BETHPAGE, N.Y. and MELBOURNE, Fla., June 1, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has selected five East Coast students to receive the 2010 NextGen Engineers Scholarships, a competition sponsored by the company's Battle Management and Engagement Systems division based here. The winners were selected from among 119 applicants, all of whom are in the top of their classes.

This year's five winners are:

  • Kimberly Day, Palm Bay, Fla., West Shore Jr./Sr. High School
  • Brandon Li, Jericho, N.Y., Jericho High School
  • Matthew Miecnikowski, Dix Hills, N.Y., Half Hollow Hills High School East
  • Jonathan Nino, Hempstead, N.Y., Hempstead High School
  • Joel Santisteban, Lawrence, N.Y., Lawrence High School

"This year's group of applicants was the largest so far, so it was a challenge to determine the best of the best," said Tom Vice, sector vice president of the Battle Management and Engagement Systems division. "My hope is that this response heralds a renewed interest by our children in pursuing careers in science and technology."

This is the fifth year for the competition. The first scholarship class is graduating this year and they made important contributions to Northrop Grumman during their summer internships. One was a major contributor to a small research team that earned a patent in the area of computer sciences. She and one other scholar will be joining the company as full-time engineers.

This year the scholarship was opened to qualifying students who lived in areas in which the company's Aerospace Systems sector has major facilities – Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York, Brevard County, Florida, and Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties in Maryland – as well as children of employees in the division.

All of the scholarship winners will receive $10,000 towards their four-year college education – $2,500 per year over four years.

In addition, Northrop Grumman works to place each student in internships at the local facility for the three summers of the four years of undergraduate studies. Including salaries, these scholarships could be worth as much as $30,000.

During the internship, the winners have the chance to work on real-world research and development projects as members of Northrop Grumman engineering teams. On the job, they will be mentored by accomplished senior engineers while bringing their own, fresh approaches to the projects.

Six evaluation teams comprising 26 employees reviewed the applications. Applicants were evaluated on their scholastic records, community service, letters of recommendation and their interest in the engineering profession. The evaluators selected 10 finalists. Division executives interviewed the finalists and selected the five winners.

"There are so many students in our communities who have dreams of contributing to society as engineers and scientists," said Vice. "I urge other companies and organizations to make more students aware of the value and reward in pursuing technology careers and to support these young men and women in some way as they work towards their dreams. They are the future of our industries, our nation and the world."

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. 

  CONTACT:  John A. Vosilla
          Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
          (516) 575-5119
          John.Vosilla@ngc.com