More than 1,200 students at over one dozen Orange County schools will participate in National Engineers Week activities, February 21 - 26, sponsored by Lockheed Martin .

Throughout the week, employees at the Lockheed Martin facilities in the area will visit schools, host essay contests and game show-style competitions to offer students with an unique and engaging insight into engineering and how engineers impact our every day lives.

"Everyone is looking forward to another exciting Engineers Week here in Orlando," said Steve Rocca, senior mechanical engineer at Lockheed Martin. Rocca is the chairman of Lockheed Martin's central Florida National Engineers Week's efforts. The week is devoted to encouraging and promoting the study of engineering.

"We are planning numerous school visits, two days of high school student tours of our facilities and several presentations of our 'Who Wants to Be an Engineer' game show," added Rocca. "The week is a great opportunity to really inspire the students in our community to pursue technical careers."

The "Who Wants to Be an Engineer" game show, created by Orlando Lockheed Martin employees in 2000 for National Engineers Week, is a favorite activity of both the employees and students each year. Local high schools compete in tournament style rounds and the two final teams compete in a championship round at the Orlando Science Center.

"The game show is one of the highlights of National Engineers Week. It's incredible to see so many students become excited about excelling in math and science," Rocca said.

 Other activities during the week include:
   * Judging the SECME Regional Essay and Web site Design Competition being
     held at the University of Central Florida.
   * Elementary school half-day assemblies to show young students that
     engineering is both fun and exciting and to inspire them to pursue
     careers in engineering.
   * A "Popsicle(C) Stick Bridge Contest" designed to introduce the
     engineering process to seventh grade students.
   * Lockheed Martin's Ocala Operations will host students from five schools
     for tours of their facilities.

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Engineers Week is celebrated annually by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers and leaders in government and business. Lockheed Martin is a National Engineers Week sponsor. For further information on National Engineers Week visit http://www.eweek.org/.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin