FIRST Volunteer Receives Prestigious Lockheed Martin NOVA Award
Deborah Harris, above right, with daughter Ayanna
FIRST congratulates longtime FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) volunteer, Deborah Harris, who has been selected to receive Lockheed Martin's NOVA Award based on exceptional community services activities over the years.
The NOVA is Lockheed Martin's most prestigious employee honor for individuals and teams across the corporation who have made outstanding contributions to Lockheed Martin's mission and business objectives. Deborah was selected for the award for her work supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and inspiring students and parents across Maryland, which received recognition and honors from the state's governor and the US Congress.
Deborah has been involved in FLL since the 2002 "City Sights" season, when she started a team in her basement for her daughter and her friends. She has since conducted numerous presentations to schools, PTAs, local civic organizations, and communities and joined the FLL Planning Committee for the state of Maryland in 2004. On behalf of FLL, she has participated in local events such as the NBC4 Digital Edge Conference, the Patriots Technology's Annual Youth Summits, University of Maryland College Park's Women In Engineering Conference, and the Sally Ride Science Festivals at Towson University. She also volunteers for FRC.
In addition to her efforts for FLL and FRC, Deborah has been actively involved in the Maryland Parent Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Family Works; the PTSA and school related activities at Beltsville Elementary School, Martin Luther King Middle School and High Point High School and other schools around the county; and the Maryland Business Roundtable. She has been invited to discuss her activities on a panel next month where she will highlight her FIRST experiences.
Deborah's Lockheed Martin management team has been very supportive of her efforts, joining her with the Sally Ride Science Festival activities, providing give-aways for events, and sponsoring two local FIRST teams.