National 4-H Council is pleased to announce that Lockheed Martin will continue its support of 4‑H Science programs with a three-year, $1.5 million gift. 

Through this collaboration, Lockheed Martin's support will expand the 4-H Robotics program by adding new 4-H Robotics clubs throughout the country. This partnership will also provide funds for professional and volunteer development and training around 4-H Robotics and leverage the experience and expertise of Lockheed Martin employees to serve as mentors for 4-H youth. 

4-H developed a comprehensive robotics program in 2009 to inspire young people and develop an early interest in robotics engineering and technology. In 2010 and 2011, with the support from Lockheed Martin, National 4-H Council developed and launched the first ever, comprehensive robotics curriculum for youth ages 9 to 18, titled 4-H Robotics: Engineering for Today and Tomorrow. Additionally, through Lockheed Martin's support, since 2011 roughly 1,095 youth are now learning about robotics in 87 newly established 4-H Robotics clubs throughout the country. 

Lockheed Martin will also sponsor the 2012, 2013 and 2014 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD). As 4-H's premier rallying event, the 2012 4-H NYSD will take place on Oct. 10, 2012, and bring together hundreds of thousands of youth from all across the nation to simultaneously complete the 2012 National Science Experiment: the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge. Designed and developed by The Ohio State University and Ohio State Extension - one of the nation's land-grant universities within the Cooperative Extension System - the 2012 National Science Experiment will focus on Engineering Robotic Solutions. 

"Lockheed Martin's generous and continued support will help strengthen the development and delivery of 4-H's robust science, engineering and technology programming," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council President and CEO. "4-H now reaches more than 5 million youth with out-of-school science education, and as a result, is playing a significant role in helping to address the nation's workforce development challenges. We look forward to a lasting partnership with great national impact." 

"Lockheed Martin is proud to continue its support of 4-H Science programs," said Emily Simone, Lockheed Martin Director of Global Community Outreach. "STEM education is a national imperative, and programs like 4-H Robotics enable students to learn through fun, interactive and engaging projects. But, the students aren't the only ones who benefit-our engineers also enjoy sharing their profession and expertise with youths in their communities." 

For a decade, preeminent youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, and the team at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University have been working with faculty at land-grant universities to conduct The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. This in-depth, longitudinal study has discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that young people receive through their participation in 4-H plays a vital role in helping them achieve future life successes. Recent findings show that compared to other youth, 4-H'ers: 

• Report better grades, higher levels of academic competence, and an elevated level of engagement at school
• Are nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college
• Are more likely to pursue future courses or a career in science, engineering, or computer technology 

The study also finds that girls in 4-H are more than twice as likely to participate in science, engineering, or computer technology programs than their peers. 

4-H Science programs are developed and conducted by the 111 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System. To address increased demand for science and technology professionals, 4-H is working to reach a bold goal of engaging one million new young people in science programs by 2013.

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