BETHPAGE, N.Y., May 30, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The first winners of Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Engineering Scholarships for Long Island high-school seniors have been selected. They are:
-- Michael Colasuono -- Kellenberg Memorial High School -- Ian Czekala -- Rocky Point High School -- Kristie D'Ambrosio -- Wantagh High School -- Lance Shapiro -- Cold Spring Harbor High School -- Cindy True -- Deer Park High School
Each of the scholarship winners will receive $10,000 for their four-year college education -- $2,500 per year over four years. But the total monetary value to the students could be as much as $30,000, because each winner will be eligible for paid summer internships, working with defense and defense-related program engineering teams, between each school year.
An additional intangible benefit is that the scholars will be mentored by accomplished senior engineers -- in itself an advanced engineering education for these top performers.
"These five young men and women represent the best of the best because there were so many deserving, enthusiastic applicants," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president of Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare Systems for Northrop Grumman. "Every applicant, whether they became finalists or not, impressed us with the breadth of achievement and character that each of them showed us."
This is the first year for the Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholarship in Long Island. It was designed to help encourage local students to pursue courses of study in engineering, applied mathematics or computer science. It was open to all Long Island high-school seniors. Final selection of the winners was made by a panel of Northrop Grumman Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare Systems business area executives after they interviewed the finalists.
"Everyone involved in the selection process was profoundly impressed by the quality of all the young men and women who applied for the scholarship," said Robert Klein, vice president of Engineering, Logistics and Technology for Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare Systems. "Each applicant had exemplary academic credentials. These five winners had outstanding grades, SAT scores, extensive science and math activities, and many were involved in sports, student government and as community volunteers. We congratulate them and look forward to assisting them financially in their studies, mentoring them during their summer internships at Northrop Grumman, and seeing them as future leaders in engineering helping to meet our nation's needs."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With approximately 125,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.