PRESS RELEASE 94-13

Immediate 
Mary Ann Peto
(Bus: 216/433-2902)
<h3>NASA Lewis Engineers Celebrate the 44th Anniversary of National 
Engineers Week with Visit to Schools in Seven Ohio Counties</h3> 
Cleveland, OH -- More than 120 schools in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, 
Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Medina counties will be buzzing with 
activities geared to increasing students' interest in science and 
math during National Engineers Week, February 20-26, 1994. 

Approximately 125 Lewis engineers and scientists, and engineers from 
private industry will visit the area schools to demonstrate how math 
and science can be fun and challenging, and how engineering affects 
the quality of everyday life--from telecommunications to cleaning up 
the environment, from space exploration to more fuel efficient 
engines.

Although some of the engineers will talk about their experiences, 
others will do classroom demonstrations and interactive programs with 
the students. One planned demonstration will show how free fall 
eliminates the local effects of gravity, thus giving students a 
mini-lesson on microgravity. 

The week-long activities will culminate Friday, February 25, 1994, 
with a banquet and awards ceremony at Executive Caterers at 
Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. Astronaut Kenneth Bowersox will be 
the guest speaker. Bowersox has piloted two shuttle missions. The 
most recent flight was, STS-61, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) 
servicing and repair mission. During the mission HST was captured and 
restored to full capacity through a record five space walks by four 
astronauts.

Engineers throughout Cleveland will join thousands of engineers 
nationwide in an effort to increase public understanding and 
appreciation of the engineering profession. In 1993 more than 30,000 
engineers across the United States participated in National Engineers 
Week. 

National Engineers Week was founded in 1951 and is sponsored by the 
National Engineers Week Committee, which is headqu- artered near 
Washington, DC.

It is no coincidence that the celebration takes place at the time of 
George Washington's birthday--the first president became known as the 
"first U.S. engineer" because of his surveying skills. And, because 
of his leadership and direction, Washington saw the need to direct a 
growing society toward technical advancements, invention and 
education. On June 9, 1778, at Valley Forge, Pa., General George 
Washington issued an order calling for engineers and engineering 
education. This order is considered to be the genesis of the U.S. 
Army Engineer School.

For information concerning school visits--dates and times, please call 
Antoinette Dvornicky at 216/433-6630.



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