Date posted: 06/19/2009*

As a major sponsor of the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), Raytheon brought this year’s winning U.S. team to the Paris Air Show as part of its prize. Similarly, the U.K.’s Raytheon Systems Limited is a sponsor of the U.K. Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC) competition and supported the winning U.K. team’s attendance at the show.

The two winning teams, Royal Liberty School from Romford, England, and Madison West High School from Madison, Wis., had a transatlantic fly-off in Virginia May 18; the U.K. team was victorious. This event highlighted American and British youth coming together to demonstrate their talent. Raytheon applauds both teams for their efforts and dedication to math and science.

Eleven Students Welcomed

The 11 students arrived in Paris June 18 and were welcomed with a cruise down the Siene.

On Thursday evening, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) hosted a reception to congratulate the teams that participated in the Transatlantic Rocketry Challenge.

The reception, held at Dorint Hotel de Rossy, was an opportunity for the U.S. TARC team and the UKAYRoC team to celebrate their triumph over several other rocketry teams in their respective countries.
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Speakers at the event included Sherry Eperson, director, International and Special Events; Lt. Col. Michael Kilbourne, United States Air Forces in Europe;and Pam Wickham, Raytheon’s vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications, who lauded the teams for their achievements.

Trip Recognizes Achievements and Rewards Math and Science Interest

"This trip to the Paris International Air Show recognizes the achievements of the TARC and UKAYRoC winners and rewards their interest in math and science," said Wickham. "We hope this visit will encourage further study and interest by immersing them in the exciting career opportunities to be found in the aerospace and defense industry."

The following morning, students were invited to have breakfast in the Raytheon chalet and visit the company simulators. This was followed by a tour of the U.S. Corral and a view of flying displays.

The sponsorship of these students at the Paris Air Show is part of Raytheon’s ongoing commitment to math and science education. Raytheon truly believes that tomorrow's engineers and technologists need to be excited by and interested in math today.