National 4-H Council and Lockheed Martin Team Up to Recognize Teachers Who Bring Science to Life

CHEVY CHASE, Md., July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National 4-H Council and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] are launching the "Teachers Bringing Science to Life" contest that will provide resources and rewards for educators who encourage their students to explore the field of aerospace engineering.

To enter, teachers must submit photos of their students conducting the 4-H National Youth Science Day (4-H NYSD) "Rockets to the Rescue" experiment, which incorporates engineering, math and food security concepts to help youth learn how to apply science to solve a relevant, global issue. Teachers will automatically be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win the grand prize--$1,000 and a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classroom makeover. They can also submit an optional 60-second video of their class conducting the experiment to receive an additional drawing entry.

Teachers can submit photos from Aug. 1, 2014 through Sept. 26, 2014, and the grand prize winner will be announced through a surprise STEM classroom makeover on Oct. 6, 2014. For complete rules and to enter the contest, teachers should visit www.4-h.org/nysd/bringsciencetolife.

The contest is part of a National 4-H Council and Lockheed Martin collaboration to get American youth engaged in STEM education. Studies estimate that the United States will need to produce approximately one million more STEM professionals than are expected to graduate over the next 10 years in order to ensure the nation's global competitiveness.

"Science teachers often deal with limited resources to help educate the next generation of STEM leaders," said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council. "For over 100 years, 4-H has helped by bringing hands-on experiences to the education teachers are providing in the classroom. With a dedicated partner like Lockheed Martin, we're going to reward several lucky science teachers, including turning one science teacher's classroom into a STEM education showplace."

"This contest is designed to reward America's teachers who work hard every day to advance STEM education," said Emily Simone, Lockheed Martin's Director of Community Relations. "At Lockheed Martin, we understand the importance of creating engaging programs that can help educate and inspire tomorrow's scientists, engineers and mathematicians."

About the 4-H
National Youth Science Day "Rockets to the Rescue" Science Experiment:
Teachers and students who conduct the "Rockets to the Rescue" experiment to enter the contest will join hundreds of thousands of youth all over the country, and some globally, to participate in the 4-H NYSD activity. For the "Rockets to the Rescue" experiment, youth will respond to a fictional scenario: A natural disaster has left people without food on a remote, isolated Pacific island, and the youth have been asked to build a rocket that can be launched from the mainland, travel over the ocean and deliver high-energy food to the population. The experiment combines two key 4-H issue areas—science and food security—and incorporates aerospace engineering concepts to help youth design a rocket out of everyday materials, including recyclable two-liter bottles, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, rubber bands and a protractor.

The experiment was designed by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and selected as the winning experiment for the seventh annual 4-H NYSD, which will take place on October 8, 2014. The national rallying event for 4-H Science, 4-H NYSD is an interactive learning experience that gets youth excited about STEM, and spotlights the many ways millions of youth are engaging in 4-H Science programs year-round. Lockheed Martin is a national sponsor of 2014 4-H NYSD.

About 4-H:
4-H, the nation's largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 109 land-grant universities and cooperative extensions in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries.The National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/4H.

About Lockheed Martin:
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

SOURCE National 4-H Council