INDIANAPOLIS, July 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Project Lead The Way (PLTW) will continue to reach more students during the 2013-14 school year thanks, in part, to generous support from Bemis Company. For the second year in a row, Bemis Company has allocated grant funding totaling $830,000 to 36 high schools in 12 states. The funding will provide 47, 681 students access to PLTW's high school engineering program, Pathway To Engineering.
The 36 high schools selected to receive funding each submitted a grant application in the spring of 2013 through PLTW's grant competition. The grant funds received can be used by schools to cover Core Training expenses, PLTW program participation fees, and program-related equipment and supplies.
"Support for education makes immediate sense, as well as long term sense to Bemis as an employer and a good corporate citizen," said Kim Wetzel of Bemis Company Foundation. "It's how our country and people will propel themselves forward toward prosperity. At Bemis, we support PLTW because they train teachers and provide excellent, substantive curriculum to engage students in engineering and help to encourage innovation. A well-educated and highly trained workforce is essential to moving Bemis, as well as other manufacturing businesses, forward in today's highly competitive marketplace."
PLTW views the support from Bemis Company as a vital piece in preparing more students for the global economy. Through financial support and employee engagement, companies allow PLTW to reach more students, equip them with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in STEM-related fields, and ultimately become the next generation of STEM-prepared professionals that our economy demands.
PLTW thanks Bemis Company for its generosity and commitment to raising awareness and expanding STEM education in the United States. To view the work in action, click the following link: http://youtu.be/0QfWt0f2IQ4.
To see the complete list of schools receiving funding through the support of Bemis Company, click here: http://www.pltw.org/sites/default/files/2013%20Bemis%20Schools.pdf.
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About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the leading provider of rigorous and innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education curricular programs used in schools. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, PLTW exists to prepare students for the global economy through its world-class curriculum, high-quality professional development, and an engaged network of educators, students, universities and professionals. PLTW's comprehensive curriculum has been collaboratively designed by PLTW teachers, university educators, engineering and biomedical professionals, and school administrators to promote critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving skills in students. The hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to areas of study that they typically do not pursue, and provides them with a foundation and proven path to college and career success. More than 4,700 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.
About Bemis Company, Inc.
Bemis Company, Inc. is a major supplier of packaging and pressure sensitive materials used by leading food, consumer products, healthcare, and other companies worldwide. Founded in 1858, Bemis Company is included in the S &P 500 index of stocks and reported 2012 net sales of $5.1 billion. Bemis has a strong technical base in polymer chemistry, film extrusion, coating and laminating, printing, and converting. Headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, Bemis employs approximately 19,000 individuals worldwide. More information about Bemis is available at our website, www.bemis.com.
Source: Bemis Company, Inc.
Bemis Company, Inc.
Melanie E. R. Miller, 920-527-5045
Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer