Society of Women Engineers and Northrop Grumman Corporation to Co-Sponsor 2006 Engineers Week; Northrop Grumman Corporation and SWE plan program to focus on connecting educators to engineering

Business Wire, May 4, 2005

CHICAGO -- The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) announced today its sponsorship of 2006 Engineers Week (EWeek) scheduled for February 19 - 25, 2006 with co-sponsor Northrop Grumman Corporation. As first-time sponsors, SWE and Northrop Grumman Corporation will lead this annual event in 2006 and work alongside leading engineering societies to increase the public's awareness and appreciation of engineering.

The United States has always depended upon a skilled technical workforce for the innovation that drives economic growth and national security. But as the number of jobs requiring engineering training grows, the number of students preparing for those careers remains level, with women and minorities severely underrepresented. SWE and Northrop Grumman plan to focus their sponsorship on this growing crisis by delivering a new component to the EWeek program platform - Connecting Educators to Engineering.

The main goal of the program is to raise awareness for the societal benefits of the engineering profession to middle school educators who represent the most sustained and consistent channel to young minds. Connecting Educators to Engineering will present educators with tools to give engineering a prominent position within their middle-school curriculum as well as a mentoring component for direct access to engineers throughout the country.

"Northrop Grumman is enthusiastically committed to helping middle school teachers in their efforts to prepare young people for rewarding careers in technology and engineering," says Ronald D. Sugar, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation and honorary chair of Engineers Week 2006. "Exposing students to the importance of these careers at a young age can help ensure we have the most positive impact on their lives."

According to the National Science Board, the most recent occupational projections from the bureau of labor statistics, for the period from 2000-10, predict that employment in science and engineering occupations will increase about three times faster than the overall growth rate for all occupations. As degrees in engineering, especially for women and underrepresented groups, remain level or decrease, it is imperative to have programs in place to improve understanding of how technology is changing the human-made world and the natural environment to engage more Americans into these much needed fields.

Other EWeek programs include the Future City Competition(TM), Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Engineers Without Borders, Connecting the World to Engineering and New Faces of Engineering. EWeek was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. For more information on Engineers Week, visit www.eweek.org.

About Northrop Grumman Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman Corporation provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 125,000 employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman Corporation serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers. For more information visit www.ngc.com.

About SWE

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders. For more information about the Society please visit www.swe.org or call (312) 596-5223.