MANASSAS, VA, 28-MAR-07 -- Engineers from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]’s Manassas facility recently celebrated National Engineers Week with 1,100 students at four Prince William County and Manassas Park middle schools.

About 27 Lockheed Martin engineer-volunteers visited Pennington School, Stonewall Middle School, Metz Middle School and Marsteller Middle School between February 26 and March 14 to promote careers in engineering.

Although National Engineers Week was nationally celebrated the week of February 18, the engineers extended the date to accommodate local school schedules.

At the schools, the Lockheed Martin engineers challenged entire sixth-grade science classes with activities aimed at building “solutions,” allowing them to practice systems engineering, software development and systems testing by defining requirements, designing a computer program and inspecting software code. At the end of an activity called “Pick A Winner,” the students tested a computer program which selected students from the class to receive Lockheed Martin prizes such as calculators, ball caps and T-shirts.

“Students do not often have an opportunity to see how software is developed from the beginning stages of planning to the final usable product,” said Annette Dockter, a sixth grade science teacher at Marsteller Middle School. “I think this program gave students a better understanding of how products come to life and piqued their interest in the many exciting careers in engineering that they may have not thought of before.”

The students also were given an overview of the many technically challenging programs currently underway at Lockheed Martin. The program’s goal was to educate students about the professional skills required in engineering and to encourage them to consider engineering as a career choice.

“I really enjoyed working with the students and sharing information about the many career opportunities that the field of engineering provides,” said Don Garris, Prince William County resident and Lockheed Martin tactical display software engineering manager. “Sharing real work experiences by bringing in an actual engineering project for the students to solve helped demonstrate what it's like to be either a systems, software or test engineer here at Lockheed Martin.”

Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Engineers Week is dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineers and to encouraging pre-college interest in science, technology and engineering. National Engineers Week is annually celebrated by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers and leaders in government and business.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.