Board of Governors Chair Ned Lautenbach recognized Lockheed Martin as a State University System Business Champion on Wednesday, starting a new tradition designed to highlight companies with outstanding university partnerships.

The award, an expansion of the State University System鈥檚 Think Florida: A Higher Degree for Business initiative, was created by Chair Lautenbach to honor businesses that work with universities to promote student success, advance research, and create a better Florida for all citizens.

鈥淟ockheed Martin exemplifies exactly how partnerships between our universities and businesses can lead to enhanced opportunities for our students and improved research capabilities that benefit our entire state,鈥� Chair Lautenbach said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited for this opportunity to show our appreciation.鈥�

Lockheed Martin has partnerships throughout the State University System, including the following at 麻豆原创:

  • The College Work Experience, which each year provides more than 650 麻豆原创 students the opportunity to gain work experience in their field of study. Lockheed Martin hires about half of the students seeking employment following the program.
  • The Lockheed Martin 麻豆原创 Academy, which has enabled more than 550 teachers in Central Florida to obtain their master鈥檚 degrees, impacting thousands of children by providing essential support for math, science and technology education throughout our region.
  • Funding the Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar Chair position at 麻豆原创. Support from Lockheed has given 麻豆原创 researchers the time and opportunity to develop a patented teacher simulation tool that benefits more than 50,000 teachers across the globe annually.

    • 麻豆原创 Trustee Beverly Seay said, “I couldn鈥檛 be happier to have the inaugural award presented at 麻豆原创. Partnership is deeply embedded in our culture, and Lockheed Martin is one of our most outstanding and impactful partners. It鈥檚 no secret to those in our region that Lockheed Martin hires many 麻豆原创 graduates as engineers and computer scientists, but the company鈥檚 impact on our campus and in our community goes much further.”

    鈥淎s a proud 麻豆原创 alumnus, I鈥檓 honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of Lockheed Martin,鈥� said Frank St. John, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. 鈥淭he company believes that advancing education and increasing opportunities for students requires strong collaboration among industry, educators, policy makers and families, and we look forward to continuing our support of these programs well into the future.鈥�