12 May 2008 | Ref. 149/2008
ROCKVILLE, Maryland – BAE Systems was honored with the 2008 Founder’s Award from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) during the Championship event in Atlanta, Georgia on April 19. The award, presented by FIRST founder Dean Kamen, commemorates the efforts of the recipient for exceptional service in advancing the ideals and mission of FIRST.
"The honor that this award recognizes really belongs to the employees of BAE Systems who served as mentors, coaches, sponsors and judges," said Walt Havenstein president and chief executive officer of BAE Systems, Inc. and a member of FIRST’s board of directors. "We are privileged and remain committed to supporting FIRST not only because it provides the best opportunity to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists, but also because it is a lot of fun."
During the 2008 season, the company supported 71 teams located near company sites in 13 states and the District of Columbia, from which 24 BAE Systems-sponsored teams competed at the Championship. BAE Systems also sponsored seven of the 41 regional competitions culminating in the FIRST Championship.
“As a FIRST Strategic Partner, BAE Systems sets an incredible example of what corporate America can do to inspire the scientists and engineers of tomorrow,” said FIRST founder, Dean Kamen. “We are deeply grateful for BAE Systems’ significant contributions to the growth of FIRST, from sponsoring teams and competitions to employee participation as mentors and event volunteers.”
Past recipients of the Founder’s Award include: FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, NASA, The LEGO Group, United Technologies Corporation and Walt Disney Co.
BAE Systems also congratulates three company-sponsored teams that received awards at the FIRST Championship in Atlanta:
Wissahickon High School of Ambler, Pennsylvania, winners of the “Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship Award” for developing “the framework for a comprehensive business plan in order to scope, manage and obtain team objectives” while displaying “entrepreneurial enthusiasm and the vital business skills for a self-sustaining program,” according to FIRST.
Waialua High School of Waialua, Hawaii, winners of the “Engineering Inspiration Award” for “outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school as well as their community” and the extent and inventiveness of the team’s efforts to recruit students to engineering, the team’s community outreach efforts and the measurable success of those efforts, FIRST says.
Utica Community Schools of Sterling Heights, Michigan, part of an alliance of three schools, who collaborated for winning both the Galileo Division and the Championship.
In January, BAE Systems increased its contribution to FIRST to more than $1 million annually through donations of money, resources and employees volunteering. By increasing the level of support BAE Systems became a “Strategic Partner” of FIRST and the largest corporate contributor to the FIRST Robotics Competition.
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 the support of many of the world’s most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, the FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 97,500 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.
For further information, please contact
Greg Caires, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8261 Mobile: +1 703 967 8630
greg.caires@baesystems.com
Susan Lenover, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8259 Mobile: +1 703 850 1621
susan.lenover@baesystems.com
