2017 Eagle Award Presented to Local Leaders for STEM Education Championship

On April 25, 2017 the ARCS Metropolitan Washington Chapter (MWC) presented the Eagle Award to two distinguished leaders from the Metropolitan Washington region. 

Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, was recognized for her achievements spanning a diverse career in the public sector and academia. She previously served as the director of the US Geological Survey, overseeing estimation of the flow rate of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the CEO of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and has held leadership and faculty positions at top institutions including MIT and Stanford.

Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin, was recognized for her championship of STEM-related causes and for the company’s philanthropic support to many non-profit STEM outreach programs, included in the ARCS Scholars program. In her role, she leads a company of 97,000 employees whose mission is to solve complex challenges, advance scientific discovery and deliver innovative solutions to help their customers keep citizens safe.

During their annual spring meeting, ARCS-MWC leaders highlighted how the public and private sectors complement each other’s actions to advance progress in the United States, especially during today’s increasingly budget-conscience times. Each honoree shared their perspective on the importance of helping young people pursue STEM careers and the ARCS Foundation’s role in that responsibility. 

“Living on a finite planet, with a growing population, we owe our quality of life to advances in science and technology and to the brilliant researchers who devoted their careers to the pursuit of a more promising tomorrow,” said Dr. McNutt. “I am grateful to the ARCS Foundation for all they do to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and to the MWC chapter for this great honor.” 

“Today, our partnership with ARCS is more important than ever,” said Ms. Hewson. “Nothing opens up individual opportunity more than a career in science, technology, engineering, and math. You are changing lives and building a brighter future for all.”

Since its inception in 1968, ARCS-MWC has provided nearly $7 million in scholarships to 375 U.S. citizen scholars studying STEM fields at area Universities: Johns Hopkins University, The George Washington University, Georgetown University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Maryland. 

ARCS-MWC funds all operating expenses through member dues and contributions so that 100 percent of all funds raised for awards directly supports the scholars. If you would like to contribute to the advancement of STEM in the U.S. please contribute by clicking here.