OREANDA-NEWS. October 08, 2015.

Willie E. May, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), discussed the many opportunities for students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) during a Manufacturing Day address at Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Maritime Systems campus in Charlottesville.

A group of 15 students from Charlottesville High School interested in science were on hand to hear May's remarks. The students were invited to the company's Charlottesville campus to help assemble 3D-printed components for low-cost prosthetic hands as part of a nationwide project to donate the devices to children in need around the world. VOICE (Victory Over Impairment and Challenge Enterprise), a Northrop Grumman volunteer employee resource group that supports people with disabilities and helps create environments that are more supportive to their needs, helped arrange the day's activities aimed at recognizing the importance of manufacturing.

Manufacturing Day, an annual national event held on the first Friday in October, is a grassroots effort by U.S. manufacturers designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers, and improve the public perception of manufacturing in America. More information is available at: www.mfgday.com

After assembling more than 20 of the prosthetic devices, the students and Northrop Grumman employees gathered to hear an address from May, the second Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the 15th director of NIST. May has been serving as director since May 2015, and has worked at NIST since 1971, leading research activities in chemical and biological measurement science activities prior to serving as associate director for laboratory programs and as principal deputy to the NIST director.

"Northrop Grumman is pleased to support the efforts of these bright young minds as they explore these additive manufacturing techniques of the future," said

Jeffrey Holloway, site director for the Northrop Grumman Charlottesville facility. "Through this project they have learned to interpret and manipulate 3D designs, as well as print and assemble prosthetic hands as a part of a nationwide effort being undertaken at many of our facilities throughout the country."

"This was a great activity to show students one of the many opportunities they might have to use their STEM skills to innovative and create, and do cool things to make the world a better place," said May. "This is what Manufacturing Day is all about."

The prosthetic hand design was pioneered by Enabling the Future, a nonprofit organization whose volunteers are dedicated to using 3D printing to "give the world a helping hand."

In a similar Manufacturing Day celebration last week at Northrop Grumman's facility in Baltimore, Maryland, employees assisted STEM students from two Baltimore City high schools with a prosthetic hand assembly project and also donated the hands to Enabling the Future.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.