WALTHAM, Mass., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- What March Madness^® is to college basketball, "May Madness" is to middle school math, as the nation's best and brightest middle school math students descend on Washington, D.C., May 9-12, to compete for the titles of individual and team National Champion. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is title sponsor of the 2013 MATHCOUNTS National Competition.  

The final 224 competitors represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and schools from the Departments of Defense and State. They have prevailed in heart-pounding competitions involving some 100,000 students from more than 5,000 schools at the local and state level to earn the right to compete in the Washington, D.C., finale.

"The Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition showcases the incredible achievements of our nation's most talented math students, and challenges them to reach their full potential in mathematics," said Lou DiGioia, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. "Our partnership with Raytheon enables us to continue to provide engaging and enriching math programs to U.S. middle school students to expand their future opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

ESPN will telecast live coverage of the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition "Countdown Round." It takes place Friday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. EDT and will be telecast exclusively on ESPN3.com, the same network that carries the early rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Also determined will be the winner of the Reel Math Challenge video competition finals, in which teams of middle school students present their original videos to demonstrate the real-world application of a math concept as described in the MATHCOUNTS School Handbook. An online voting process that garnered more than 100,000 votes selected four finalist teams; each will present its video on Saturday, May 11. The winning video will be selected by the 2013 MATHCOUNTS National Competition Mathletes.

In addition to incredible bragging rights, the winners of these competitions will receive substantial prizes: The individual Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition Champion will receive the $8,000 Donald G. Weinert Scholarship to the college of his or her choice along with a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. Runners-up, as well as members of the winning team, also receive college scholarships. Reel Math Challenge finalist team members receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2013 MATHCOUNTS Competition, and each member of the winning team will be awarded a $1,000 college scholarship.

To spread the spirit of the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition, the company is inviting adults and middle school students to compete virtually in an interactive Facebook challenge on the MathMovesU® Facebook page. The virtual challenge is based on real MATHCOUNTS competition questions. Participants can test their skill, earn and share badges, advance to higher playing levels, and challenge their friends.

Sponsorship of the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition is a core component of Raytheon's MathMovesU program, an initiative designed to engage middle school students in math and science and help inspire the next generation of technologists and innovators. Raytheon is the title sponsor of the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition through 2018.

About MATHCOUNTS

MATHCOUNTS^® is a non-profit national math enrichment, coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state and territory, and is one of the most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors and students in America. MATHCOUNTS offers teachers, kids and parents free materials to encourage math enrichment and prepare students for a high-tech future that will require mathematics-related skills to achieve success. Materials and information are available at www.mathcounts.org.

About MathMovesU

Raytheon's MathMovesU^® program is an initiative committed to increasing middle and elementary school students' interest in math and science education by engaging them in hands-on, interactive activities. The innovative programs of MathMovesU include the traveling interactive experience MathAlive!™; 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 ongoing sponsorship of the MATHCOUNTS^® National Competition; and the MathMovesU scholarship and grant program. Follow MathMovesU and other Raytheon community outreach programs on Facebook and on Twitter @MathMovesU.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 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. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Media Contacts

Raytheon Company
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+1.781.522.6490
corporatepr@raytheon.com

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SOURCE Raytheon Company