FOXBOROUGH, Mass., May 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the New England Patriots hosted the "Science of Sports" Science Fair on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Eighteen teams spanning New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island displayed their projects highlighting the science and math elements of popular sports.

The "Science of Sports" Science Fair is the culmination of a five-month program. It involved more than 50 Raytheon employee volunteers making weekly visits to the 12 Boys & Girls Clubs locations (Billerica, Dorchester, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Marlborough, Nashua, Newport, Pawtucket, Roxbury, Waltham and Woburn) to help imagine and execute projects that explore math or science through sports.

The competing teams presented their projects to a panel of judges, including Raytheon's Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson, New England Patriots' Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, Patriots' offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer and WBZ TV's meteorologist Melissa Mack.

The "Marlborough Extreme Towers" from the Marlborough Boys and Girls Club won the competition for its project, which examined how the distance and direction of a ball will be affected by different variables. Each member of the team will receive a $1,000 scholarship provided by Raytheon and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. This year, the program introduced scholarships for the second and third place winning teams. The "Curling Ladies and Raytheon Stones" from the Nashua Boys and Girls Club took second place, and each team member will receive a $750 scholarship. The third place team, "Talbot & Blue," is from the Dorchester club, and each member will receive a $500 scholarship. Projects were judged based on levels of creativity and innovation; scientific approach and demonstrated knowledge; presentation and display; as well as teamwork and team spirit.

"I was amazed at the creativity and complexity of the many science fair projects these teams of students created," said Kraft. "This was our second year hosting the 'Science of Sports' along with our partners at Raytheon, and it has quickly become one of my favorite events. I think it is extremely important to stimulate young minds and to encourage children to take an interest in math and science."

"Raytheon is proud to once again team up with the New England Patriots on behalf of our students to tap into the excitement of the science and mathematics of sports," Swanson said. "We thank the coaches, parents, teachers, volunteers and Robert Kraft along with his family, for whom civic leadership is a joy and a way of life. We congratulate the terrific students who participated. We want all students across New England to know that math and science clear a path to the goal line and to a future we all can cheer about."

"Science of Sports" is born of Raytheon's belief that creating awareness and reinforcing math and science skills to youth are important to preserve the U.S. edge in technology and innovation. The program expands the partnership between Raytheon and The New England Patriots, who opened The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon in September 2008. Raytheon supports The Hall's education program, which benefits visiting school groups, and sponsors an "In the Numbers" exhibit at the Hall, which is an interactive trivia game using math and science questions related to football.

Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 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 88 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 75,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE Raytheon Company