Retired Raytheon engineers of the RSVA (Retirees School Volunteer Association), augmented by C3I engineers, served as mentors this past school year for middle school students in the MetroWest towns of Framingham, Natick, Ashland and Hopkinton; as well as for elementary students in Woburn and Lexington. The students are members of the Future Scientists and Engineers of America (FSEA) Clubs.

Retired volunteers included Gerry Brody, Charles Martin, Barry Altschul, Jack Kraft, Karl Kelber, Rod Girard, Marty Rouff, Al Scarpa and Ken Taylor. Marlborough C3I employees included Ed Tang, Bert Richardsen, Emily Sweeney, Joanne Burch and Tu Tran.

Led by a Science teacher, students and mentors meet once a week after school to build standardized kits intended to spark interest in science and engineering. Of special interest is that almost 50 percent of the 200 members in the 7 Metro West clubs were females, and approximately 25 percent minority students. The Lexington club consisted of 4th and 5th grade METCO students.

Many of the MetroWest students participated in a year-end Jamboree held at Keefe Technical High School in Framingham on June 1st that featured a "Land Yacht" competition. Teams vied for trophies with their wooden model yachts fixed with aluminum foil sails, and powered by a box fan. Awards were presented to club sponsors, including Raytheon. A special award was presented to Gerry Brody for his efforts in organizing many of the clubs in the Metro West area, and for his long service as a club mentor.

Robert Patterson and Chuck Cheatwood, Marlborough C3I engineers, supported 7th grade science projects at the Marlborough Middle School. RSVA provided the funds for one Robotic Mindstorms Project kit, Raytheon/Marlborough for a second one and Robert Patterson donated two computers.

RSVA was founded in 1993 as a non-profit organization where retired engineers volunteer their science and math experience and skills to enhance the education and interest of K-12 students in their local school districts. They have been active in 20 school districts throughout Eastern Massachusetts and welcome more volunteers willing to donate as little as 1 hour per week.