By Michael Watkins

Photo by Tim LaBarge, Portland, Ore.
Preparing for competition — Rockwell Collins Principal Software Engineer Gary Albert (right) helps Andrew Mintner load an updated version of software into his team's robot prior to one of many heats at the 2008 Oregon FIRST Robotics Regional in Portland.

Have you ever wondered where American entrepreneur Bill Gates – the chairman of Microsoft Corporation and the world's third richest man – discovered his passion for computers? And, how did that passion and understanding for technology lead him to revolutionize the computer industry?

Or, how did teenage radio wizard Arthur Collins turn his boyhood interest into a Fortune 500 company known today around the world as Rockwell Collins – one of the aerospace and defense industry's leading sources of communication and aviation electronic solutions?

These visionary men – and millions more men and women like them throughout history – likely accomplished what they did because, as youngsters, no one told them they couldn't.

They were encouraged and challenged to think beyond what they saw and to imagine what was coming. They were allowed to explore and experiment, build and tear down, create and revolutionize – all while finding their own identities and paths toward changing the world through math and science.

Today, the U.S. is quickly losing its longtime grip as the world's technological leader. According to information compiled by the Boston Globe, China and India are graduating 10 times the number of engineering degrees as the U.S. In addition, U.S. high school students fall toward the bottom or last in math and science test scores compared to other countries.

It's quickly becoming apparent that the next generation of forward-thinkers – the Bill Gates or Arthur Collins of the future – isn't even considering careers in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).

And, although there's no quick fix to this problem, Rockwell Collins has recognized the importance of helping young people become successful and productive members of society. Last fall, our company unveiled an enhanced education initiative – Engineering Experiences – which was the first step toward inspiring the next generation of engineering talent.

"Positively influencing young people today will help build tomorrow's workforce," said Cindy Dietz, manager of Community Relations at Rockwell Collins. "That's why it's so important to engage kids by providing them with role models and helping them to apply what they have learned in school to real-life situations."

Molding young minds

Photo by Wayne Johnson, North Liberty, Iowa
Mentoring youth — Rockwell Collins Systems Engineer David Goldberg works with a group of students at the FIRST LEGO League Tournament in Cedar Rapids. Goldberg believes it's important to spend time encouraging young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

A refocused and enhanced education initiative, Engineering Experiences is focused on hands-on activities that provide students with a real-world connection to classroom learning. This year, the program has expanded beyond the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Technology Corridor to Rockwell Collins facilities around the United States.

"By taking this initiative beyond Iowa, we're able to involve our employees no matter where they are and also reach more students," said Dietz. "Engineering in this context means creating, innovating and discovering – all the things students are naturally interested in and get excited about."

A major component of Engineering Experiences is our company's partnership with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the organization responsible for FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics (www.usfirst.org).

Engineering Experiences also encompasses our K-12 Partnership Program, Engineers Week activities, Future City competition, Project Lead the Way, the Team American Rocketry Challenge, and the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor STEM Initiative (CSI). In addition, our REACT computer donation center in Cedar Rapids, and the Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers organization fall beneath our Engineering Experiences umbrella.

According to Alice Hopper, a software engineer at Rockwell Collins in Melbourne, Fla., connecting with children at an early age, when their minds are fresh and their perceptions are still changing, plays a critical role in the careers they opt to pursue.

"The key is to connect with them and provide them with progressive opportunities along the rest of their school path," said Hopper. "Allowing kids to see what is being done in the real world with the math and science they are learning in school makes the importance of these subjects much clearer."

Hopper, who recently relocated from Cedar Rapids to Melbourne, has been a FIRST LEGO League mentor for two years and has judged the competition twice. She often uses technological examples like cell phones and iPods – products used by kids in their every-day lives – to introduce the notion of engineering.

"If you can provide kids with something they can see and touch, that will help them understand how much fun math and science can be," said Hopper. "And, our Engineering Experiences program allows us to do exactly that."

Reaching out

Photo by Kristen Bartlett,
Gainesville, Fla.
Making a connection  — Rockwell Collins Software Engineer Alice Hopper shares a laugh with an elementary student during competition at the FIRST LEGO League event in Melbourne, Fla.

Heavily influenced in today's world by media images of Hollywood celebrities and sports stars, most children never stop to consider the possibility of one day becoming a mathematician, scientist or engineer.

Dispelling the myth that engineers are "nerds" and squelching that stereotype are two of many reasons Rockwell Collins teamed with FIRST last fall to increase outreach to students around America. Our company pledged $1.3 million over the first two years to launch the FIRST initiatives, and will eventually build our ongoing commitment to FIRST to $1 million annually.

"Engineering is a great profession," said Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Clay Jones. "One of the best ways to motivate our young people to become the innovators of the future is to create positive math and science encounters for all of them, regardless of their abilities or their backgrounds."

Toward that end, our company's initial investment will help create 100 FIRST LEGO League teams in Iowa and 60 teams near Rockwell Collins locations across the U.S. In addition to financial support, our employees will participate in the program as mentors, coaches and judges.

Rockwell Collins and FIRST also will combine efforts to support FIRST Tech Challenge, the newest high school robotics program and one that will allow high school students to expand their interest in science and technology as they grow older. The program is scheduled to launch during the 2009-10 academic year, and the long-term plan is to eventually offer it in all 358 Iowa high schools.

"We want to continue adding teams and tournaments of all types across the U.S. as often as possible," said Dietz, noting that our company was involved for the first time this year in LEGO League and Robotics tournaments in Portland, Ore., Melbourne, Fla., and Manhattan Beach, Calif. "The farther we can reach out, the more children we can inspire."

Models of experience

While young people are the primary beneficiaries of our Engineering Experiences program, our employees also reap significant rewards. Mentoring students and volunteering at various functions help to re-energize our employees and remind them why they pursued their particular profession.

Gary Albert, a principal software engineer at our facility in Portland, Ore., is a primary example. This year, Albert served as a mentor for the Tualatin High School FIRST Robotics competition team, where his sons, Daniel and David, are a junior and freshman, respectively.

"It was a real pleasure seeing the students work through the whole process of developing a project concept, designing the mechanical, electrical and software systems, and putting it all together," said Albert, who also volunteered at the LEGO League Tournament in Portland. "Watching them learn to work in a way that will benefit them in their future careers was very exhilarating."

The opportunity to spend one-on-one time with engineers is another aspect of our Engineering Experiences program that Dietz says proves to be inspiring. Some of the younger students who might not be excelling in math and science learn through their relationship with engineers that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

"When kids learn that many of our engineers were not straight-A students, that opens their eyes," said Dietz. "It's also important that young people realize many of our engineers had no idea what they wanted to do when they were 5 years old. In fact, some of them didn't realize it until they were in college. What young people need to learn is that engineering is all about curiosity and a wonder about the world."

In addition, it's also extremely important in today's changing world that children realize careers in science, technology, engineering and math aren't solely intended for white males. Females and minority students also are encouraged to pursue these careers.

"Breaking the stereotype that engineers are all white men is rather difficult because that's primarily how it's been in the past," said Dietz. "At Rockwell Collins, we are becoming much more diverse. We have minorities who are engineers, and we also have female engineers.

"By meeting these people in person, hearing their stories and learning from their experiences, today's youth will better understand how engineers contribute to the world to make it a better place. Becoming an engineer takes hard work, good communication skills and perseverance. You don't have to be a math genius to become an engineer."