NAF and Raytheon Technologies Congratulate NAF Academy of Engineering Graduates in Puerto Rico!

Last month, NAF, in partnership with Raytheon Technologies (RTX), parent company of Pratt & Whitney in Aguadilla and Collins Aerospace in Santa Isabel, celebrated the first graduating class of high school students from NAF Academies of Engineering in Puerto Rico!  The event recognized 47 students from Escuela Superior Benito Cerezo Vázquez in Aguadilla and Elvira M. Colón Negrón High School in Santa Isabel.

Gregory J. Hayes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Technologies; Lisa Dughi, Chief Executive Officer of NAF; executives from the Puerto Rico Department of Education; the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce; and local business professionals were all in attendance. 

“At Raytheon Technologies, we recognize the importance of supporting local communities and that we have a vibrant and growing connection. Our mission is to create a safer and more connected world and we can only achieve this if we have the right people working with us. I want to thank NAF, Pratt & Whitney, and Collins Aerospace leadership, as well as the Department of Education for making this graduation a reality,” said Hayes.

The event celebrated and recognized the successes of the students, who have been part of the NAF Engineering Academies in Puerto Rico that were founded in early 2020, with the support of Raytheon Technologies. This partnership promotes career-readiness academies that help provide equitable access to curriculum, hands-on learning, and connections with business professionals, specifically in the engineering and technology industries.

“The graduation of the first cohort of students from the NAF Academies of Engineering in Aguadilla and Santa Isabel is a testament to the success of an impactful private and public partnership between NAF and Raytheon Technologies. In a community that has endured many challenges due to natural disasters and the resulting disruptions, NAF offers Puerto Rico’s students an opportunity to engage in their education with an eye to their futures. We know that NAF is where opportunity begins, and we are proud of the students’ achievements and future aspirations in STEM. We know that no matter their career paths, they are equipped with the future-ready skills to be successful,” stated Lisa Dughi, NAF Chief Executive Officer.

The partnership between NAF and RTX has created a supportive ecosystem to inspire students to pursue careers in the STEM field and beyond. NAF and RTX will continue to provide access to opportunities and support for future generations of aspiring engineers in other communities this year, with new RTX-backed NAF Engineering Academies in Compton, CA and Washington, DC. In addition, students participate in robotics competitions through FIRST Robotics, where they can be creative and push the boundaries of their knowledge, apply what they have learned from academia to real-world scenarios, and help define a career path for their futures.

“It is extremely exciting to be celebrating our 4th anniversary of collaboration with NAF. These initiatives focused on the readiness and future of our students are catalysts to support and inspire talent to develop careers in STEM fields. As a company, we are committed to investing in students and giving back to the community, but we also need to continue to hire top talent. It’s a real cause for celebration to achieve real opportunities for our next generation of engineers through our collective effort. Benito Cerezo is my alma mater, and I am personally proud of the great triumph of having achieved a transformational learning program based and focused on our island,” said Josy Acosta, President, and CEO of Pratt & Whitney Puerto Rico.

NAF and Raytheon Technologies have helped bring to life what a career in engineering and technology can look like. For students, who will be the next generation of innovators, they need to see it, to be it! Over half of the 47 graduates plan on pursuing collegiate degrees in STEM fields, such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Technology, Industrial Engineering, Biochemistry, and Marine Biology.

“Because of Raytheon Technologies’ generous investment in Puerto Rico, we have the opportunity to expand our reach and provide even more students with access to opportunity. The graduates represent what we aim to accomplish at NAF – they are shining examples for future generations to come,” Lisa Dughi concluded.

NAF can’t wait to see what our graduates go on to accomplish and as new alumni, they are part of the NAF family for life!