APOPKA, Fla., July 19, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Laser Systems business unit recently concluded its second annual WORTHY (Worthwhile to Help High School Youth) mentoring program with a day of project presentations by student participants.
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Driven by a nationwide demand for college graduates in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, Northrop Grumman created WORTHY to promote the pursuit of technical degrees and careers among high school students. Laser Systems has participated in the program since August 2009.
Students visit the Laser Systems campus one day each month during the school year to work with their mentors on an engineering project of the students' choice. During the program, each student establishes a project plan, creates design, and performs testing and troubleshooting, essentially mirroring what their mentors do during their day-to-day work as engineers and technical professionals. Students are also taught presentation skills, budgeting and problem-solving skills. At the end of the year, the students present their projects to Laser Systems' executive staff, their parents and mentors, school officials and community leaders.
"Our WORTHY students have impressed me yet again with the ingenuity and creativity of their projects," said Gordon Stewart, vice president and general manager of the Laser Systems business unit. "The WORTHY program provides real-world experience and learning in science and engineering, which will benefit these talented students as they pursue their college education."
Stewart congratulated students Steeve Delius, Jeffrey Childers and Austin Lord, who are graduating this month.
This year, projects included:
- Light Breather by Katherine Abreu, Evans High School
- Bridge Oscillation Monitoring System by Matthew Braswell, Apopka High School
- Quadrotor Flight Dynamics Test Bed by Jeffrey Childers, Apopka High School
- Automobile Collision Avoidance System by Nicole Clark, Evans High School
- Opti-Lock by Dale Davis, Evans High School
- Trick or Treater 2 by Steeve Delius, Evans High School
- iWitness Security System by Demetrius Gordon, Apopka High School
- Moisture Detector by Austin Lord, Apopka High School
- Oil Detection Buoy by Melissa Pennington, Apopka High School
- ArduinoTS Environment Monitor by Chandradeo Ramjit, Apopka High School
- Remote Control Gimbal by Brandon Singh, Wekiva High School
- Fall Saving Chair by Matthew Wansor, Wekiva High School
Initially launched in 1997 by Northrop Grumman in Baltimore, the WORTHY program has expanded to include additional company locations. To be accepted into the WORTHY program, high school sophomores must attend a Northrop Grumman-partnered public high school, maintain a 3.0+ grade point average, complete an application, submit an essay with two letters of recommendation and be selected through an interview process. The program runs during the school year and requires a minimum two-year commitment.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
