[SatNews] As part of The National Engineers Week STEM Grants, one of Northrop Grumman's global security company’s community service programs, $300 was granted to 167 individual teachers.

Northrop Grumman Corporation awarded $50,000 in grants to 167 K-12 schools nationwide to promote education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The Engineers Week STEM Grants seek to provide teachers with funding for projects that increase student awareness of the excitement and opportunity to be found in STEM fields. Each $300 grant was given to a school for use by a specific teacher, based on grant proposals submitted by the teacher. Grants may be used to purchase equipment, supplies, publications or transportation related to the project. The 167 schools are located in 11 different states and in the communities near 17 separate Northrop Grumman campuses.

"Northrop Grumman strongly believes in promoting STEM education as a means to better ensure the nation's long-term economic success," said Northrop Grumman’s Manager of Corporate Citizenship Melissa Sandlin. "These grants will help teachers across the nation show students the benefits and value of pursuing a technical career path."

The program was kicked off in February during National Engineers Week, a nationwide event dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. Teachers at any public school, charter school with an open enrollment policy, or private school with a 501(c)(3) foundation were eligible to apply for the Northrop Grumman STEM grants. However, in order to be considered for the STEM grants, the teachers must have been referred by an active Northrop Grumman employee. The winners include teachers in grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Grant applications were reviewed by employee committees at each Northrop Grumman campus.

The National Engineers Week STEM Grants is one of several Northrop Grumman community service programs designed to promote STEM education in the United States. Other programs include DiscoverE, Teachers and Engineers for Academic Achievement (TEAACH), Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholars and the High School Involvement Partnership (HIP).

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