VILLANOVA, PA, 04/10/2000 -- Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems has honored technical director Edward Reese, a 1959 graduate of Villanova University, by instituting five annual scholarships, to be called the Edward Reese Fellows Scholarships, at Villanova. Each scholarship is in the amount of $2,000 for a total of $10 thousand per year, and will be awarded to students majoring in computer science or electrical engineering. As a part of the scholarship, each recipient will receive a paid summer internship at the Lockheed-Martin M&DS facility in King of Prussia, Pa. The first five Villanova recipients are Jason Dobies '01, Computer Science; Rhoni Stefanicci '01, Computer Science; Mark Blattner '02, Computer Engineering; Gabriel Im '01, Computer Engineering; and John Surry '02, Electrical Engineering.

Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems has been a leader in systems integration, systems engineering, software development and program management in support of vital national systems for more than 30 years. With approximately 7,500 employees at facilities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, California and Virginia, M&DS is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

The M&DS Fellows Program was established in 1993 to honor outstanding employees of the Company's technical community. Edward Reese was among the nine initially selected. Today, he is regarded as the dean of the group, which, with the induction of the 1999 class, includes 36 of what the best technical minds - from all M&DS regions - in the aerospace industry.

According to M&DS president Marc Hansen, Reese was a member of the team, which founded the division in 1971. He has been a key contributor on virtually every major program in which we have been involved, Hansen said, adding that Reese also provides oversight to the Fellows program. We are very pleased, he concluded, to honor Ed through these scholarships to his alma mater.

After graduating from Villanova, Edward Reese received a master's degree in electrical engineering from Drexel University and completed two years of doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Lockheed Martin in 1961 as a digital equipment design engineer. In 1971, he led a team that established the architecture of a classified command and control ground system that would serve as the framework for the next quarter of a century.

Reese noted that although he graduated from Villanova more than 40 years ago, he has maintained his ties with the University and is grateful to M&DS for both the honor and the opportunity to assist students who might themselves become Lockheed Martin employees.

It is a great honor for me to be able to help in some small way with the advancement of the careers of these excellent representatives of Villanova University, Reese said. It is my hope that along with the academic assistance, their internship at Lockheed Martin will provide them with challenging and meaningful experience as engineering professionals.

Reese added while that he will not be working directly with the Villanova interns, he plans to make himself available to them for guidance and aid in networking into the Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems organization.

The student themselves are delighted with the opportunities presented to them by the Reese Fellows scholarships. Gabriel Im noted that while the financial assistance is welcome, he is especially excited by the internship.

The time I have spent in the classroom so far has been well spent, but only on theory, Im stated. I think it is time that I sank my teeth into some real problems and applications. I am grateful to work with such a prestigious company and anxiously await any challenges they throw my way.

Rhoni Stefanicci agreed. This opportunity enables me to apply my knowledge in a 'real-world' way, he said, and perhaps will assist me in directing my future career path.

John Surry also sees the internship as way of discovering the career options he will have available to him. As for the scholarship funds, Surry says the money will help relieve some of the financial burdens his family is carrying. He has four younger brothers and is eager for them to have the same educational opportunities he has had.

Edward Reese, the five scholarship recipients, and the Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems technical managers who will be supervising their internships all were honored at a luncheon hosted by the University in January.