ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Feb. 18, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) defense electronics facility in Rolling Meadows recently hosted a reception honoring the parents of 17 students participating in its WORTHY (Worthwhile To Help High School Youth) mentoring and scholarship program.

Designed to encourage and advance program participants' pursuits of technical degrees, the WORTHY program provides on-the-job experience and improved access to secondary education to area high school students.

Before an audience that included students, their families, WORTHY mentors, school officials and community leaders, Jeff Palombo, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division, expressed the importance of the company's continued commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.) initiatives in addition to community involvement.

"First I want to honor all of the parents for their life-long guidance, encouragement and support of their children's academic pursuits," said Palombo. "This annual reception affords participants' parents the opportunity to become more familiar with the WORTHY program, and offers them a chance to meet their child's mentors and members of the Northrop Grumman family who are helping to foster the continued success of their children.

"Everyone deserves a mentor and through this program our Northrop Grumman experts in various engineering concentrations can give back to our community through guiding and teaching our engineers of tomorrow," Palombo added.

"The WORTHY program is a great opportunity for students with a passion for math and sciences to get a first-hand look at engineering in action in a modern corporate environment," said Steve Carr, assistant dean at Northwestern University. "My message to each of the WORTHY students is to be persistent and never stop pursuing life-long learning."

A total of 41 Northrop Grumman employees at the company's Rolling Meadows facility specializing in business, program management and various engineering disciplines have volunteered to serve as WORTHY program mentors. This year, the students, with the help of their mentors, will be working on individual projects, which will be presented at an event hosted by Northrop Grumman executive staff at the conclusion of the school year.

To date, the WORTHY program has supported the participation of over 30 students and 69 Northrop Grumman employee mentors.

Initially launched in 1997 by Northrop Grumman in Baltimore, WORTHY has expanded to include additional locations. The Rolling Meadows facility has sponsored the WORTHY program for the past three years. In order to be eligible for the program, rising high school sophomores and juniors must attend a Northrop Grumman-partnered Chicago public high school or surrounding suburban school, maintain a 3.0+ grade point average (GPA) during the course of the program, have earned a 3.0+ GPA for at least two consecutive semesters prior to applying and must be pursuing continuing education in the field of engineering.  Participants are also required to submit a three-part essay, provide a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or community leader and be eligible to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance. Mentors must also apply for and pass a background check.

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:  Ellen Hamilton
          Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
          (224) 625-4693
          ellen.hamilton@ngc.com