NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens and National History
Day (NHD) announced today a partnership to promote civics education across the
United States. Siemens, along with NHD, the National Archives and Records
Administration, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the USA
Freedom Corps, will sponsor the "Our Documents" initiative, a national
history, civics and service program for middle school and high school
students.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021029/SILOGO )
Through the course of the school year, "Our Documents" will engage
students and teachers in the 2002-2003 NHD program theme "Rights and
Responsibilities in History." Students across America will participate in a
nation-wide competition by creating original performances, documentaries,
papers or exhibits. History and social studies teachers will also have the
opportunity to develop document-based lesson plans for national awards and
distribution. National educator and student award winners will be announced
June 15-19, 2003 at the University of Maryland at College Park. (For more
information on the competition: http://www.nationalhistoryday.org)
"I believe that this initiative will encourage every American to engage in
a dialogue about what it means to be a citizen," said Cathy Gorn, executive
director of National History Day. "The support of Siemens has made the 'Our
Documents' initiative possible and will create a better public understanding
of the importance of rights and responsibilities in our democratic society."
"Siemens has played an integral role in U.S. history, dating back to the
mid-1800s when the company strung the first telegraph lines for the fledgling
Pennsylvania Railroad and laid the first trans-Atlantic cable opening
communications between the U.S. and Europe," said Gregg Ward, Vice President
of Government Affairs for Siemens Corporation. "Siemens is proud to be a
partner in the National History Day programs and believes this initiative will
have a positive influence on our local schools and communities."
In conjunction with the National History Day competition, Siemens has
created an American History Innovation Award to recognize students and
teachers for outstanding projects that demonstrate how technology or
innovation has influenced U.S. history. The American History Innovation Award
complements the nationwide Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science
and Technology, which provides students the opportunity to achieve national
recognition for science research projects that they complete in high school.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's National Assessment of
Education Progress, less than one quarter of America's K - 12 students are
proficient in understanding these two subjects.
"We applaud Siemens' generous efforts to help cultivate our students'
knowledge of American history, civics and democracy," said Leslie Lenkowsky,
President Bush's national service chief. "A vibrant civil society depends on
the efforts of us all, from the boardroom to the classroom. The Corporation
for National and Community Service is pleased to work with National History
Day and Siemens on the Our Documents project, and to inspire more young
Americans to serve and to become engaged in America's history and ideals."
About National History Day
National History Day is not just one day, but a yearlong education program
that makes history come alive through educator professional development and
active student learning. NHD engages students in grades 6-12 in the process
of discovery and interpretation of historical topics. Students produce
dramatic performances, imaginative exhibits, multimedia documentaries and
research papers based on research related to an annual theme. These projects
are then evaluated at local, state and national competitions. National
History Day has received the National Endowment for the Humanities Charles
Frankel Prize for public programming.
About Siemens
Siemens Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Munich-based Siemens AG
(NYSE: SI), a leading global electronics and engineering company. Siemens AG
employs 426,000 people in 192 countries and reported worldwide sales of more
than $84 billion in fiscal 2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02). The United States is
Siemens' largest market in the world, with sales of more than $21 billion in
fiscal 2002 and more than 74,000 employees in all 50 states. Corporate
headquarters for Siemens' U.S. businesses are located in New York City. For
more information: http://www.usa.siemens.com.
SOURCE Siemens Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.usa.siemens.com
http://www.nationalhistoryday.org
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021029/SILOGO
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/000728.html
CONTACT:
Michael McCauley of Siemens Corporation,
+1-732-906-3855, michael.mccauley@siemens.com; or Mark Robinson
of National History Day, +1-301-314-9542,
markr@nationalhistoryday.org
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