By NUWC Division Newport Public Affairs
Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport’s Educational Outreach Program has won in the large shore category of the 2017 Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship Award, one of five “flagships” that comprise the Navy’s Community Service Program. This award honors the best educational partnership program between a Navy command and school or youth-service organizations.
Having marked its 10th anniversary in 2017, NUWC Newport’s outreach program has provided meaningful hands-on math and science education to thousands of local and regional students. With public school budgets shrinking every year, the demand for supplemental science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education has increased dramatically.
In the past year, more than 5,000 students directly benefitted from NUWC Newport’s extracurricular STEM activities, all delivered at no cost to the local school districts. The hallmark of the program’s success has been its innovative teaching methods, bringing math and science to life by offering lessons that engage students via hands-on, interactive demonstrations. NUWC Division Newport’s Educational Outreach Program leadership, staff, and a dedicated team of employee volunteers are making a significant difference in the education of local students and paving the way for future Navy scientists and engineers.
The core outreach programs, staffed by more than 140 NUWC Newport personnel in 26 different schools in the region, include the Undersea Technology Apprentice Program, MathCounts, SeaPerch, science fairs, FIRST Robotics (10 teams), SeaLab and SeaLab Summer, and the Newport Community School After School Program.
“Congratulations to all who have made our Educational Outreach Program such a success and your well-deserved recognition as the best in the Navy for Community Service,” said NUWC Division Newport’s Acting Technical Director Eric Spigel.
