AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico,
March 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) and the
National Academy Foundation (NAF) announced a multimillion-dollar
national partnership to expand NAF Academies of Engineering to
Puerto Rico and beyond.
The partnership, consisting of a $3
million funding commitment over three years, aims to expand
NAF's well-established and successful Academies of Engineering,
bringing industry-proven STEM programs to under-resourced public
high schools in Puerto Rico,
Palm Beach County, Florida and
across the United States.
The commitment will also extend to supporting NAF's Academies of
IT and engaging NAF alumni through its NAFTrack platform. Through
its partnership with NAF, UTC will prioritize the development of a
robust pipeline of diverse technical talent.
During a kick-off event in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, representatives from UTC and NAF
announced that two high schools, Benito
Cerezo High School and Elvira Colon
High School, will serve as the inaugural sites for
Puerto Rico's first NAF Academies
of Engineering. Both schools are close to UTC's Pratt & Whitney
and Collins Aerospace Systems facilities, making it possible for
employees to volunteer and work side-by-side with
students.
"UTC is incredibly proud to partner with NAF, an organization
that is transforming the STEM learning environment with tangible,
hands-on learning opportunities for high school students in
underserved communities," said Greg
Hayes, UTC Chairman and CEO. "These academies will expose
generations of students in Puerto
Rico to STEM classes, mentorships and company internships,
bringing to life what a future career in engineering and technology
can look like."
Through the partnership, UTC and NAF will bring professional
engineering expertise into the classroom. And, by offering a
variety of work-based learning engagements such as company visits,
mentoring, and paid high school internships, UTC and NAF are
ensuring that these students are career ready. The two new NAF
locations will join a nationwide network of 600 academies offering
"school within a school" career-themed programs. This reflects
UTC's commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineers,
scientists and inventors.
"NAF aims to make a positive difference for as many students as
possible," said Sandy Weill, NAF
Founder and Chairman. "By working with UTC, we are expanding into a
previously untapped location that will greatly benefit from UTC's
investment and support NAF's long-held belief that all students
deserve access to opportunities for success. NAF can now proudly
say that we are serving more than 100,000 students throughout
the United States, the US Virgin
Islands, and Puerto Rico. We want
to thank Greg Hayes and his
outstanding leadership team for the wonderful work they do in the
communities they serve and we look forward to a
long-lasting partnership."
UTC has a history and established aerospace presence in
Puerto Rico that stretches back 17
years. It began when Infotech Aerospace Services, Inc. (IAS), the
first aerospace engineering services company in Puerto Rico, launched a joint venture with
Pratt & Whitney. Today, UTC employs over 2,000 people on the
island in the design and manufacturing of aerospace technologies
for jet engines, air management and electrical systems.
As UTC continues its transformation into a pureplay aerospace
company through the planned spin offs of Otis and Carrier, and
expected merger with Raytheon, it remains committed to supporting
STEM programs such as those provided through
NAF.
This announcement is part of UTC's comprehensive effort to help
address the technologies skills gap and under-representation of
women and minorities in the technology sector. NAF is one of UTC's
pillar partnerships which include Girls Who Code,
National Invention Convention
and FIRST.
About United Technologies Corp.
United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides
high-technology systems to the building and aerospace industries.
By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the
company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs.
To learn more about UTC, visit www.utc.com or follow the
company on Twitter: @UTC.
Contact:
Media Inquiries, UTC
(860) 493-4364
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SOURCE United Technologies Corp.