HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today donated $200,000 to Project Lead The Way to implement the organization's science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum in all of the 26 elementary schools in the Huntsville City School System.

This grant makes Huntsville City Schools the largest school district in Alabama that has implemented Project Lead The Way in all of its elementary, middle and high schools. With more than 23,000 students, the district also is one of the few of its size in the United States with 100 percent implementation of Project Lead The Way, the nation's leading provider of STEM programs. More than 6,000 schools across the United States offer Project Lead The Way programs.

"This is an exciting time for teachers and students in Huntsville City Schools," said Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Casey Wardynski. "Our district has already witnessed success with Project Lead The Way at the middle school and high school level, and we believe the implementation of these programs at the elementary school level will engage students in STEM at an earlier age and help them develop critical skills that will lead to great success throughout their K-12 education and beyond. We thank Lockheed Martin for its generous support."

Through the Lockheed Martin grant, more than 52 elementary school teachers in the 26 elementary schools attended PLTW's rigorous professional development training earlier this summer. In addition to training, the grant provides the teachers with the necessary classroom equipment and supplies for the curriculum. Local employee volunteers also will be available for Engineers in the Classroom presentations to the students. 

"Lockheed Martin is committed to being a valued community partner in Huntsville and enhancing the quality of life in the communities where we live and work. We are focused on enriching students' lives through science, technology, engineering and math programs, and supporting our military service members and veterans," said Jim Rogers, vice president of business development at Lockheed Martin.

"Lockheed Martin's partnership with Project Lead The Way is designed to educate and inspire tomorrow's scientists, engineers and mathematicians," he added.

The donation is part of Lockheed Martin's commitment as a national partner of Project Lead The Way to provide $6 million over the next four years to fund the program in select school districts across the United States. The national partnership began in 2013.

"Lockheed Martin's generous support of Project Lead The Way emphasizes the importance of investing in our nation's youngest learners," said Dr. Rex Bolinger, PLTW senior vice president and chief development officer. "PLTW's elementary program - PLTW Launch - is designed to help students feel excited, comfortable and confident in STEM subjects from an early age. These students will hopefully go on to pursue STEM careers and be our country's top employees and business leaders."

Lockheed Martin employs approximately 1,200 people in the Huntsville area supporting important defense programs including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Weapon System, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, PAC-3 Missile, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Extended Area Protection and Survivability, Targets and Countermeasures and Medium Extended Air Defense System.

Lockheed Martin has operated in Huntsville since 1963, when it opened a facility at the invitation of Dr. Werhner Von Braun, the director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com 

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin