Raytheon's Year of Math In Action Calculates Wide Reach to More Than 50,000 Young Students

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 27, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) today announced the 2009 highlights and achievements of its MathMovesU™ program, which is committed to increasing U.S. students' interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). MathMovesU engages young students with unique, interactive experiences through the activities they enjoy most, such as sports, music and fashion while fostering student achievement.

Reaching more than 1 million students, teachers and parents since 2005, Raytheon has led an effort to instill passion for science and math among the country's middle school students. Last year was a hallmark year for the MathMovesU program marked by the grand opening of Sum of all Thrills™ at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Also in 2009, Raytheon entered its first year as title sponsor of the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition where the country's top middle school math students competed for the title of national champion. Raytheon also unveiled the Raytheon U.S. STEM Model, the first-ever simulation and modeling tool specifically for the U.S. education system.

2009 MathMovesU Highlights

Grand opening of Sum of all Thrills™ - On Oct. 14, Raytheon unveiled the Sum of all Thrills™, a unique experience that lets children and park guests custom-design their own ride using mathematical tools and then immediately experience it in a robotic simulator. Sum of all Thrills™ was created to help educate young students about the power of math as well as to inspire them to pursue math-related activities and careers. To date, thousands of guests have experienced the Sum of all Thrills™. Raytheon also created a related virtual Sum of all Thrills™ experience that is available online at www.MathMovesU.com.

MATHCOUNTS National Competition title sponsorship - In May, Raytheon served as the title sponsor of the 2009 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition, which hosted the nation's top 228 middle school math students. Bobby Shen of Sugar Land, Texas, was crowned national champion and joined by his teammates from Texas as national team champions. Raytheon will serve as the title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition through 2011. 

MathMovesU Middle School Scholarship & Campership program – In an effort to enhance STEM experiences for young students, Raytheon offered scholarship winners the option to choose a "campership" to be applied to tuition and fees at a STEM summer camp or a traditional scholarship applied to future college tuition. Last year's campership winners gained lifelong and hands-on experiences at their summer camps, which included Busch Gardens Zooventures, the Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program for High School Girls, and LeadAmerica's Discover Robotics and Science program. Additionally, Raytheon awarded more than $2 million in scholarships and grants to 612 students and teachers and 182 schools nationwide.

Unveiling of the Raytheon U.S. STEM Model – Raytheon and the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) unveiled the first-ever simulation and modeling tool for the U.S. education system in Washington, D.C. In July, Raytheon gifted the Raytheon U.S. STEM Education Model to the BHEF to enable researchers, policy-makers and educators to explore policy scenarios that can strengthen U.S. STEM education and workforce outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.raytheon.com/responsibility/stem/model/index.html.

Corporate volunteerism & events – Through the efforts of 5,000 Raytheon volunteers at 180 events, MathMovesU reached more than 50,000 students and more than 50,000 parents and teachers. Events included support of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics, sponsorship of National Engineers Week, and the creation of the "Science of Sports" program that culminated in the "Science of Sports" Science Fair at Gillette Stadium. The "Science of Sports" was a partnership between Raytheon and the New England Patriots that involved Raytheon employee volunteers making weekly visits to local Boston-area Boys & Girls Clubs to encourage youth to explore math or science through sports.

"Raytheon's commitment and focus on increasing passion for STEM fields among our young students took great strides in 2009," said Kristin Hilf, vice president of Public Affairs for Raytheon Company. "It takes more than financial support to really connect with young students, which is why we create real and engaging elements within each of our MathMovesU initiatives. We hope to leave a lasting imprint on middle school students across the country, so that they find personal fulfillment in STEM activities and future careers."

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE Raytheon Company