WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) employees nationwide are headed into local schools this fall to share their knowledge and skills by mentoring students as part of the company's MathMovesU^® science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiative.

Students who work with the Raytheon mentor network report increased interest in academics and improved grade performance. The MathMovesU mentoring programs provide students nationwide with hands-on, project-based learning, one-on-one tutoring, and real-life math and science applications – techniques that are proving highly effective.

In Tucson, Ariz., more than 70 percent of the 1,200 students who participated in Raytheon's 2012-2013 "Math Nights" program said the tutoring sessions raised their grades. At Sunnyside Unified School District, Math Nights' launch coincides with rising scores on Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards test. According to Steve Holmes, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, the number of sophomores passing the math section of the exam on their first attempt rose eight percentage points from 2012 to 2013. "We haven't seen an increase like that in one year," said Holmes.

Raytheon employee mentors are highly engaged in a program called Stand & Deliver in Lawrence, Mass. The corporate campus academic mentoring program matches volunteers with underserved middle and high school students to help them prepare for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam and higher education. In the 2012-2013 year-end Stand & Deliver student survey, 76 percent of students indicated their grades improved; 74 percent said their desire to learn new things increased; and 86 percent said their confidence in school work increased since working with their mentor.

Stand & Deliver, of which Raytheon has been a major supporter for nearly 10 years, has seen students return to mentor younger students and work for Raytheon as interns. In 2013, Raytheon made its first full-time job offer to a Stand & Deliver graduate who completed four engineering internships with the company.

"By aligning students with professional scientists, technologists and engineers, Raytheon's MathMovesU mentoring programs continue to support both students and teachers by bringing real life STEM application into the classroom," said Pamela Erickson, Raytheon's vice president of Community Relations. "Raytheon is committed to strengthening our future workforce by inspiring our next generation of innovators."

In North Texas, that inspiration comes in the form of Raytheon's LASER program (Leadership and Science Ensures Results), where mentors bring physics to life through project-based learning during five classroom sessions throughout the school year. More than 40 percent of participating students indicate they would consider a science, technology, engineering and mathematics based career. Since its inception in 2010, the LASER program has reached more than 6,700 students.

Mentors and positive role models can help students navigate the path to success. To learn more about the opportunities to inspire a love of math and science in students, visit http://www.raytheon.com/responsibility/community/index.html.  

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 
Tina Martineau 
+1.781.522.6490
corporatepr@raytheon.com

InkHouse 
Scott Montminy 
+1.781.966.4100 
raytheonpr@inkhouse.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company