 11-24 at the USSRC in Huntsville, Ala. Teachers will be given rigorous training focused on science and space exploration including astronaut-style exercises like high-performance jet simulation, scenario-based space mission, land and water survival training, and interactive flight dynamics programs.

"This program is all about re-igniting passion in teachers," said Tom Buckmaster, president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's global citizenship initiative responsible for HESA. "STEM subjects are some of the most challenging to teach, but this experience helps teachers discover new ways of delivering lesson plans to the next generation of engineers, programmers, mathematicians and astronauts."

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in the last ten years, the demand for STEM related jobs grew three times faster than jobs in other fields. However, according to the U.S. Education Department, only 16 percent of high school seniors are considered proficient in mathematics and interested in a STEM career. Only half of those students who pursue STEM courses in college actually go on to careers in STEM fields.

"Honeywell is a world-class leader when it comes to educating teachers in STEM education and they're proving it again," noted Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and executive director of USSRC. "These teachers, in turn, inspire tens of thousands of students around the world every year. We are pleased to partner with Honeywell in helping to build the next STEM generation."

Hear what these HESA alumni had to say about the program:

"My experience at HESA was the pebble in the pond - the ripples are continuous and still growing. This summer a former student is interning at NASA. Due to my experience at HESA, my students have access to the world outside our town and their aspirations seem more accessible now!" Sarah Hardy Farnham, Maine, USA

"In more than 25 years of teaching, HESA has been the most fundamental and invigorating professional development of my career.  The skills, knowledge and enthusiasm that I developed through HESA have undoubtedly had a positive effect on me, my students and teachers not just from my school, but also in schools around the region. As a result, I have received recognition at state and national levels." Ken Silburn, Australia

To attend Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy, candidates must complete a thorough application process. Qualified teachers are awarded scholarships, round-trip airfare, tuition, meals and accommodations sponsored by Honeywell and its employees.

Supporting Resources

• Video featuring program highlights
• Read more about HESA
• Follow @HON_Citizenship on Twitter
• Like Honeywell Educators on Facebook
• Subscribe to Honeywell's Corporate RSS feed

About Honeywell
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

About Honeywell Hometown Solutions
Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/.

Media Contact:

Pratibha Poswal
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SOURCE Honeywell