Young Scientists Win Raytheon Annual Science Fair

If you're looking to improve your golf swing, there's a group of kids at the Greater Nashua Boys and Girls Club who might be able to help you.

They go by the name Swing Masters, and just walked away grand prize winners of the annual Science of Sports" Science Fair, co-sponsored by Raytheon and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. Their project looked at the science behind the golf swing, and was impressive enough to edge out projects submitted by 24 other teams.

Each member of the top three winning teams earned a $1,000 (Grand Prize), $750 (Second Place) or $500 (Third Place) scholarship provided by Raytheon and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The scholarships can be used for “camperships” applied to a science, technology, engineering or math-related summer camp or to their freshman year in post-secondary school. 

Swing Masters team members include:

• Mario Rodriguez
• John Silamba
• Alexis Ortiz
• Keven Guerrero

They were among more than 130 middle school students who participated in the fair, representing Boys and Girls Clubs from 17 communities across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The five-month-long program was supported by 73 Raytheon employee mentors, including Fred Mott, who mentored the Nashua team. Executive judges were Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson, The Kraft Group Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, and Patriots left tackle Nate Solder.

“This is the fifth year we have partnered with Raytheon to host the ‘Science of Sports’ Science Fair. With more students and mentors than we’ve ever had, the theories and creativity of the projects continue to impress me each year,” said Kraft.

“One of my favorite parts of this program is hearing the teams present their projects and seeing the pride they take in the work they have accomplished. Each year, it is exciting to see this program inspire these young people and we hope it encourages them to continue to set and achieve goals through science in the future,” Kraft said.

Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson said the goal is promoting a love for science among the students.

“I am pleased that our partners, the New England Patriots and the Kraft family, continue to share our passion for improving math and science education. After five years of judging the science projects of nearly 450 students, Robert Kraft and I clearly see that with the right resources and committed volunteers, we can spark a love of science in a new generation of students who we hope will be inspired to make a career in science, technology, engineering and math.”

The Science of Sports Science Fair program is part of Raytheon’s MathMovesU program designed to increase students’ interest in math and science education. The program is part of Raytheon’s MathMovesU® program designed to increase students’ interest in math and science education. The science fair is a key component of the partnership between Raytheon and the New England Patriots initiated in September 2008 with the opening of The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon.

Interactive exhibits in The Hall are designed to showcase how math and science are essential to the fundamentals of football. The Hall’s education program aligns with the goal of inspiring an appreciation for science, technology, engineering and mathematics for visiting school groups.

Teams from Boys & Girls Club locations in the following communities participated in the 2013 “Science of Sports” Science Fair: Billerica, Mass., Brockton, Mass., Charlestown, Mass., Dorchester, Mass., Hudson, Mass., Lawrence, Mass., Leominster, Mass., Lowell, Mass., Marlborough, Mass., Marshfield, Mass., Nashua, N.H., Newport, R.I., Portsmouth, R.I., Roxbury, Mass., Salem, N.H., Waltham, Mass., and Woburn, Mass.