Last Updated: 11/01/2011*

Raytheon continues to support the winning Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) team and sponsored its trip to Washington, D.C., Sept. 15 and 16, where their accomplishment was recognized by the aerospace and defense industry and government officials.

Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry, the Team America Rocketry Challenge encourages students to pursue careers in the aerospace industry and works toward securing the pipeline of students with skills in science, technology, engineering and math.

Team members John Easum, Michael Gerritsen, Colt McNally and Landon Fisher had a busy schedule which included two days of visits with several federal government officials, legislators, and defense and aerospace representatives, and ended with a Congressional reception. The team was joined by Corporate Director of Community Relations John Clemons, who escorted them while in Washington.

One of the first stops was a brief presentation at the AIA/NDIA (National Defense Industrial Association) STEM Workforce Division Meeting in Arlington, Va., followed by a meeting with NASA Administrator and former astronaut Charles F. Bolden, Jr., who gave the team a tour of NASA’s Space Operations Center.

"I think TARC is an excellent program," said Bolden. "Such programs are the critical beginning to getting kids interested in STEM and into our workforce. We need more programs like this because it produces tomorrow’s engineers and scientists at NASA."

Dr. John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, hosted the team in a conference room at the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the West Wing of the White House. Dr. Holdren asked the team members about the rocketry competition and their plans for the future.

"The President loves these competitions and the excitement they generate," said Holdren. "This kind of experience will help you professionally." Gerritsen chimed in with a smile, "And we love Raytheon too!"

The TARC team also met briefly with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who congratulated the foursome on winning the national and international rocketry competitions.

The visit was capped with a Congressional reception where the team was feted along with the teams of other STEM related competitions including FIRST Robotics, another Raytheon supported program. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) praised all of the winning teams. "Each of you represent tomorrow’s workforce. I look forward to your contributions in the years ahead," said Shaheen.

Following the visit, Carla Fisher, whose son, Landon, is part of the winning TARC team, wrote: "My husband and I would also like to thank ... Raytheon for bringing our boys to D.C. this week and for giving them such a tremendous opportunity to see how they can make a difference in the future.

"As parents, we appreciate the sponsorship of Raytheon and [the company's] willingness to invest in the generations coming behind us. For our rocket team and our son specifically, Raytheon has been instrumental in providing opportunities to show them that their passion for engineering, math, science and technology can be, not only exciting and fun, but also how important it is to the future of our competitiveness as a nation in so many areas of industry.

"The impact these experiences have made on our son's life has been incredible, and we thank you for making that possible."