The Georgia National Guard teamed with Lockheed Martin in Marietta and the Peach State STARBASE, at Dobbins Air Reserve Base to bring the excitement of aviation, math, and science to area students by dedicating the Lockheed Martin Technology Center.

STARBASE is a National Guard youth program serving at-risk fifth grade students in the Cobb and Marietta School districts. Lockheed Martin's $25,000 donation to the center will help the youth program purchase new equipment, software and technical training aids.

"We teamed with the Peach State STARBASE because we share the same commitment to inspire community youth to improve math and science skills," said Lee Rhyant, vice president and site manager for Lockheed Martin. "The best investment we can make is in our youth, and we are proud of this partnership with the Department of Defense, Dobbins ARB, the Cobb County Schools, and Marietta City schools."

During a five-day academy, the program exposes students and their teachers to real world applications of math, science, aviation and technology, while addressing positive life skills, character building, drug abuse prevention and teamwork. After learning about the principles of flight in a classroom environment, students move into the Lockheed Martin Technology Center where they can apply the lesson they've learned on the simulators.

"We are training the next generation of aviators and space pioneers," said Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia’s Adjutant General. "STARBASE does this by exposing them to not only math and science but also to teamwork and lifelong learning strategies."

Peach State STARBASE opened its doors in April 2002 and has graduated 798 students. "We believe that this program is broadening horizons and instilling new goals in the youth of Cobb County, " said retired General Joe Redden, superintendent of Cobb County Schools. "After graduating from STARBASE, our students can't stop talking about it and often carry the lessons that they learned back into the regular classrooms."

Brig. Gen. William Kane, who commands the air reserve base, worries that too many students have been shying away from entering fields in math and science. "We, as a nation, need to remind children how much fun math and science can be," said Kane. "Allowing students to fly aircraft simulators and launch rockets, while learning the scientific principles behind the magic, demonstrates how their classroom experiences lend to practical applications in the future."

Lockheed Martin's local plant contributes more than $400,000 annually to kindergarten through college educational initiatives that are focused around science math and aeronautics.