WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the company's signature MathMovesU program by launching a new MathMovesU website Monday. This expanded resource provides an interactive online destination for middle school students, parents, educators and others interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education excellence. The new website is the latest effort in a program that has inspired more than 1 million U.S. middle school students to experience the excitement that is possible with math and science.

Launched Nov. 10, 2005, Raytheon's MathMovesU program is designed to inspire middle school students to get excited about math and science. Since its inception, MathMovesU has awarded more than $4 million to students, teachers and schools across the United States. These scholarships and grants have reached more than 1,300 individuals in the program while more than 500 hundred schools have benefited from matching grants. In addition, through Raytheon's matching gifts program, the company and its employees have contributed more than $26 million to educational institutions in the United States since MathMovesU was launched.

"Raytheon launched MathMovesU with the goal of making math and science exciting to students – to help them make the connection between studying math and science today and having exciting careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics tomorrow," said William H. Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company. "Over the last five years, our MathMovesU program has been expanded to include several innovative, experiential initiatives and partnerships. As we look forward to new exciting opportunities in the future, I want to thank all of the teachers, schools, Raytheon volunteers and, most of all, middle school students, who have embraced this important mission for the future of our country."

New MathMovesU website

Raytheon's new MathMovesU website launched Monday as an expanded online environment for those interested in math and science. The site now serves as a central repository for all of the MathMovesU program elements and reflects the scope of Raytheon's STEM initiatives and support for STEM education.

The portal provides a wealth of fun, interactive games and activities for middle school students to engage in math and see its relation to real-world applications. It also offers extensive resources such as scholarship and matching grants information for parents, teachers and schools, in addition to activities to further extend classroom learning.

Developing a nation's passion for math: More than $4 million in support for students and teachers

Since November 2005, Raytheon's MathMovesU program has provided scholarships, grants and study awards to more than 1,300 students, teachers and volunteers across the United States, totaling more than $4 million. Specific elements of the program include:  

• MathMovesU Middle School Scholarships and Grants: This program invites middle school students to create multimedia presentations that illustrate the importance of math in their daily lives and answer the question: "How does MATH put the action in your passion?" Winning students are awarded $1,000 camperships or scholarships; schools receive matching grants of $1,000 for math-related programs. Since 2005, this program has awarded grants and scholarships to 850 students nationwide. These include:
  • Joseph Lloyd (Torrance, Calif.): "Thank you for choosing me to receive this award. Both my school (Richardson Middle School) and I are very excited about it. I told you about my soapbox derby race in my submission. Now I am working on VEX robotics and using my math skills for the programming. MMU is a great program for kids like me."
  • Larisa Kreismanis (Reading, Mass.): "I was so honored and happy to receive such a generous award, and I know that my school, W.S. Parker Middle School, is just as grateful to accept your wonderful $1,000 matching grant. I love playing my flute! When I wrote my presentation, I learned so much about how mathematics influences flute playing, and that math puts the 'action in my flute playing passion.'"

• MathMovesU BONUS Study Awards: Launched in 2009, the BONUS study program offers potential $20,000 scholarships to students who previously received MathMovesU awards. The scholarships may be applied to pursue higher education with a STEM-focus and are based on the student's academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities. Fifty students have been awarded BONUS study awards during the past two years; 10 students received BONUS study awards two years in a row. Recipients include:
  • Minna Chen and Denise Chen (sisters – Plymouth, Minn.): Minna is a sophomore studying mathematics at the University of Minnesota and received a BONUS Study award each year since the program's inception; Denise is a freshman pursuing a degree in information systems management and computer science at Yale University.
  • Blake Stout (Aiken, S.C.): is pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

• MathMovesU MATH HERO Awards: MATH HEROES are math teachers and volunteers who make math exciting and creative and use innovative techniques to teach math skills. Award winners were nominated by students, parents and faculty for their enthusiasm and interest in teaching math. Winners received $2,500; a $2,500 matching grant is awarded to their school or a math-related nonprofit organization. More than 160 teachers and volunteers have been named MathMovesU MATH HEROES, such as:
  • Tracey Burton-Lindner (Shalimar, Fla.): "Without programs such as MATHCOUNTS® and MathMovesU, many schools would not have the opportunity to go beyond textbooks for teaching math. The grant money I receive will keep math teams from Meigs Middle School, Shalimar, Fla., and Choctawhatchee High School, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., actively competing for years to come."
  • Donna Krueger Phair (Fremont, Calif.): "The school award will be put to good use for additional math classroom and MATHCOUNTS resources as well as updating software for student math presentations at Hopkins Junior High School. Like many math teachers and MATHCOUNTS coaches, I have used my own money for many of these things; the matching personal grant is much appreciated."

Sum of all Thrills at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® celebrates first anniversary

On Oct. 14, 2010, Raytheon celebrated the first anniversary of Sum of all Thrills at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Since the launch, thousands of guests have enjoyed the unique experience that allows visitors to custom design their own thrill ride.

To recognize this milestone, Raytheon opened its expanded Family Technology Center at the Shades of Green Resort®, an Armed Forces Recreation Center, at the Walt Disney World Resort.  The center, donated by the company in February 2009, serves as guests' "home away from home" game room, offering an on-site extension of their Disney experience where they can relax, connect and enjoy one another's company. Every year an estimated 750,000 military guests visit the resort.

Volunteering and giving to support STEM learning: Raytheon employees give back

Since the 2005 launch of MathMovesU, Raytheon employees have actively supported students and teachers in advancing STEM learning. In fact, Raytheon employees have reported volunteering more than 126,700 hours – more than 14 years in total – for STEM-related activities.

Raytheon employees have also provided substantial financial support to education, contributing more than $13 million toward eligible academic institutions, including primary and secondary schools, colleges and vocational institutions. Through the Raytheon matching gifts program, an additional $13 million was delivered to these organizations.

About MathMovesU

Raytheon's MathMovesU program is committed to increasing middle school students' interest in math and science education by engaging them in hands-on, interactive activities. The innovative programs of MathMovesU include Raytheon's Sum of all Thrills experience at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot®, which showcases math in action as students design and experience their own thrill ride using math fundamentals; the "In the Numbers" game, a partnership with the New England Patriots on display at The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon; the company's three-year sponsorship of the National MATHCOUNTS competition; and the MathMovesU scholarship and grant program providing more than $1 million in annual funding to students and teachers. Follow us on Twitter @raytheonmmu.

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.

www.raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company