Xerox Gives $1Million to National Academy Foundation’s Academy of Engineering Initiative

Supports global commitment to science and engineering education
STAMFORD, Conn.- Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX), through The Xerox Foundation, has made a $1 million grant to support the creation of 110 academies of engineering in high schools across the country. The grant to the National Academy Foundation’s Academy of Engineering Initiative is designed to seed a new and diverse generation of scientists and engineers.

The academies will provide a core curriculum to inspire the study of math and science and to encourage students to prepare for science or engineering careers. The NAF initiative has been developed in collaboration with Project Lead The Way and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.

The academies are designed for ninth-graders to 12th-graders and meet national and state standards in mathematics, science, technology, communication and social studies. A key focus will be to include women and minorities in the study of engineering, and academy sites will be within inner-city schools serving minority students. Thirteen pilot sites will open in 2008. The goal is to have all 110 academies established by 2010. “Companies like Xerox succeed through innovation, collaboration and the fresh ideas of our people; we rely on a continuously cultivated pool of highly-skilled, well-educated talent to fuel our growth,” said Ursula Burns, Xerox president, who was named to NAF’s Board of Directors earlier this month. “It is critical that we expose more young people - particularly women and minorities - to the study of engineering. If we can inspire someone today, perhaps their dreams and efforts will shape our products, profitability and workplaces in the not too distant future.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, four of the top 30 fastest growing occupations through 2014 will be in engineering-related fields, resulting in more than 386,000 new engineering job openings. Yet the U.S. lags in technical education. According to the National Science Foundation, 21 percent of all science degrees are awarded by Chinese universities, while American universities account for only 6 percent -- behind not only China but also Europe, Japan, Russia and India.

High-tech companies like Xerox are an invaluable resource to us in this effort,“ said NAF President J.D. Hoye. ”Not only are they supporting the educational initiative financially, but they are a high-profile, top-of-line employer for the future engineers that will benefit from this program"