APOPKA, Fla., June 7, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Laser Systems business unit recently partnered with the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)-Florida State University (FSU) College of Engineering to offer seven Orange County high school students an exclusive tour of the college's state-of-the-art engineering facility through the company's Worthwhile to Help High School Youth (WORTHY) program.

"We were honored that Northrop Grumman chose the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering for its WORTHY students' first annual campus visit," said Assistant Dean of Industry and Research, Dr. Braketta Ritzenthaler. "One of the most exciting parts of the day was listening to the WORTHY students ask a team of senior engineering students about the formula hybrid vehicle they built as their multidisciplinary design project. The WORTHY students were amazed that it only took two semesters to build."

Driven by a nationwide demand for more student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), WORTHY was created by Northrop Grumman to promote the pursuit of technical degrees and careers among high school students. The students have been participating in the program since August 2009.

WORTHY students Austin Lord, Demetrius Gordon, Jeff Childers, Melissa Pennington, Ebony Fitzgerald, Steeve Delius, and Brandon Singh visited an engineering lab at the FAMU-FSU campus where a professor taught them how to program a robotic arm to write their name. They also met current engineering students who gave them insight on what it was like to major in engineering.

"After talking with some of the FSU-FAMU students, I realized that you're not alone when you get to college. You're part of a team, and you have to combine each other's skills to succeed," said Gordon, a sophomore at Apopka High School. "It also showed me that what I'm learning in WORTHY will be used when I start college. Right now, I'm learning to build circuits and manipulate programming. The FAMU-FSU engineering students used the same skills and applied them to the solar car they built."

"It's important for our WORTHY students to see what they are working towards," said Gordon Stewart, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Laser Systems. "There aren't enough students graduating from college with degrees in STEM related fields. Programs like WORTHY and events like this college road trip, help the students connect the dots and get acquainted with the opportunities available to STEM graduates."

The trip also gave the three parent chaperones a chance to learn more about the college admissions process and the FAMU-FSU engineering program.

Jennifer Singh, who attended as a parent chaperone with her son, Brandon, said: "I want him to feel comfortable with everything about the college he chooses to attend. The only way to do that is to visit the university and the department he's interested in majoring in. Northrop Grumman understands that, and I'm so glad they gave us the opportunity to see if the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will be the right place for him."

Northrop Grumman is one of the world's leading manufacturers of military Electro-Optical (EO) targeting systems. These include ground-based (man-portable, handheld, and vehicle mounted) EO imaging/ranging systems for target location, laser designators/markers for precise guidance of smart munitions, and airborne laser rangefinders and designators fielded onboard many of the world's most sophisticated manned and unmanned aircraft.

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. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information. 

  CONTACT:  Paul Cabellon
          Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
          (410) 765-7192
          paul.cabellon@ngc.com