Raytheon celebrates back to school with 'Mission to Mars'

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Welcoming students and teachers back to school, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has launched its "Mission to Mars" social media campaign, designed to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Celebrating the Mars rover landing, the campaign encourages teachers to drive STEM curiosity in, and beyond, the classroom through interactive games, polls and contests on the MathMovesU^® Facebook page.

"Applications from the real world – and worlds beyond – can drive student curiosity about STEM," said Pamela Erickson, Raytheon's vice president of Community Relations. "Raytheon understands the critical need to nurture an interest in STEM by inspiring today's students where they live, learn and play."

Intended to engage teachers and students, the MathMovesU Facebook celebration includes a "Mission to Mars" game, a video contest for teachers to compete for a classroom grant of up to $5,000, and an interactive opinion poll that showcases facts, trivia and excitement for the back-to-school season.

Elements include:

• "Clear 4 Takeoff!" Facebook game: Raytheon gives students a chance to put themselves in the driver's seat of a rover launching on a mission to Mars. Students must clear the "space junk" – man-made debris in space – before launching their rovers for the Red Planet. The game teaches students about the threat of space debris and how it affects military, commercial and civil space systems. Experience the game at www.facebook.com/MathMovesU.
• Driving curiosity in the classroom: Raytheon offers teachers the opportunity to receive a Mars Hero grant – an extension of the company's Math Heroes Awards – of up to $5,000. Their challenge is to create a 60-second video lesson to demonstrate a scientific principle behind space exploration – using an apple. Submissions must be received by Friday, Sept. 28, at noon ET. Ten semifinalists will be selected based on creativity and effectiveness of the lessons. The semifinalists' videos will be shared on Raytheon's MathMovesU Facebook page, where fans will vote for their favorite. First-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 grants, respectively. Grant recipients will be announced Monday, Oct. 15. For more information about the contest, as well as rules and regulations, visit  www.facebook.com/MathMovesU.  
• Interactive back-to-school opinion poll: Posted daily on MathMovesU Facebook, Raytheon's back-to-school opinion poll asks students about their perspectives on returning to the classroom, posing questions such as, "Which subjects get you most excited?" and "Which subject is the most difficult for you?" Students can see results of the daily poll and share thoughts at www.facebook.com/MathMovesU and twitter.com/mathmovesu.

"'Mission to Mars' is an opportunity to support teachers with innovative approaches that show students how math and science can lead them to amazing discoveries today and tomorrow – perhaps as exciting as unraveling the mysteries of the Red Planet itself," said Erickson.

About MathMovesU

Raytheon's MathMovesU^® program is an initiative committed to increasing middle and elementary school students' interest in math and science education by engaging them in hands-on, interactive activities. The innovative programs of MathMovesU include the traveling interactive experience MathAlive!™; Raytheon's Sum of all Thrills™ experience at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot^®, which showcases math in action as students design and experience their own thrill ride using math fundamentals; the "In the Numbers" game, a partnership with the New England Patriots on display at The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon; the company's ongoing sponsorship of the MATHCOUNTS^® National Competition; and the MathMovesU scholarship and grant program. Follow MathMovesU and other Raytheon community outreach programs on Facebook and on Twitter @MathMovesU.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 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. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contacts

Raytheon Company
Kristyn Lao
+1.781.522.5126
[email protected]

InkHouse
Scott Montminy
+1.781.966.410
[email protected]

SOURCE Raytheon Company

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