Heroes given MathMovesU awards and grants for promoting math and science through interactive, creative learning programs

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 23, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company has awarded Math Hero Awards to 32 teachers across the country for their efforts in engaging students in math through interactive and creative learning programs. Selected from a field of 160 nominations, each Math Hero Award winner will receive a $2,500 award and a matching grant of $2,500 for his or her school. Nominations for the 2009 Math Heroes Awards are now being accepted at http://www.mathmovesu.com/.

The Math Hero Awards are a component of Raytheon's MathMovesU™ program, a national initiative designed to engage middle school students in math and science through a variety of programs including contests, live events, scholarships, tutoring programs and more. Raytheon is committed to raising awareness around the nation's decline of math and science skills and believes that tomorrow's engineers and technologists need to be excited by and interested in math today.

Math Hero Awards reward teachers for promoting math to students in a fun and challenging learning environment. The following teachers were nominated by students, parents and faculty for their enthusiasm and interest in teaching math to others:

    Kalman Mannis     Concho Elementary School           Concho, Ariz.
    Warren Santner    Tolleson Union High School         Tolleson, Ariz.
    Doug Buhler       South Pasadena Middle School South Pasadena, Calif.
    Alex Kajitani     Mission Middle School              Escondido, Calif.
    Fawn Nguyen       Mesa Union Junior High School      Somis, Calif.
    Chase Orton       Environmental Charter High School  Lawndale, Calif.
    Jean Kreutzer     South Middle School                Aurora, Colo.
    Patrick Mara      South High School                  Pueblo, Colo.
    Andrea Nachtrieb  Escalante Middle School            Durango, Colo.
    Karen Climis      Common Ground High School          New Haven, Conn.
    Angela Ciresi     Coachman Fundamental Middle School Clearwater, Fla.
    Pamela Inman      Booker High School                 Sarasota, Fla.
    Bennie Smith      Bay Point Middle School            St. Petersburg, Fla.
    Debbie Kohler     Sequoyah High School               Canton, Ga.
    Leonard Johnson   St. Andrews Church & School        Park Ridge, Ill.
    Sean Bird         Covenant Christian High School     Indianapolis, Ind.
    Jeff Crist        Westfield Intermediate School      Westfield, Ind.
    Angela Moreman    Creekside Middle School            Carmel, Ind.
    Joshua Frost      Jonas Clarke Middle School         Lexington, Mass.
    Barbara Rappaport Fuller Middle School               Framingham, Mass.
    Mike Wenger       Londonderry High School            Londonderry, N.H.
    Heather Sparks    Taft Middle School                 Oklahoma City, Okla.
    Gregory Greco     The Metropolitan Regional Career   Providence, R.I.
    Shirley McDonald  Ringgold Middle School             Ringgold, Ga.
    Cynthia Daniels   Claughton Middle School            Houston, Tex.
    Dixie Ross        Pflugerville High School           Pflugerville, Tex.
    Mary Ellen Sablick  Rice Middle School               Plano, Tex.
    Tricia Colclaser    Fairfax High School              Fairfax, Va.
    Amanda Hamlette     Gretna High School               Gretna, Va.
    Shameka Hardy       Booker T. Washington High School Norfolk, Va.
    Claire Alexander    Glenwood School District         Glenwood, Wash.
    Lois Swineford      Suncrest Middle School           Morgantown, W. Va.

"It gives us great pleasure to recognize these teachers for their outstanding work and dedication in inspiring young students," said Kristin Hilf, vice president of public affairs for Raytheon Company. "Teachers can greatly influence a child's decision to pursue a particular career, and Raytheon applauds the winners of the Math Hero Awards for making math a fun and challenging pursuit for their students."

Since the start of the program in late 2005, Raytheon's MathMovesU has awarded $2 million to students, teachers and schools nationwide. To nominate a Math Hero or for more information about scholarships and grants for students, visit http://www.mathmovesu.com/.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86 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 72,000 people worldwide.

    Contact: Jennifer K. Chan
    Raytheon Company
    781.522.5112
    jennifer_k_chan@raytheon.com

    Donna M. Murno
    InkHouse
    781.916.9090 ext. 804
    donna@inkhousepr.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.mathmovesu.com//

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