MathAlive! VIP Event in One Word – Awesome!
Hundreds of distinguished guests gathered at Arizona Science Center in Phoenix on Friday, July 13, for a special event to spotlight Raytheon’s MathAlive! exhibit, which opened to the public on July 8. Those in attendance, both young and old, had one word for the new 5,000-square-foot exhibit – “Awesome!”
Raytheon Missile Systems President Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence addressed the crowd, which included members of Congress, the state legislature, the governor’s office, wounded warriors, veterans, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Raytheon employees and family members.
“It is important to keep children excited about math and science at a young age and capture their imagination,” said Dr. Lawrence. “A strong technical foundation will help them enjoy a rewarding career in the future. Raytheon sponsored MathAlive! to help kids at an early stage in their learning development. We want math to be fun! We want to make sure they stay interested in math for a lifetime.”
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s Chief of Staff Eileen Klein, who also addressed the audience, said, “MathAlive! is just terrific. It is so exciting. I absolutely loved studying math when I was a kid… I can see all the math principles at work here. I applaud Raytheon and all the other sponsors who helped bring this to life.” Klein also talked about the importance of businesses like Raytheon getting involved in math and science education and developing strong partnerships with schools.
MathAlive! Is Fun and Educational
The star of the event was the MathAlive! exhibit — with more than 45 interactive stations where guests experienced the math behind fun activities like snowboarding, robotics, space, music and design. The exhibit was filled with resounding echoes of “Awesome!” and “This is cool!” shouted by kids and the older “kids at heart.”
“I really like it,” said Jordan Orvik, 8, while he designed a skateboard to make a jump and escape the jaws of a menacing alligator. Jordan is autistic. His father, Ross Orvik, a veteran and active duty Navy officer said, “MathAlive! is a great opportunity to get hands on and spark the flame for learning. As a parent, it helps me get more involved. This type of exhibit can really help kids with disabilities like Jordan because it builds math knowledge and equalizing skills.”
Since opening on July 8, Raytheon’s MathAlive! exhibit has been attracting more than 600 visitors a day. It will be open until Sept. 3 in Phoenix, and then it travels to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where it will open to the public on Sept. 22.
About Raytheon and STEM Education
Raytheon’s commitment to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is ongoing. We have invested more than $60 million to date through a wide range of MathMovesU® initiatives, including scholarships, grants, mentor programs, interactive websites and more.
