SAIC Launches Enterprise-Wide Initiative To Support K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
Company Forms Strategic Relationships to Support STEM Initiatives, Pledging $1 Million Worth of Sponsorships to FIRST(R), Project Lead The Way
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) announced today that it has launched an enterprise-wide program to help inspire, engage and educate students in K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. To help kick off this long-term nationwide effort, the company has formed strategic relationships with two leading non-profit organizations with demonstrated results in the STEM arena. FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) received a $600,000 sponsorship, and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) received a $400,000 sponsorship from the company.
FIRST works to inspire students from kindergarten through high school to be science and technology leaders. The organization hosts events including robotics competitions at local, regional and national levels, engaging students in mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, and encourage innovation. PLTW partners with middle schools and high schools to prepare students to be productive by engaging them in a hands-on, project-based curriculum that emphasizes innovation and critical thinking. PLTW’s program shows students how what they are learning in math and science class applies to real-world problem solving. Its students benefit greatly from mentorships and internships with its corporate and philanthropic partners, as they are able to see firsthand the relevance of the concepts that they are learning in the classroom.
Through participation in these programs, employee volunteers across the nation from SAIC and other companies can encourage the development of problem solving, critical thinking, creative and innovative reasoning skills in students K-12, and provide them with a foundation and proven path to college, and career success in STEM-related fields.
“The number of students entering STEM disciplines is too low to meet future U.S. needs,” said Walt Havenstein, SAIC chief executive officer and FIRST board member. “Industry can play a critical role in helping address this shortfall. Not only does SAIC rely on a STEM-educated workforce, our customers and our nation do, as well. It is what drives our economy.”
As part of SAIC’s initiative, the company is also launching a more robust employee volunteerism program that will help SAIC reinforce and enhance its existing STEM activities and participate in new STEM efforts across the United States.
“Many SAIC employees have been donating their time and talents helping to inspire, engage and educate students in STEM-related activities. I applaud those actions and I have committed SAIC to redoubling our effort,” said Havenstein. “We also look forward to helping our FIRST and PLTW partners work closer together as we combine efforts to coach and encourage our future science and technology leaders.”
About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from one of every three FORTUNE® 500 companies and more than $11 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC™) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC®) for high school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) for children 9-14 years old, and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL) for 6- to 9-year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
About Project Lead The Way
PLTW is a national, non-profit organization that provides rigorous and innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for middle schools and high schools. The PLTW comprehensive curriculum, which is collaboratively developed by PLTW teachers, university educators, engineering and biomedical professionals, and school administrators, emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and real-world problem solving. The hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to areas of study that they typically do not pursue, and provides them with a foundation and proven path to college and career success in STEM-related fields. PLTW began in 1998 in 12 high schools in upstate New York as a program designed to address the shortage of engineering students at the college level and has grown to a network of almost 3,400 middle and high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 300,000 students are enrolled in PLTW courses. For more information, visit http://beta.pltw.org/.
About SAIC
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company’s approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009. For more information, visit www.saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions®
Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in SAIC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 31, 2009, and other such filings that SAIC makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Contact:
Melissa Koskovich
(703) 676-6762
melissa.l.koskovich@saic.com
Laura Luke
(703) 676-6533
laura.luke@saic.com
