Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) recently awarded $8,400 in grants to Chicago-area schools in support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational initiatives.

Through the company’s National Engineers Week STEM Grants program, Northrop Grumman provided 28 individual grants of $300 to teachers in local elementary, middle and high schools to fund projects that promote STEM education and awareness. The grants were open to teachers at any public or charter school with an open enrollment policy as well as private schools that have an associated 501(c)(3) foundation. Selection was based on the proposed activity’s potential to engage students and the level of STEM focus.

“Covering everything from coding and programming to robotics, automation and machines, the recipients of these grants have developed novel concepts that will surely increase awareness of STEM concepts in our schools,” said Jeffrey Q. Palombo, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Land and Self Protection Systems Division. “We are proud to support local teachers as they continue to implement important initiatives that keep students excited and engaged.”

The following Chicago area teachers received the Northrop Grumman National Engineers Week STEM grants:

Amy Berry – Pleasant Hill Elementary School (Palatine)

Mimi Book – Harvard Junior High School (Harvard)

Dale Burke – De La Salle Institute (Chicago)

Kelly Christensen – Paris Consolidated School (Kenosha, Wisconsin)

Amanda Dunham – Nequa Valley High School (Naperville)

Patti Edwards – Westfield Middle School (Bloomingdale)

Edmund Furlan – CICS-Wrightwood Elementary School (Chicago)

Kari Hernandez – Teft Middle School (Streamwood)

Patty Hicks – Gregory Middle School (Naperville)

Jerry Hund – Bartlett High School (Bartlett)

Matthew Jasper – St. Hubert School (Hoffman Estates)

Tanya Katowice – Hoffman Estates High School (Hoffman Estates)

Alexandra King – JW Riley Elementary School (Northlake)

Debra Krygeris – Whittier School (Downers Grove)

Julie Levene – Wheeling High School (Wheeling)

Mary Markwell – Heritage Grove Middle School (Plainfield)

Jane McCormick – Fischer Middle School (Aurora)

Marybeth Mirok – Seth Paine Elementary School (Lake Zurich)

Jenny Morris – Prairie Ridge High School (Crystal Lake)

Kristen North – Minooka Community High School (Minooka)

John Pritchard – Bartlett High School (Bartlett)

Brian Prus – Holy Family Catholic Academy (Inverness)

Charmaine Ramos – CICS-Wrightwood Elementary School (Chicago)

Rachael Schaefer – Gilberts Elementary School (Gilberts)

Linda Schwinn – Friendship Junior High School (Des Plaines)

Jeanine Stantesly – Prairie Ridge High School (Crystal Lake)

Carol Suppes – Spencer Loomis Elementary School (Hawthorn Woods)

Donna Weisman – Northlake Middle School (Northlake)

Northrop Grumman is a significant financial and in-kind contributor to educational outreach programs aimed at encouraging young people to consider engineering and science-related career fields. The company’s Electronic Systems sector supports multiple High School Involvement Partnership programs to encourage student interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.